Travel insurance for wheelchair users, seniors with limited mobility and others with a medical condition is substantially more complex than for non-disabled travellers. Pre-existing conditions, assistive devices (wheelchair, handbike, patient lift), potential medical emergencies — this requires specific coverage that not every standard travel insurance policy offers.
This pillar helps you navigate the Belgian travel insurance market with a disability. Important disclaimer up front: insurance terms and conditions change. This pillar is a general guide — always verify with the specific insurer when signing up.
📅 2027 market developments — what has changed?
Since the first version of this pillar (early 2027) there have been several structural shifts in the Belgian travel insurance market for people with a disability:
- Growing pressure from EU regulation — the European Disability Card (EDC) and its associated EU framework (regulation 2024/2841, in force since 2026) require mutual recognition of disability status between EU member states. Impact on travel insurance: insurers can no longer hide behind "unclear disability evidence" in cross-border claims.
- Restructuring of pre-existing conditions premiums — several insurers are revisiting their risk models. Some premiums are going up, others down. Compare again in 2027 — the 2025 ranking no longer holds.
- VAPH certificates are more widely accepted — thanks to VAPH reforms and EDC coupling, the VAPH certificate has become a recognised piece of evidence with more insurers.
- Digitisation of policy and claim flow — multilingual chat-based assistance has become standard at major insurers (AXA, Allianz, Ethias).
🇪🇺 EU regulation 2024/2841 (EDC) — concrete impact on travel insurance
The European Disability Card (EDC) — European regulation 2024/2841 — has been in force since 2026 and fully operational in most EU member states in 2027. Concrete implications for travel insurance:
- Uniform disability recognition — your Belgian EDC is recognised in all EU countries. When making a medical claim abroad, the insurer can no longer require you to prove your disability again locally.
- Simplified cross-border claim flow — repatriation coordination between the Belgian insurer and local care providers runs more smoothly with the EDC.
- The EDC does not replace the EHIC — they are two separate cards with different purposes (EDC = disability status, EHIC = medical care). Bring both with you.
- Additional service discounts — the EDC also gives culture/transport discounts in some countries; not a travel insurance replacement, but a handy supplement.
Important: the EDC does not cover medical costs or assistive device damage — you still need your travel insurance for that. See also our separate pillars for international tourists: Dutch wheelchair tourists to Belgium, French wheelchair tourists to Belgium, German wheelchair tourists to Belgium — where we discuss EDC context from the reverse direction.
⚕️ What a good travel insurance policy with disability coverage includes
The check criteria for a truly comprehensive travel insurance policy with disability coverage:
- Pre-existing conditions — coverage for known medical conditions (not just new ones)
- Assistive devices — loss/damage of wheelchair, patient lift, handbike during travel
- Repatriation — return to Belgium if medically necessary, including accessible transport
- Medical care abroad — with accessible facilities
- VAPH certificate accepted as proof of pre-existing condition
- Cross-border assistance — multilingual support in emergencies
- Family visit coverage — if you are hospitalised abroad
Reality: fewer than 30% of standard travel insurance policies in Belgium cover these 7 criteria without an additional premium or exclusions. For wheelchair users, a specialised travel insurance policy is often required.
🏢 Which Belgian insurers work with VAPH certificates?
AXA — largest player
AXA Belgium offers standard travel insurance with a "pre-existing conditions" option — ask specifically for this option when signing up. VAPH certificates are accepted as proof.
Ethias — health-insurance-fund related
Ethias has partnerships with various Belgian health insurance funds (mutualiteiten). For fund members, adjusted coverage is often included automatically.
Allianz — European player
Allianz Global Assistance offers travel insurance with specific medical-condition coverage, provided it is disclosed at registration.
Baloise — traditional Belgian insurer
Baloise — a traditional Belgian insurer with a standard sign-up flow and options.
DKV — specialised health cost insurer
DKV Belgium — specialised health care insurer, strong in coverage for chronic conditions.
Assurances Auxilia / Assurances Verlinden
Smaller players specialised in disability-related travel insurance. Ask your care professional for advice.
🩺 For pre-existing conditions — specific attention
Pre-existing conditions (known medical conditions at the moment of signing up) remain the largest source of excluded claims in travel insurance. Concrete attention points in 2027, per Belgian insurer (based on publicly available policy terms — always verify yourself):
- AXA Belgium — pre-existing conditions optionally coverable with a prior medical questionnaire. Both VAPH certificate and EDC accepted as proof. Waiting period generally does not apply when the condition is disclosed at sign-up.
- Ethias — via the health insurance fund partnership, often automatic chronic condition coverage, but check specifically whether your condition falls under the standard clause.
- Allianz Global Assistance — pre-existing condition coverage assessed per condition (case-by-case). Extensive questionnaire but transparent outcome.
- DKV Belgium — specialisation in health costs makes DKV the strongest for chronic conditions with frequent medical follow-up (dialysis, oncology follow-up, respiratory support).
- Baloise — traditional flow; pre-existing conditions usually a separate additional premium. Less transparent than competitors.
- Auxilia / Verlinden — smaller, but specialised in complex disability profiles (multi-disability, several assistive devices, high medical frequency).
Important: since the EDC regulation (2024/2841), insurers may no longer apply arbitrary exclusions based on recognised disability status alone. If an insurer does: report it to the FSMA (Belgian financial markets authority) or to the Insurance Ombudsman.
Practical tip: at sign-up, request written confirmation that your specific condition is not excluded — verbal promises are worthless in a claim dispute.
🌍 What to expect per destination
Europe (EU and Schengen)
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — free via your Belgian health insurance fund. Provides basic medical care in EU/Schengen countries at the host country's rate.
Important: EHIC is not a travel insurance policy — it covers medical care but not: accessible repatriation, assistive device replacement, or non-medical costs (accommodation cancellation).
For EU trips we recommend EHIC + supplementary travel insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage.
Outside the EU
For destinations outside the EU/Schengen area (Switzerland, United Kingdom, Balkans, long-haul destinations): full travel insurance with medical and repatriation coverage is essential.
United States and Canada — particularly expensive for medical care. Count on a premium travel insurance policy with at least €500,000 in medical cost coverage + repatriation.
Long-haul destinations (Asian, African, South American countries) — sometimes specific expat or foreign-assistance insurance policies are better than standard travel insurance.
📋 Practical step-by-step plan — before you leave
4 weeks before departure
- Compare providers — ask concretely about pre-existing conditions coverage
- Ask for a simulator/estimate — different scenarios (accommodation cancellation, medical cost, assistive device loss)
- Disclose your VAPH certificate or medical status — no hesitation whatsoever
- Ask for a multilingual assistance number — for when you run into problems abroad
- Confirm the repatriation flow — how does accessible transport back to Belgium work?
1 week before departure
- Print all documents — policy, medical certificate, contact numbers, medication list
- Bring your own medication — sufficient supply + 4 extra days
- Bring an assistive device inventory — with serial numbers and value certificates
- Notify your health insurance fund that you are travelling (may affect reimbursement)
During the trip
- In a medical emergency: call the insurer's assistance number first — they coordinate with local healthcare providers
- Keep all invoices and certificates — for later reimbursement
- In case of assistive device damage: take photos, keep spare parts, report to the insurer within 48h
💡 Insurance tips per target group
For wheelchair users
- Assistive device insurance worth considering even within Belgium — often separate from travel insurance
- Ask specifically about coverage in LEZ zones (Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels) — some still mandatory for adapted vehicles
- Notify the insurer if you are bringing a handbike/adapted bike — often separate coverage
For seniors with limited mobility
- Age limits — some insurers exclude travellers over 75; check this
- Chronic condition coverage often ticked automatically but with a waiting period (no coverage for the first 30 days)
- Blue badge — bring it along; speeds up access to accessible parking abroad
For hard-of-hearing/deaf travellers
- Multilingual text assistance — ask specifically about chat-based support
- SMS alerts instead of phone calls in emergencies
- Remote sign language interpretation — a few large insurers offer this
For blind/visually impaired travellers
- Audio-visual documents — ask the insurer for an audio version of the policy
- Guide dog transport — often arranged separately (both within and outside the EU)
🌐 Cross-border specifics — EU/Schengen practical
France
Most visited destination for Belgians. French healthcare is highly accessible. EHIC is sufficient for basic care. Supplementary insurance for assistive devices + repatriation.
Netherlands
Very accessible healthcare infrastructure — better than Belgium in some domains. EHIC is sufficient. See also our day trip from Belgium to Zeeland/NL-Limburg pillar.
Germany
Excellent medical care. German Krankenhäuser accept EHIC without issue. German thermal baths and Krankenversicherung partnerships can provide extra coverage.
Spain, Italy, Portugal
Tourist healthcare is generally good, but communication in French/German/English varies. Multilingual insurance assistance is therefore more valuable here.
United Kingdom
Since Brexit — British healthcare has remained more complex for Belgians than pre-2021. 2027 context update:
- GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) — the British equivalent of EHIC, applied for through your Belgian health insurance fund. GHIC covers medically necessary NHS care during a temporary stay.
- GHIC does not cover repatriation, private care or assistive device damage — supplementary travel insurance is non-negotiable for wheelchair users travelling to the UK.
- The EDC is not recognised in the UK — the European Disability Card is an EU instrument. In the UK, separate rules apply (Blue Badge scheme for parking, disability schemes per NHS trust).
- Customs check for assistive devices at the border — since Brexit, expensive assistive devices (electric wheelchair, patient lift) are sometimes inspected at border crossings. Bring the purchase invoice and serial number — proof that the device is your personal property and not being imported for sale.
- Post-2026 renegotiation — at EU level, talks are ongoing about a relief agreement for disability-related care in the UK; concrete outcome still unknown as of mid-2027.
🎯 Our top recommendations
For occasional EU trips (2-4 times per year): AXA or Allianz annual travel insurance with pre-existing conditions option — combined with EHIC as the base layer.
For frequent travellers: DKV or specialised disability insurance — often cheaper per trip at higher frequency.
For long-haul destinations (United States, Asian, etc.): Allianz Global Assistance premium with high medical cost coverage.
For local day trips and weekend stays: standard insurance with a VAPH certificate often suffices; check specifically.
What we want to see grow in 2028
- Standard "pre-existing conditions" coverage in all Belgian travel insurance policies (currently often an additional premium)
- Remote sign language interpretation as a standard option
- