mental health issue

We have a major problem( yes Another one maybe we are not destined to go to WDW)My sister in law has been admitted to hosp with a breakdown .
Advice needed re
What questions are asked re mental health on the Via waiver form?
Are there restictions on flying wih certain conditions?
Hs anyone any experience of travelling with a patient like this?
I think she will not end up coming with us but she is so holding onto this holiday that I feel terrible even considering her not coming.
The other problem is her insurance, I found out yesterday that because she was not on medicaion when we booked she never declared her previous mental health problems to me this will invalidate her cover. What is mental healhcare like in the US?
If anyone has any word of wisdom please help

Sorry to hear about your problem. I'm no expert but I think you'll find that most insurance companies have problems with undeclared health problems and even more so if it leads to a claim as they'd probably refuse to pay out.

I've just checked a couple of online insurance sites out which state as exclusions to the policy

Any person, including those not travelling, whose condition may give rise to a claim:

Has during the twelve months prior to taking out this insurance (or if Annual Multi-Trip, prior to booking each separate Trip) suffered from any chronic and/or recurring illness of a serious nature which has necessitated consultation or treatment or has been referred for further investigations UNLESS DECLARED TO AND ACCEPTED
Is suffering from any previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, anxiety or depression;

The problem is in taking someone with you who may not be covered by insurance and who may not be fit enough to travel.

I've forgotten when you're travelling and how long you have to your departure date? If it's near, I would do two things - get your sister in law to obtain a medical certificate of fitness to travel from her GP or health care provider (ie hospital, clinic, etc) and also check out that the travel insurance will cover her should she have a recurrence whilst she's away - they will ask about her medication.

If you haven't declared her previous medical history on the insurance, you could try to get another insurance policy by starting from the beginning and declaring everything to see if any other travel insurance company will accept her.

If either of these don't pan out, then you have a serious problem I would think with taking her with you which will make it impossible for her to travel. If she does travel and take a risk, remember how much health care costs in the US and whether the possibility of paying $000s or even $000,000s is a worthwhile risk. I'd personally say it wasn't and it would be better to disappoint your sister in law rather than take that risk but only your family can decide.

Hi Firsttimer, sorry to hear about you sister in law.

I would say you will find it hard to get holiday insurance as well we know i have been trying to get insurance for my sister who suffered a stroke last year and also had open heart surgery and some mental health problems and we have not been able to get insurance for her because of these, i would say tell your insurance company because your insurance will be voided if they find out that you knew about this before you travelled.

Good luck and pass on our throught to your sister and family.

The visa waiver form does include a question about mental health issues,I cant remember the exact wording but it is definitely one of the declarations on the back of the form.Sorry.

Lesley

It depends on what you mean by a 'breakdown'. If it was a case of uncomplicated depression and she improves with treatment, I cannot see a problem. But if it was something more serious, like manic Depression or Schizophrenia, it would be a lot harder, especially if your sis-in-law has a history of violence. Also, if the admission was under a 'Section' of the Mental Health Act rather than voluntary, it would be a problem.

I agree with the bit about your Insurance Company. If a company decides that a customer witheld important information, not only will the policy be voided, one might face legal action under certain circumstances (eg what they perceive as a fraudulent claim).

Sorry to sound so negative, but it is better that you are aware of the implications while still in the UK than face up to something unexpected in a strange country.

Another thing. Quite apart from the eligibility, Insurance and financial implications, I would not even think about getting your sister-in-law Mental Health treatment in the US, except in an emergency. Without going into details (which might elicit an unwated debate in these forums), the approach to MH treatment in the two countries are quite different. It would NOT be in the best interest of your relative to make such a change when she is under ongoing care of a British Mental Health team, unless she is going to live in the US.

They have not yet given her current condition a name but she was admitted because she attacked my mother in law. They said unless she went voluntarily, within 2 days she would have deteriorated and would need sectioning. In my heart of hearts I know she cannot really travel, particularly as I now have seen the waiver form which asks about mental illness. If I am reading it right it means if you answer YES then you need a visa, which if she was interviewd for she would not be granted at the moment and we only have 10 weeks till we travel. It is such a shame that after being ok for so long this illness should surface again now.

