Travelling is the act of moving from one location to another, typically for leisure, business, or exploration, often involving transportation such as cars, planes, or trains.
Tips & Links
It is important to make certain considerations when travelling with a health condition and/or a disability to ensure access to necessary health care, manage potential health risks, and ensure a safe and comfortable trip.
Learn More
Your Personal Needs
- Visit your physician or nurse practitioner 3 months before leave on an extensive trip to confirm your medications, discuss suggested vaccinations, and to plan what to do if you become unwell.
- Review basic healthy travelling tips and suggestions from Healthlink BC.
- Seek out research-based information on travelling with specific health conditions or disabilities such as travelling with Diabetes, oxygen therapy, and others from Healthlink BC.
- Meet with your pharmacist to plan out your required medications and to ensure the appropriate amount can be taken with you in a labelled container.
- Contact hotels and transport vehicles to ask if they are accessible and if they can accommodate any of your mobility or health concerns.
- Inquire if the airports you are travelling through provide any special programs for assistance including curbside pick-up.
- Learn about Vancouver International Airport (YVR) sunflower program to support people with invisible disabilities and or health conditions.
Vaccinations
- Review risks for travelling outside of Canada and suggested vaccines from the Government of Canada.
- Review the travel immunization guidelines from Healthlink BC.
Insurance
- Travel-insurance is recommended for anyone, especially seniors and those with existing health conditions, travelling outside of the province for any length of time as outlined by the Government of Canada.
- Know that your Medical Services Plan (MSP) may provide only limited coverage to residents travelling outside of the province or country as stated by the Government of BC.
Things You Can Do
Insurance
- Check all travel insurance policies for limitations and exclusions of coverage. It is important to declare any pre-existing health conditions.
- Know that BC-PharmaCare does not cover or reimburse for medications or medical supplies purchased outside of BC. Plan ahead and purchase your medications and over the counter (OTC) drugs for the length of your trip.
- Learn about the recommendations for travelling vaccines if planning to travel outside of Canada from Healthlink BC. Record any updated vaccines on your health profile.
- Review your health benefits or credit cards include travel insurance coverage, such as emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation protection, and flight delay compensation,
- Learn about the recommendations for travelling vaccines if planning to travel outside of Canada from Healthlink BC. Record any updated vaccines on your health profile.
Update your Health Profile, Medication List and Health Care & Business Professional list to have with you in print or digital formats when travelling. Mywell Health was developed to help you keep all your health and lifestyle information in one place.