mental health issue

[poet123]

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

[blott]

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.

[hamptonlakes]

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.

[huckleberry house]

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

[Nostromo]

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.

[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.

[poet123]

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.

[Nostromo]

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.

[steph_goodrum]

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.

[Nostromo]

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.