Sorry to say this, but I think it sounds like your sister-in-law will not be able to travel under the circumstances. You best plan now would be to accept that fact and take it from there to decide as a family whether the rest of you want to travel after all or change your plans as convenient to all concerned.

Having just got one of the visa waiver forms out to check the wording is

"Do you have a communicable disease, physical or mental disorder or are you a drug user or addict."

Does this actually mean that someone who answered no on the form but turned up in a wheelchair could be refused entry or should get a visa, because surely if you cannot walk then you must have a physical disorder. I must admit it hasn't really crossed my mind until I checked the wording because it doesn't apply to us.

First timer
As you say, I think you will have to accept that your sister in law will not be able to travel, I don't know how that affects the rest of the partys willingness or ability to travel, but you need to also inform your own insurance company to be on the safe side. Although from the sounds of it your sil's situation is not life threatening we have heard of people who have been recalled from their holiday due to ill health or death of a relative and been told that as they knew the person was ill when they travelled they were not covered.

If someone uses a wheelchair due to an old ailment, it is indeed classified as a physical disorder and should so be declared. But I am sure that will be the end of it and the person would have the same Visa Waiver eligibility as the rest of us. They might look at it more closely if it is a RECENT acquisition, eg a broken leg. In that case, the person may well be asked detailed questions and subject to examination, including the wheelchair itself.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
Another thing. Quite apart from the eligibility, Insurance and financial implications, I would not even think about getting your sister-in-law Mental Health treatment in the US, except in an emergency. Without going into details (which might elicit an unwated debate in these forums), the approach to MH treatment in the two countries are quite different. It would NOT be in the best interest of your relative to make such a change when she is under ongoing care of a British Mental Health team, unless she is going to live in the US.
[/quote]

I'd agree with you about not traveling to the USA with mental health isues and maybe needing treatment here.......also it would be very very hard......to get a visa to live in the USA with mental health problems after the questions we were asked to get our visas....you have to sign a paper to say they can read your English doctors notes.....and any hospital reports.....police reports etc.....if they feel the need too.........

A few years ago we had booked for my in laws to go to Paris for their 40th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately my mother in law had a nervous breakdown before the trip and her GP advised her not to go. They tried to claim on the travel insurance and was told that mental illness was not covered! You might need to check this out on your own insurance if the rest of you are thinking of cancelling!

Hi Firstimer
Sorry to hear about your sister in law. As well as the insurance issue there is a possibility that that the airline may have issues and refuse to accept her as a passenger. Before arranging to go anywhere I think it would be worth checking this out.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrissb
Hi Firstimer
Sorry to hear about your sister in law. As well as the insurance issue there is a possibility that that the airline may have issues and refuse to accept her as a passenger. Before arranging to go anywhere I think it would be worth checking this out.
[/quote]

I agree, it would not be wise to expose her to a long flight unless she was COMPLETLY recovered, it would be heart breaking if anything happen mid flight.

So sorry hope she gets better very soon[msnsad]

Hi sorry to hear about your problem. It isn't really possible to advise for or against travel without knowing the individual situation realy well,however my patients have found insurance companies and airlines very very cautious. Private inpatient care in the UK cost upwards of £3500 per week, I hate to think what it costs in the US.

Just noticed over 200 people have read your posting...You are not alone, and I shall never be out of work (sadly)

Really sorry to hear about your sister in law. I am a Community Mental Health Nurse. My advice is to discuss the matter with her care team, mainly her Consultant Psychiatrist and take their advice as they know her condition better. It certainly does not sound like now would be a good time. If she is an informal patient this does not effect her rights to travel. Sec 3 of the MH act means you can not travel to the States, saying that many of my patients do and don't declare the fact.
If I can help you further i.e. where to look for info on the web PM me. Take care.
Andrea

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i] Sec 3 of the MH act means you can not travel to the States, saying that many of my patients do and don't declare the fact.
Andrea
[/quote]

Andrea, is that not considered as a serious breach in both countries? If found out, there would be a lot more to pay than an invalidated insurance. One of my colleagues patients travelled to Canada for a funeral while under a MH section (I am not sure which) without declaring the fact. His carers and the patient himself got into serious trouble. In fact, had he applied honestly for a visa, he might have got a special p[ermission given the circumstances.

Nostromo, Quiet right. All we can do is give people the correct advice, what they choose to do is up to them. I wouldn't suggest anyone doesn't decline a health problem. Leaving close to gatwick and Heathrow we collect many people from the airports, sometimes even escorting back.
Honesty is usually the best policy.
[msnsmile]

Whoops should read 'declare'. Getting tired. Bye;)

I think that we as a family have accepted that my SIL cannot travel. The problem is now how do we tell her? and who will she blame for the situation. The other issue is can MIL bring herself to travel with us and leave her daughter in the care of the grandaughters who are 21, 22.
We explored the issue of changing names on the tickets to other family members and were told that as itis peak eason nd there ae only 2 seats left on our flight Virgin would much rather us cancel pay a cancellation fee then resell at premium prices. They were told the circumstances but were adamant they could not help.
Thanks to all who posted your info nd sympathetic response has really helped. I will let you know how things develope

Sorry to hear that. Can you enlist the help of one of the health professionals looking after your SIL as to the best way to approach the subject with her?

I know that normally you cannot get names altered on flight tickets unless there's a spelling mistake or the like and that they have to be cancelled and the flights rebooked. Because of your SIL's problems with the insurance, you're not likely to get a refund but in normal circumstances you would have done if you had claimed on the insurance.

just a quick update to let you know how this issue has been resolved. The mental health team treating SIL actuallly said they would RISK taking her to the US, but it is not their risk it is ours and hers, so as a family we decided it was not possible. Especiallly in view of increased check in times, visa waiver etc.
So today we cancelled her ticket, now we just have to tell her and we cant truthfullly say that the docs would not alllow it, which makes it doubly hard.
She is a lot better but this disappointment will not help so we are lining up a replacement UK holiday for her with her daughters that we will pay for as a present. Hopefullly that will ease the disapppointment a little
I feel as though I can now look forward again to the holiday and am back in planning mode, although because of the uncertainty I have missed a 90 day ps slot so wil have to take what is available!!!!!
Thanks to you all for your imput in this mattter it reallly did help

Has she been sectioned under the mental health act or has she admitted herself. If she has bens sectioned I assume she is being looked after in a MSU. A doctor could say a holiday will do her good and recommend it. Its worth exploring that route. I have some limited knowledge of MH issues - PM me and I will try and find out for you

Tony

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:we are lining up a replacement UK holiday for her with her daughters that we will pay for as a present.[/quote] That's a really nice gesture Poet and I'm sure that, although it won't be easy to tell her that her ticket has been cancelled, it's better in the long run not to have the worry for the rest of your party with the visa waiver and the insurance issues involved here.

I've just been searching through the forums for threads on mental health issues and the visa waiver forms for a friend thinking of visiting the US.

I found this information on the US embassy website:

<span style="color:blue">"Travelers who have been afflicted with a disease of public health significance, a mental disorder or drug addicts / abusers
Travelers to the United States who have been afflicted with a disease of public health significance, a mental disorder which is associated with a display of harmful behavior, or are a drug abuser or addict, are not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. They are required to apply for visas and a waiver of the permanent ineligibility.</span id="blue">

<span style="color:red">Note:Travelers with mental illnesses can travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) provided that their condition does not render them a danger to themselves or others. They may wish to carry letter from their doctor to that effect to facilitate their entry into the United States."</span id="red">


In view of the second part highlighted in red I'm wondering how people would suggest the question on the visa waiver form that asks if you have suffered from a mental illness be answered?
Would you answer yes but have the relevant letter from doctor available?

I'm also wondering if such a letter from a doctor would help with obtaining travel insurance?

Hi Julie
where abouts on the embassy website did you find this? I've searched it and can't find the relevant bit (i.e. the red highlighted bit)

You've obviously done the right thing and have put a lot of thought and care into your decision. And to send SIL on another holiday with her daughters will hopefully help. Sounds like you will need your holiday by the time you get there. I am sure it will live up to and exceed all expections.

Debbie

Found it and the link is http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...v/add_req.html incase anyone else wants it.

Linda & Drew - I was just about to post the link - glad you found it :)

As my original post says it doesn't really make it clear how you should complete the form though does it. I would guess you have to tick the yes box and have your doctor's letter to hand. Long way for someone to go and be turned away tho [msnscared]