Travel Insurance for Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition where a low mood persists for weeks or months and starts to affect sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and the things you used to enjoy. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, and is often accompanied by anxiety.

Most people are treated by their GP with talking therapies, antidepressants, or a combination of the two, and plenty recover fully. Some experience it once or twice, while fro others it is a lifelong battle. The NHS depression in adults page explains the symptoms and treatment options.

Why do I need to declare depression for travel insurance?

Depression counts as a pre-existing medical condition if you’ve been diagnosed or treated for it, even when it’s mild or you’re feeling better. Low mood can return without much warning, and cancelling because of it is a common claim, as is needing support while abroad.

People often leave it off, thinking it won’t matter on holiday. But if it isn’t declared, a related claim could be turned down 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 depression?

Usually, yes. Many people with depression, from mild to more severe, can be offered cover.

The details that tend to count are how long ago you were diagnosed, your current treatment, any time spent in hospital, and whether you’re seeing a psychiatrist or crisis team rather than just your GP.

What we’ll ask about your depression

Our online medical screening is quick and straightforward. You’ll answer a handful of questions about your depression, and whether you've also been diagnosed with anxiety. 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 depression 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

Mental health can change between booking and travelling. If, before your trip, you start a new antidepressant or have your dose altered, you’re admitted to hospital, you’re referred to a specialist service, or you receive another diagnosis, you must let us know. It may mean reviewing your cover or referring your medical situation to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to proceed with cover. Not telling us about a change in your medical can lead to a future claim being affected or denied.

What can depression travel insurance cover?

With depression accepted, you can be covered for emergency medical treatment if you become unwell while away. If, for example, your mental health took a sharp turn for the worse in Portugal and you needed urgent assessment in hospital, that care could be included, as could bringing you home with medical support if needed. All cover is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Depression can also get worse in the weeks before a trip. If your doctor advises you not to travel, cancellation cover may refund the costs you can’t get back elsewhere, provided the condition was declared and accepted.

Planned treatment abroad isn’t covered, and neither is anything linked to a condition left off the policy.

Will depression affect the cost of travel insurance?

Depending on your screening result, depression could change the price of your policy. The online screening may ask how your depression is treated and how well controlled your symptoms are at present. A few everyday details count as well, such as how old you are, your destination and how long the trip lasts. Whatever the outcome, you’ll know the price before you buy.

Single trip or annual cover with depression

A single trip policy is enough for one break. Frequent travellers may prefer annual cover, which is offered depending on your screening result and saves buying a new policy each time.

Travelling with depression: practical tips

These are general suggestions to help you look after yourself on a trip. They aren’t part of your cover.

Go at your own pace. Holidays come with an expectation of having a brilliant time, and that can feel like pressure when your mood is low. A shorter trip, a familiar place or a quieter itinerary is a perfectly good choice.

Don’t run out of antidepressants. Stopping suddenly can cause unpleasant withdrawal effects, so take enough for the whole trip plus a few spare days, split between bags if you can, with your main supply in hand luggage. If you’re changing time zones, a pharmacist can suggest how to adjust when you take them. Our guide to travelling abroad with medication covers packing and paperwork.

Keep some routine going. Getting outside in daylight, eating regular meals and going to bed at roughly the usual time all help, even on holiday. Alcohol can lower your mood and doesn’t mix well with some antidepressants, so it’s worth keeping an eye on how much you drink in the sun.

If you have a therapist or a GP you see regularly, ask how you can reach them while you’re away, or what to do if you have a bad few days. Telling someone you’re travelling with how they can help is often a relief. If you also live with anxiety, our anxiety travel insurance page has more ideas.

How to get a quote

Start with where and when you’re going, then answer the screening questions about your depression and any other conditions. Choose your cover and the price is shown before you pay anything.

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.