- This page has been taken from Encephalitis – a guide, which is available
from our Online
Shop
- This page can be downloaded as a
Fact Sheet
When, following encephalitis, people have problems with fatigue or need a structured
environment in which to function, the holidays can be a difficult time. In most
families, holidays and the holiday season are full of the added stress of travelling,
new places, visiting relatives, additional entertaining, shopping, and extraordinary
confusion. For people with low tolerance to noise and changes in their environment,
they can become overloaded, and shut down cognitively. Therefore, it is wise to
consider planning around problem areas for an enjoyable holiday time.
Insurance is an essential investment for anyone planning to travel or go on holiday,
covering such things as illness, accident or loss of luggage. If you book a package
or through a travel company, insurance is often included as part of the price. If
you have epilepsy as a consequence of encephalitis, it is worth taking a closer
look at the details of the policy, to see whether pre-existing medical conditions
are covered. There are companies that specialise in providing cover for people that
have a history of a pre - existing medical condition/s. What might be required by
the insurer is a letter confirming that the individual is fit to travel.
The British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) are an independent service www.biba.org.uk
Under the Disability Discrimination Act, holiday insurance companies should not
weight a premium simply because a person has a pre-existing medical condition. Each
company should consider the person’s circumstances before giving a quote.
Often this means speaking to someone in the medical department of the company, who
will ask various questions about any pre-existing condition. A premium may then
be added, based on the risk of any condition. It may be worth contacting a few insurance
companies to see who can offer the best policy and cover.
The Doctor Babel website enables individuals to create a simple medical record online
that can be translated accurately into many languages and printed www.doctorbabel.com .