Travel Insurance for Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Everyone feels anxious sometimes. It becomes a mental health condition when the worry is strong, hard to control and goes on long enough to get in the way of everyday life. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common diagnosis, and it often comes with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, tense muscles, poor sleep and feeling on edge.

Anxiety can be treated. GPs usually suggest self-help and talking therapies first, and medication for some people. Anxiety often turns up alongside depression or panic disorder. The NHS page on generalised anxiety disorder has more detail.

Why do I need to declare anxiety for travel insurance?

If you’ve been diagnosed, prescribed medication or referred for therapy, anxiety counts as a pre-existing medical condition. A bad spell before you leave is one of the more common reasons for cancelling, and severe symptoms abroad can occasionally mean seeing a doctor or going to hospital.

Some people assume it doesn’t count. But if anxiety isn’t declared, a claim connected to it, including cancellation, could be refused or reduced.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with anxiety?

Most people with anxiety can. Whether cover is offered can depend on a variety of factors, including how long you’ve been diagnosed, how the condition is managed, whether you have a psychiatrist or mental health team, and inpatient admissions.

What we’ll ask about your anxiety

Our online medical screening is quick and straightforward. You’ll answer a handful of questions about your anxiety, covering the medication you take and whether you’re under a specialist service. Once this condition is done, carry on and declare any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

When the medical declaration is complete, you’ll move on to the quote page. Where your anxiety and any other conditions are coverable, a list of quotes appears, with the cost of covering your medical already built into the premium. If cover isn’t possible, you’ll find out before you proceed.

If your health changes before travelling

Anxiety can come and go in the run-up to a trip. If, before your trip, you get a new prescription or a change of dose, you’re referred to a specialist service, you have a hospital admission, or you receive a new diagnosis, you must let us know. We may have to review your cover and refer your medical details to the underwriters, and sometimes we may not be able to proceed with cover. If changes in your medical go unreported, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can anxiety travel insurance cover?

With anxiety accepted, emergency medical treatment abroad can be covered if you become unwell. For example, if severe chest pain and breathlessness in Dubai led to a hospital visit and it turned out to be an anxiety attack, the emergency care could be included. Repatriation can be too, if medically needed. This is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If your mental health deteriorates before your trip and a doctor advises you not to travel, cancellation cover may refund non-refundable costs. Cancelling because you feel nervous about going, without that medical advice, is usually not covered.

Planned treatment abroad and anything connected to a condition you didn’t declare won’t be paid.

Will anxiety affect the cost of travel insurance?

It may affect what you pay, but that depends on how the screening goes. During online medical screening you could be asked how your anxiety is treated and how well it’s controlled day to day. General factors like age, destination and the length of the trip are weighed up too. There’s no obligation, and the price is in front of you before you buy.

Single trip or annual cover with anxiety

If your anxiety is well managed and you travel a few times a year, annual travel insurance may suit you, depending on your screening result. Otherwise, single trip cover works for one holiday.

Travelling with anxiety: practical tips

These are general ideas for making travel feel more manageable. They are not part of the insurance.

Uncertainty is often the hardest part, so reduce it where you can. Print your documents, check transfers in advance and look at photos of the airport or hotel so the places feel familiar before you arrive. Giving yourself more time than you need at the airport takes away one source of pressure.

Many airports offer help through their special assistance service, including for hidden disabilities. The sunflower lanyard is recognised at lots of UK airports and can let staff know you might need more time or support.

Keep up the techniques that work at home, whether that’s breathing exercises, a mindfulness app or going for a walk. Try not to rely on alcohol to calm nerves on the flight, as it can make anxiety worse afterwards.

Sleep often suffers when you travel, especially across time zones, and tiredness can make anxiety harder to handle. A gentler first day after you land, rather than a packed itinerary, gives you room to settle in.

Take enough medication for the whole trip plus a few extra days, in your hand luggage. Some anxiety medicines are controlled in other countries, so read our guide to travelling abroad with medication before you go. If flying is the main worry, our fear of flying page may help too.

How to get a quote

Tell us about the trip, answer the questions on your anxiety and any other conditions, then decide on your cover. The price is there before you pay.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Mental Health Pages

• Anorexia Travel Insurance
• Anxiety Travel Insurance
• Aviophobia Travel Insurance
• Bipolar Travel Insurance
• Claustrophobia Travel Insurance
• Depression Travel Insurance
• Eating Disorders Travel Insurance
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Travel Insurance
• Panic Disorder Travel Insurance
• Personality Disorders Travel Insurance
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Travel Insurance

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.