- Epilepsy is a pre-existing medical condition that must be declared. Government guidance states that failing to declare something may invalidate a travel insurance policy.
- Specialist screening typically asks about seizure type, seizure frequency, how long since the last seizure, and current medication, rather than a simple yes or no question.
- Staysure, Avanti and AllClear each state they can cover more than 1,300 medical conditions, with Staysure and AllClear stating no upper age limit.
- According to the Association of British Insurers, members paid 472 million pounds across more than 500,000 travel claims in 2024, of which medical claims accounted for 262 million pounds.
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is not a substitute for travel insurance. The NHS confirms it does not cover repatriation or private treatment, and seizure-related emergencies abroad can involve both.
How epilepsy cover differs from a standard policy
Epilepsy is treated by insurers as a declarable pre-existing medical condition. The distinction matters because a standard off-the-shelf policy bought without medical declaration usually excludes anything connected to a known condition. If a seizure abroad leads to hospital admission, an undeclared diagnosis can leave the claim unpaid.
The government's foreign travel insurance guidance is direct on this point: travellers should declare existing conditions or pending treatment, and failing to declare something may invalidate the policy. The same guidance notes that cover should run for the full length of the trip and include both state and private hospital treatment, plus emergency transport such as an ambulance, which is often charged separately to other medical costs.
Because epilepsy varies widely between individuals, insurers that accept it do so through medical screening rather than a flat acceptance or rejection. That screening sets the price and the terms, and it is where the detail for an epilepsy diagnosis is captured.
What the medical screening asks
Screening questions for epilepsy are more granular than a single tick box. AllClear, for example, states that its screening covers epilepsy type, seizure frequency, duration, and current medications. Avanti and Staysure run comparable declaration processes covering conditions for which the traveller has had medication, treatment or advice, typically within the previous two years.
Several themes recur in epilepsy screening:
- Seizure stability. How long it has been since the last seizure is a standard question. A longer seizure-free period is generally treated differently from frequent or recent seizures.
- Seizure type and frequency. Tonic-clonic, focal, absence and other types may be screened differently, alongside how often they occur.
- Medication. Current anti-epileptic medication, recent dose changes, and whether a regime is settled are commonly asked about.
- Recent changes. Pending tests, a planned change of treatment, or a recent review can all affect the outcome of a declaration.
Answering these accurately is what makes the resulting cover valid. Avanti's guidance asks about any pre-existing conditions in the last two years even if they have been treated or feel under control, which is consistent with how a settled but ongoing condition such as epilepsy is handled.
Cover limits and exclusions to check
Once epilepsy is declared and accepted, the policy should extend to seizure-related emergencies, but the surrounding limits still vary by tier. The figures below are taken from the providers' own published cover tables and should be confirmed at the point of quote.
Emergency medical expenses are the headline figure for any condition that can require hospital care abroad. AllClear publishes 10 million pounds on its Gold tier, 15 million pounds on Gold Plus, and unlimited cover on Platinum. Staysure states up to unlimited emergency medical expenses on its Comprehensive and Signature policies. Cancellation cover is a separate limit: AllClear ranges from 2,000 pounds to 25,000 pounds across its tiers, while Staysure states cancellation cover up to 15,000 pounds.
Points to check specifically for epilepsy:
- Medical excess and the GHIC waiver. Government guidance notes some insurers waive the medical excess where an EHIC or GHIC is used for state treatment in an eligible country.
- Activities. Some pursuits need a specialist add-on. Driving abroad and certain sports may also carry condition-specific caveats worth reading.
- Repatriation. Confirm that medically necessary repatriation is included, since a GHIC does not cover it.
- Connected complications. Cover should extend to complications arising from the declared condition, not only the seizure event itself.
Providers offering cover in this segment
The following UK providers publicly state that they screen and cover declarable medical conditions, including a structured screening path relevant to epilepsy. Each is listed with verified regulatory detail.
Staysure is a trading name of TICORP Limited, registered in Gibraltar and trading into the UK on a freedom of services basis under FCA FRN 663617, with policies administered by Howserv Limited (FRN 599282). Staysure states it covers more than 1,300 medical conditions, has no upper age limit, offers cancellation cover up to 15,000 pounds, and provides up to unlimited emergency medical expenses on its Comprehensive and Signature policies.
Avanti is also a trading name of TICORP Limited (FCA FRN 663617), administered by Howserv Limited (FRN 599282), with cover underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE. Avanti states it can cover more than 1,300 medical conditions, asks about pre-existing conditions from the last two years, and states cover is available at any age.
AllClear arranges insurance through IES Limited (Gibraltar, FCA FRN 824283), with policies administered by AllClear Insurance Services Limited (FCA FRN 311244). AllClear states it covers more than 1,300 medical conditions, applies no upper age limit, and reports that 62 percent of its customers have more than one pre-existing condition. Its epilepsy screening explicitly covers seizure type, frequency, duration and medication.
Two of these brands, Staysure and Avanti, share the same TICORP regulatory entity but sit on different underwriting and tier structures, so a quote from each can differ. Comparing the screening outcome and the medical and cancellation limits side by side is more informative than comparing brand names alone.
Common pitfalls
The recurring mistakes with epilepsy cover tend to be procedural rather than about price.
- Assuming epilepsy is automatically covered. It is declarable. A standard policy bought without declaration may exclude any connected claim.
- Under-declaring. Omitting a recent seizure, a medication change or a pending review can give the insurer grounds to decline a claim. The screening detail is what makes the cover valid.
- Treating a GHIC as enough. It covers medically necessary state treatment in eligible countries but not repatriation, private care, or rescue costs.
- Overlooking trip length and activities. Cover must span the whole trip, and some activities need an add-on.
- Not re-screening after a change. If a condition changes after the policy is bought, the insurer may need to be told.
If a quote comes back declined or unaffordable, that is not the end of the route to cover. The signposting block below points to a directory of specialist providers operated by a public body.
If you find it difficult to get cover because of a pre-existing condition, the Money and Pensions Service operates a travel insurance directory of specialist providers via its MoneyHelper service. Visit the MoneyHelper travel insurance directory or call the Money Helper Customer Contact Centre on 0800 138 7777 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
