Travel Insurance for Bipolar Disorder

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects a person's mood. People with a diagnosis might experience episodes of depression, when they feel very low and lethargic, and contrasting episodes of mania or hypomania, when they may feel unusually full of energy, need little sleep, and act on impulse. Between episodes however, many people feel well for long stretches of time.

It used to be called manic depression. Treatment is usually a combination of symptom recognition, talking therapies, and medication such as mood stabilisers. Some people also live with depression or anxiety alongside it. You can read more on the NHS bipolar disorder page.

Why do I need to declare bipolar disorder for travel insurance?

Bipolar disorder is a pre-existing medical condition, even when you’ve been well for years. Travel can disrupt sleep and routines, and an episode of mania or depression abroad might lead to a hospital stay, a flight home with an escort or a cancelled holiday.

We need to know so the screening can weigh that up. Leaving it off means a claim connected to your mental health could be refused or cut back.

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 bipolar disorder?

Yes, many people with bipolar disorder can, including those who have had a fairly recent episode, although it depends on the details.

Things that tend to affect whether cover is offered are how recently you last had an episode, any admission to a psychiatric unit, changes to your medication, and whether you’re under the care of a psychiatrist or community mental health team.

What we’ll ask about your bipolar disorder

Declaring your bipolar disorder online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about the medication you take and when you last had an episode. After that, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions you have.

Once you’ve finished the medical declaration, you’ll go through to the quote page. If your bipolar disorder and your other conditions can be covered, you’ll see a list of quotes, and the premium shown includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Bipolar can shift over a few weeks. If you have a new episode, your medication changes, you have a hospital admission, or you’re referred to a specialist service between now and departure, you must let us know. Your cover might need another look, your medical situation may have to go to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to continue with cover. A future claim can be affected or denied if a change in your medical isn’t reported.

What can bipolar travel insurance cover?

When your bipolar disorder has been accepted, emergency medical treatment abroad can be covered if you become unwell. Say you developed signs of mania on a long trip to Thailand and needed to be admitted to hospital; the emergency care could be included, along with repatriation if you had to fly home with a medical escort. Cover is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If an episode before departure means your doctor advises you not to go, cancellation cover may help you recover non-refundable costs. Changing your mind about travelling without that medical advice usually isn’t covered.

No policy pays for treatment you’d arranged to have abroad, or for anything connected to a condition you didn’t declare. Check the policy wording for the full list.

Will bipolar disorder affect the cost of travel insurance?

Bipolar disorder can affect the cost, and your screening result sets how much. Through our online medical screening, you’ll answer questions that may cover how your bipolar is treated and how well controlled it has been. Separately, your age, where you’re travelling and the length of your stay have their own effect. Before paying, you’ll see exactly what the policy costs.

Single trip or annual cover with bipolar disorder

For one holiday, single trip insurance keeps things simple. If you go away a few times a year, annual travel insurance could be worth a look, although it’s only available if your screening result allows it.

Travelling with bipolar disorder: practical tips

The points below are general suggestions. They don’t form part of your insurance.

Protect your sleep. Overnight flights, early starts and big time differences can all disrupt it, and for many people with bipolar, losing sleep is one of the quickest routes to a high. Where you can, choose flight times that let you sleep normally and plan a quiet first day once you land.

If you take lithium, heat needs some thought. Sweating a lot, or a bout of sickness and diarrhoea, can change your lithium levels. Drink plenty of water in hot places, and ask your GP or psychiatrist before you go what to do if you get a stomach bug while away.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to time your doses if you’re crossing several time zones. Pack enough for the whole trip and a few extra days, kept in your hand luggage in the original packaging. Our guide to travelling abroad with medication explains what to carry.

Having a plan for if things start to slip is sensible. You might want to:

1. share your early warning signs with whoever you’re travelling with
2. keep your care team’s contact details and a copy of any crisis plan on your phone
3. go easy on alcohol, which can affect your mood and some medicines
4. note the local emergency number and the nearest hospital before you arrive

How to get a quote

Add your travel dates and destination, work through the medical questions for bipolar disorder and anything else you need to declare, then choose your cover. You’ll see the price before you commit.

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.