Insurance & care access for festive travel
When you live with chronic pain or complex conditions, “it’ll probably be fine” is not a care plan. This guide turns your insurance and local care access into a simple map before you travel.
The aim is not to catastrophise. The aim is to know what to do if “probably fine” becomes “actually, not fine”.
1. Map your coverage in plain language
Before you book, look at:
- What your regular health cover does and does not include in the destination region.
- Any travel insurance you have – especially exclusions and pre-existing condition wording.
- Whether evacuation, repatriation or private hospital care are covered.
Write a four-line summary you can actually use:
- “If I need emergency care, I call: [number].”
- “In [country/region], I will likely need to: [pay then claim / show card / go to specific network].”
- “My chronic condition is / is not covered for flare-ups.”
- “My regular meds are [covered / partially covered / not covered].”
2. Program care access into your phone
Before leaving, add:
2.1 Insurance and emergency numbers
- Travel insurer emergency line, with country code and policy number in the contact notes.
- Local emergency number at the destination (not all countries use 112 or 999).
- Non-emergency medical helpline if one exists.
2.2 Local care options
- Nearest hospital or urgent care centre to where you are staying.
- Any specialised service you might realistically need (for example, anticoagulation clinic, dialysis centre, or neurologist on-call service – as relevant to you).
Label them clearly: “Travel Insurance – 24/7”, “Nearest ER – [city]”, not just numbers in a list.
3. Pack your medical identity
Create a small medical summary you can show quickly if needed. It might include:
- Main diagnoses or symptom clusters (in plain language if needed).
- Current medications, doses and schedules.
- Allergies and critical “do not give” meds.
- Key risks (for example: clotting history, seizure risk, serious heart or lung conditions).
- Implant or device details if relevant (for example: pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator).
Keep it:
- Printed in your wallet or passport case.
- Saved in your phone (and in a companion’s phone if you are travelling together).
4. Decide what counts as “go now” vs “monitor”
With your clinician before travel, define:
4.1 Red-flag symptoms
Situations where you seek urgent or emergency care, such as:
- New chest pain, severe breathlessness or signs of stroke.
- New significant weakness, confusion, collapse or major bleeding.
- Signs of serious infection (for example, very high fever plus other worrying features).
4.2 Amber-flag symptoms
Situations where you arrange same-day or next-day care:
- New but not immediately life-threatening symptoms.
- Usual flare symptoms behaving differently or much more intensely than normal.
4.3 Usual-flare symptoms
Flares you can manage with your established plan, as long as they behave like your normal pattern.
Write this in your own words. In a painful, scared moment you are unlikely to scroll through a policy document; you will reach for whatever is already simple.
5. Road, rail and multi-country trips
For multi-country trips by car, bus or train, add:
- At least one hospital or clinic near each major overnight stop.
- Clarity on ambulance coverage – some countries bill separately for this.
- Basic translated phrases describing your condition and key risks if there is a language barrier.
You do not need a hospital map for every kilometre. You just need enough waypoints that “something went wrong” does not equal “we have no idea where to go”.
Next steps with Ticked Bucket List
Insurance & care access – festive FAQs
What if I cannot afford full travel insurance?
If comprehensive cover is not possible, focus on what you can do: understand your existing health coverage, know where the nearest public hospital is, carry a clear medical summary and keep emergency numbers handy. It does not replace insurance, but it is still better than flying blind.
Do I need to tell insurers about every diagnosis?
Many policies require you to declare relevant pre-existing conditions. Not doing so can affect claims. This is a place to seek direct guidance from the insurer or a qualified advisor rather than guessing.
Should I travel with letters from my clinician?
For some people, letters explaining medications, devices (such as implanted stimulators) or need for mobility aids can be helpful, especially when crossing borders. Ask your clinician what is appropriate for your case.
What if I am unsure whether to seek care abroad or wait until I get home?
When in doubt, it is usually safer to seek at least telephone or telehealth advice rather than waiting. Red-flag symptoms should not wait for a return flight. Use your red/amber flag plan and emergency numbers as your guide.