Travel insurance for Epilepsy

Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition like epilepsy requires planning, especially with regards to medication. It's crucial to be adequately prepared in the event that you have a seizure overseas and this includes having the right travel insurance in place.

How do I get cover?

Most travel insurance policies provide automatic cover for certain pre-existing medical conditions like epilepsy but will usually carry requirements such as:

• No change in your medication regime over a certain period of time e.g. the last 12 months
• No hospitalisation for your condition over a certain period e.g. the last two years

If you have been hospitalised recently

You will need to:

• Apply for special cover if the policy allows it
• Pay an extra premium

Which Australian travel insurance brands cover Epilepsy?

Brand	Details	Apply
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised or required treatment by a medical practitioner in the last 12 months for any of the listed conditions. You don't have an underlying medical condition (e.g. previous head trauma, Brain Tumour or Stroke).	Bonus Get quote
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised or required treatment by a medical practitioner in the last 12 months for any of the listed conditions. You don't have an underlying medical condition (e.g. previous head trauma, Brain Tumour or Stroke).	Bonus Get quote
	You are automatically covered if: The condition has been stable for more than 12 months. You have not attended hospital for treatment for the condition in the past 12 months. You have not had any seizures in the past 12 months, and you are on less than one anticonvulsant medication.	Get quote
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised (including Day Surgery or Emergency Department attendance) for that condition in the past 24 months. Your medications for that condition have remained unchanged for the past 6 months. There has been no change to your medication regime in the past 12 months, and you are on no more than one anti-convulsant medication.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	No mention	Get quote
	No mention	Get quote
	No cover if in the last 5 years suffered from or received medical advice, treatment or medication for any neurological condition.	Bonus Get quote
	No cover if in the last 5 years suffered from or received medical advice, treatment or medication for any neurological condition.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised (including day surgery or emergency department attendance) in the past 12 months. There has been no change to Your medication regime in the past 12 months. You are on no more than one anticonvulsant medication.	More info
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised or required treatment by a medical practitioner in the last 12 months. You don't have an underlying medical condition (e.g. previous head trauma, Brain Tumour or Stroke).	Bonus Get quote
	The policy doesn't automatically cover your pre-existing medical conditions. However, if you complete a medical assessment, we may be able to offer you cover for your pre-existing medical conditions.	Finder Award Get quote
	You are automatically covered if there’s been no change to your medication regimen in the past 12 months	Get quote
	You are automatically covered if You don’t have an underlying medical condition (e.g. previous head trauma, Brain Tumour or Stroke).	Get quote
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised for the condition within the last two years. There has been no change to Your medication regime in the past 12 months.	More info
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised for the condition within the last two years. There has been no change to Your medication regime in the past 12 months.	More info
	Online medical screening assessment will determine if cover can be provided. Consider the PDS and TMD from TIS and if the product is right for you.	More info
	You are automatically covered if: You have not been hospitalised or required treatment by a medical practitioner in the last 12 months. You don't have an underlying medical condition (e.g. previous head trauma, Brain Tumour or Stroke).	Get quote
	You are automatically covered if: The condition has been stable for more than 12 months. You have not attended hospital for treatment for the condition in the past 12 months. You have not had any seizures in the past 12 months, and you are less than one anticonvulsant medication.	More info
	No mention	More info
	You are automatically covered if: The condition has been stable for more than 12 months. You have not attended hospital for treatment for the condition in the past 12 months. You have not had any seizures in the past 12 months, and you are less than one anticonvulsant medication.	More info
	No mention	More info

^{Note: This information was last updated August 2022}

How do insurers define Epilepsy?

If you suffer from epilepsy and you’re considering applying for travel insurance, it’s important to be aware of the way in which your condition is assessed by the insurance provider. The type and gravity of your condition will influence your premium. Categories include:

• Idiopathic Epilepsy. This is a form of epilepsy that occurs for no obvious reasons. It is recognised by the occurrence of major convulsions and a minor short blackout. The insurer will make an assessment based on lifestyle and the course of treatment.
• Symptomatic Epilepsy. Symptomatic epilepsy is usually a result of brain damage and, depending on the case, can result in a higher premium for your policy.
• Focal Epilepsy. This variation causes complex motor seizures which would result in a higher premium.

Finder survey: Which pre-existing medical conditions do Australians from different states have?

Do I need to declare my condition?

The onus is on you to disclose your condition to the insurer, especially if it’s not automatically covered as a pre-existing medical condition. If you develop the condition after purchasing travel insurance, it’s imperative to inform your insurer so that the contract can be modified accordingly. You will most likely be charged an additional premium for the modification.

How do I disclose Epilepsy?

When you apply for insurance and disclose a pre-existing medical condition like Epilepsy, you will typically go through the these steps:

Check if Epilepsy is completely excluded from your policy.

This will mean the you cannot get cover with the policy.

Check if Epilepsy is automatically included and under what conditions.

Automatically included Epilepsy cover will typically have a condition such as requiring not hospitalisations in the past 2 years. If you meet the conditions then you will be automatically covered.

If you do not meet the requirements, apply for special cover.

Some policies will let you apply using a declaration form.

Do I need to declare if I have taken medication for Epilepsy?

Yes, you must declare what type of medication you are using or when the last you used it was. Most travel insurance brands will cover epilepsy if your condition hasn’t changed within 12 months, or if you’re on only one course of anti-seizure medication. Depending on the variation and the kind of medication you’ve been prescribed, you might have to pay an additional premium.

Tips for travelling with Epilepsy

Here are a few tips to facilitate travelling with epilepsy.

• Be prepared. Have all your travel and personal documentation on hand in case of a medical emergency. Do research to find out about standard medical care procedure if you suffer seizures at your destination.
• Check your medication. Besides making sure that your medication is clearly marked with your name and the necessary dosage, it’s a good idea to store two or three sets of medication in different places (hand luggage, cabin bag, main luggage) in case you lose one.
• Get enough rest. Fatigue can be a trigger for seizures, so make sure you get enough rest on the flight or on the road. Split long journeys into smaller parts so that you can rest.

When won’t you be covered?

Most travel insurance policies will cover epilepsy as a pre-existing medical condition, but not if:

• You are on two or more anti-seizure medications, or
• Your medication regime remains unchanged for 12 months

In these cases, the terms of your travel insurance policy won’t cover the costs of medical assistance or hospitalisation.

Living with epilepsy doesn’t mean you can’t travel. Depending on the seriousness of your condition, most travel insurance policies will cover epilepsy as long as you show you can manage it responsibly.

Written by

Jessica Prasida

Travel Insurance Expert

Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio