Travel Insurance With FND: What to Declare and Check

Having Functional Neurological Disorder does not automatically stop you getting travel insurance. The important part is to answer the insurer’s medical questions accurately, make sure FND-related problems are not silently excluded, and keep written proof of what the policy will cover.

By FND Connect 5 August 2026 Travel and insurance

A traveller seated at home reviewing blank insurance information beside an open suitcase, medicine organiser and walking stick

The quick answer

Do not assume FND is covered just because a quote was accepted. Follow the medical screening exactly. Name FND when the questions capture it, explain the symptoms and treatment the insurer asks about, and check the final policy schedule or medical endorsement.

If a question is unclear, ask: “Does this policy cover emergency treatment, cancellation and repatriation if the cause is connected to my FND or functional seizures?” Keep the reply in writing. Travel insurance is a contract, so the policy wording and your answers matter more than a verbal reassurance that you “should be fine”.

Prepare before you start a quote

Online screening can feel blunt when FND does not fit a tidy box. Having a short factual summary beside you makes it easier to answer consistently without minimising or catastrophising.

Your diagnosis and when it was made
The symptom names you have actually been given, such as functional seizures, weakness, tremor, gait symptoms or speech symptoms
Current medicines, doses and what they are prescribed for
Recent appointments, tests, referrals, hospital treatment or changes in treatment
Any trip cancellation, emergency treatment or assistance needs that could realistically arise

MoneyHelper’s medical-condition guidance says insurers may ask about the condition, how daily activities are affected and special arrangements or equipment. Definitions and look-back periods vary, so answer the question on the screen rather than using somebody else’s insurer as a rule.

What should you declare?

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel-insurance guidance says to declare existing conditions and pending treatment or tests so related complications can be covered. It also warns that failing to declare something can invalidate insurance.

That does not mean guessing what the insurer wants. The Financial Ombudsman Service’s current guidance on misrepresentation explains that the questions should be clear and specific and that a consumer must take reasonable care to answer them correctly. If the question covers a diagnosis, symptoms, medication, investigations or treatment that apply to you, include them.

A simple screening script

“I have Functional Neurological Disorder. My diagnosed symptoms are [list only yours]. I have [had/not had] functional seizures, blackouts or falls. My current treatment and medicines are [brief facts]. I am [waiting/not waiting] for tests, referral or treatment. Please confirm whether FND-related cancellation, emergency care and repatriation are covered, excluded or subject to an extra premium.”

If the screening system does not recognise “Functional Neurological Disorder”, do not quietly choose an unrelated diagnosis. Contact the insurer, explain the wording problem and ask how it wants the answer recorded. Note the date, adviser’s name and reference number, then request written confirmation.

Describe functional seizures accurately

Functional seizures are real episodes, but they are not epileptic seizures. Do not call them epilepsy unless you have also been diagnosed with epilepsy. At the same time, do not omit an episode because the form uses words such as seizure, blackout, loss of awareness or collapse.

NHS Inform’s FND guidance explains that functional seizures can involve loss of awareness or ability to interact and may look like epilepsy or a faint. An insurer may need the practical facts: warning, frequency, awareness, injuries, ambulance use, emergency treatment and the date of the last episode. Our functional seizures guide explains the distinction and everyday safety in more detail.

Compare cover, not only the premium

A cheap policy can be poor value if the event you are most worried about is excluded. Read the policy wording, insurance product information document and medical-screening endorsement together. Check:

Emergency medical treatment: is treatment related to declared FND symptoms covered?
Medical repatriation: will the insurer arrange and fund an appropriate return home if medically necessary?
Cancellation and cutting a trip short: which medical reasons are covered, and what evidence is required?
Companion costs: can somebody stay with you or accompany you home if the assistance team agrees it is necessary?
Mobility aids and medical equipment: what are the item limits, exclusions and evidence requirements?
Trip length, destinations and activities: are every country, transit stop, cruise or planned activity included?
Excesses: is there one excess per claim, per person, per section or per condition?

Ask who must authorise non-emergency treatment and how quickly you must contact the 24-hour assistance team. Keep the emergency number in your phone and on paper; a phone battery should not be the only way to reach it.

If your health changes after buying the policy

Do not assume a new diagnosis, new symptom, medicine change, test, referral or hospital visit can wait until renewal. Read the policy’s “change in health” or ongoing disclosure term.

The Financial Ombudsman Service guidance on a change in health says that, where a policy asks for it, significant changes should be reported even while someone is waiting for a diagnosis. The insurer may continue cover, change the terms, charge more or say it cannot cover the changed risk. Ask what happens to cancellation cover before cancelling the trip yourself.

If you think an insurer treated a disclosure or claim unfairly, complain to the insurer first. Keep the quote questions, answers, policy versions, medical endorsement, emails, call references and decision letter. The Financial Ombudsman Service can consider eligible unresolved complaints; it does not replace the insurer’s complaint process.

If cover is expensive or refused

One insurer’s answer is not the whole market. Try more than one quote and compare the actual medical cover. A single-trip policy can produce a different result from an annual policy, and destination, trip length or activities can change the risk.

MoneyHelper maintains a travel insurance directory for people with medical conditions. It can help you find specialist providers when standard comparison sites do not fit. Inclusion in a directory is not a promise that a provider will cover FND, so still complete screening and read the terms.

Do not remove FND-related cover simply to make a quote affordable without understanding the consequence. Ask the insurer to show exactly what would be excluded and consider whether a nearer destination, shorter trip or different booking terms changes the decision.

A GHIC helps, but it is not travel insurance

A UK Global Health Insurance Card can provide access to medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries on the same basis as a resident. Apply through the official NHS route; the card is free.

The NHS Business Services Authority is explicit that a GHIC or valid EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. It may not cover every healthcare cost and does not cover private care or repatriation. Carry both the card and suitable insurance when the destination is covered by the scheme.

Insurance and airport assistance are separate

Telling an insurer about FND does not book help at the airport. If walking distance, queues, sensory load, a mobility aid or unpredictable symptoms create a barrier, contact the airline, tour operator or booking agent separately.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s assisted-travel guidance recommends requesting assistance when booking or at least 48 hours before travel. Confirm what help is arranged at each airport and connection. Ask about mobility aids, medical equipment, seating, boarding and what staff can and cannot do during the flight.

Our flying with FND guide covers airport pacing, cabin planning and a cabin crew letter. It answers whether and how the journey feels manageable; this article answers whether the financial risks are covered.

Plan medicines and equipment

Keep medicines in original labelled packaging and carry a copy of the prescription or medication list.
Ask a pharmacist or prescriber whether any medicine contains a controlled drug.
Check the destination country’s rules, including transit countries, before travel.
Ask the airline how to carry larger liquids, sharps, batteries or medical equipment.
Pack essential medicine and documents where you can reach them; allow for reasonable delays.

GOV.UK medicine travel guidance says people leaving the UK with medicine containing a controlled drug should be able to prove it is theirs with a prescription or clinician’s letter and must check the destination country’s rules. Do not assume a medicine legal in the UK is automatically legal elsewhere.

Build a small travel document pack

Keep a paper copy and a secure digital copy that a trusted companion can find. Include only what is useful:

Policy number, medical-screening confirmation and 24-hour assistance number
GHIC or EHIC details where relevant
Medication list, allergies and clinician letter if needed
A short FND explanation and your usual episode response plan
Emergency contact and accommodation details
Airline assistance confirmation and mobility-aid description

If you track episodes or recovery patterns, a concise summary can be more useful than handing over months of private notes. SeizeControl can help organise your own records for appointments and planning; it does not decide fitness to travel or insurance cover.

If symptoms happen abroad

Use local emergency services when the situation is urgent.
Contact the insurer’s medical assistance team as soon as reasonably possible.
Follow the policy process before arranging non-emergency private treatment or changing travel plans.
Keep medical reports, receipts, transport evidence and written advice.
Do not sign an unfamiliar discharge, payment or insurance document without asking what it means.

An insurer’s helpline is not an emergency service. Get urgent medical help first when delay would be unsafe, then contact the insurer.

Do not assume a new symptom is FND

FND can fluctuate, but new, sudden, severe or clearly different symptoms should not automatically be treated as your usual FND. Seek urgent local medical help when needed. University Hospitals Plymouth advises that new symptoms should be assessed to decide whether they are due to FND or something different; our flare or medical emergency guide gives a safety-first framework.

The final check before you pay

I answered the medical questions fully and saved the answers.
FND and relevant symptoms are shown on the policy or medical endorsement.
I know what is covered for cancellation, emergency care and repatriation.
I checked exclusions, excesses, destinations, trip length and activities.
I know whether health changes must be reported before departure or each trip.
I separately booked any airline or airport assistance.
My medicines, documents and emergency contacts are ready.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to declare FND to a travel insurer?

Answer the insurer’s medical questions fully and accurately. If FND, related symptoms, appointments, tests or treatment fall within what it asks, declare them. If the wording is unclear, ask the insurer and keep its written answer rather than guessing.

Is FND a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance?

Insurers define pre-existing conditions in their own policy wording. FND that was diagnosed, symptomatic, investigated or treated before cover began is likely to be relevant to medical screening, but the policy and questions decide what must be disclosed.

Does a GHIC cover FND treatment abroad?

A valid GHIC can give access to medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries on the same basis as a resident. It does not replace travel insurance and does not cover private treatment or medical repatriation.

What if standard insurers will not cover my FND?

Try more than one provider and compare cover, not only price. MoneyHelper has a travel insurance directory for people with medical conditions. A single-trip policy, different destination or specialist provider may offer different options, but cover is never guaranteed.

Is telling the insurer the same as booking airport assistance?

No. Insurance disclosure and airline or airport assistance are separate. If you need assistance, tell the airline, tour operator or agent when booking or preferably at least 48 hours before travel, and confirm exactly what has been arranged.

Sources and review

Reviewed 5 August 2026. This guide explains general UK travel-insurance and travel-planning information, not personal financial, legal or medical advice. Policy terms and individual decisions vary.