Travel Insurance for Chickenpox

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a common viral illness, one of the infectious conditions most people meet in childhood. It starts with itchy red spots that fill with fluid, turn into blisters and then crust over. A temperature, aches and feeling generally unwell often come along with the rash.

For most children it clears up on its own in a week or two. Adults, pregnant women, newborn babies and anyone with a weakened immune system can be more seriously affected, so they may need treatment. Chickenpox is very catching from a day or two before the spots appear until every spot has crusted over. The NHS chickenpox page explains the symptoms and when to get help.

Why do I need to declare chickenpox for travel insurance?

Chickenpox is usually short-lived, so it only becomes a pre-existing medical condition if you have it now, had it very recently or are dealing with complications. We need to know because a current case means you’re infectious and may have to put off travelling, which could lead to a cancellation. Complications like a chest infection can also need treatment abroad.

If a recent or ongoing case isn’t declared, a related claim 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 chickenpox?

Usually, yes. Whether cover is offered for a current or recent case depends on your screening result. Catching chickenpox for the first time while you’re away is different, and would normally count as a new illness. Complications such as a chest or skin infection, a hospital stay or chickenpox during pregnancy are the kinds of things that can change the outcome.

What we’ll ask about your chickenpox

Declaring your chickenpox online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about when the spots appeared and whether you’re still infectious. 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 chickenpox 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

Chickenpox can spread through a household quickly. If you or someone travelling with you comes down with chickenpox, you need new medication, you have a hospital stay, or you’re diagnosed with something new between now and departure, 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 chickenpox travel insurance cover?

With your chickenpox declared and accepted, a related emergency abroad can be covered like any other. Say an infected blister turned into cellulitis while you were in Lanzarote and you needed hospital treatment. Emergency medical costs can be covered, and so can repatriation if you need help getting home. This is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Chickenpox often turns up at the worst moment, a few days before a family holiday. If you or a travelling companion can’t go because of it, cancellation cover may help you recover non-refundable costs, depending on the policy wording. Airlines often refuse boarding to anyone with spots that haven’t crusted over, which is worth knowing before you head to the airport.

The policy won’t pay for treatment you planned to have abroad, or for claims linked to anything you were asked about and didn’t declare.

Will chickenpox affect the cost of travel insurance?

Chickenpox can have an effect on the price, depending on what the screening shows. If you need to declare it, online medical screening may ask how it’s being treated and how well it’s controlled. The usual factors of age, destination and trip length apply as well. Nothing is final until you’ve seen the quote, and you can look at it before you buy.

Single trip or annual cover with chickenpox

For one holiday, single trip insurance keeps things simple. If you travel more often, annual travel insurance covers every trip in the year, and whether it’s available alongside your medical history depends on the screening result.

Travelling with chickenpox: practical tips

The advice below is general and has nothing to do with what your policy covers.

Wait until every spot has crusted over before you travel. Until then you are infectious, and many airlines and ferry operators will not carry you. That usually takes around five days from when the spots first appear, but it varies, so check before you set off. If your airline asks for a note confirming you are no longer infectious, a GP can usually help.

Think about who you will be near. Chickenpox can be serious for pregnant women, newborn babies and people with a weakened immune system, and a plane cabin or a busy pool is hard to avoid people in. If you aren’t sure if you’re still catching, ask a pharmacist or call NHS 111 before travelling.

Healing skin is sensitive. Keep scabs and new skin out of strong sun, wear loose cotton clothing and pack whatever has been soothing the itch, such as cooling gel or a moisturiser. Keep nails short, especially for children, as scratched spots can become infected.

If you’ve had chickenpox in the past, the virus stays in your body and can return later as shingles. A painful band of rash on one side of the body while you’re away needs looking at, ideally within a few days, as antiviral treatment works best when started early.

How to get a quote

Enter your trip details, answer any medical questions that apply to you, then choose your cover. You’ll see your price before you buy.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Infectious Pages

• Abscesses Travel Insurance
• Brain Abscess Travel Insurance
• Breast Abscess Travel Insurance
• Cellulitis Travel Insurance
• Chickenpox Travel Insurance
• Glandular Fever Travel Insurance
• HIV Travel Insurance
• Influenza Travel Insurance
• Lyme Disease Travel Insurance
• Meningitis Travel Insurance
• Norovirus Travel Insurance
• Sepsis Travel Insurance
• Tuberculosis 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.