Did you know that when traveling overseas, there is a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with 11 other countries that covers the cost of medically necessary care, and vice versa for visitors from those countries visiting Australia.
The countries participating in this agreement are Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. You can find out more information clicking the here
I would still highly recommend getting travel insurance, making sure that medical screening is part of the process to make sure you are fully covered for peace of mind. You will need to declare all pre-existing health conditions. There usually is a premium on certain conditions which can bump up the price of travel insurance, but MS can be very unpredictable and we need to make sure we can have access to medical when we need it.
There are several insurance companies that pre-screen medical such as 'Covermore' and 'Insure n go'. We can't really recommend one over the other, but if you google travel insurance you will find plenty of information. Only tip is to make sure you cover the pre-medical so you will have no worries specially if you need to make a claim.
Also while you are traveling, did you know that NDIS participants can access support while overseas! As long as it aligns with your goals, you can access the same assistance. Whether you need to purchase incontinence pads, a support worker, or hiring equipment.... all this can be achieved and claimed for utilising your NDIS funding. This is more so for participants that are Plan or Self Managed. I would recommend double checking with your plan manager, LAC, Support Coordinator or the NDIS direct. You may find you get mixed responses so I would suggest starting with your plan manager. I am unsure how this scenario works for Agency Managed participants so you will need to discuss options with your point of contact on your plan.
Another great tip is to make sure any medications are packed in your onboard luggage. Ask your GP for a letter stating what medication you will be taking, and what its purpose is for. You need to be aware of the country you are visiting, and if there are any restrictions for certain class drugs. What we deem as necessary here, but may be deemed illegal so it is best to do your research to avoid any unwanted police attention.
If you are travelling with a motorised wheelchair or scooter, I highly recommend emailing the airline to get permission to fly with your equipment. There are certain regulations that they need to follow so make sure you do this well ahead of time to avoid any travel shocks if you are denied travel. That may seem harsh but it has happened before, and you need to make sure you cover everything. Also, don't forget to let the airport know that you need a little extra help. This can remove so much anxiety from travelling especially when dealing with our MS symptoms. Travelling can be stressful enough so if you need assistance make sure to let them know so they can accommodate you and your needs.
Here’s a fun fact, did you know that you can use your disability parking permit in some overseas countries, how nifty is that! It’s always a good idea though to check to see what the rules and regulations may be at your holiday destination.
Disability shouldn't exclude us from travelling, we just need to be ultra prepared so I hope this blog post has helped you a little.
Do you have any travel tips for fellow MS'ers?
You can join us on our private Facebook group to share. This group is for people on the Central Coast NSW, Australia, that are diagnosed with MS, carers or loved ones with MS. This is to keep our local MS community safe and provide a place we can all feel comfortable to share and vent.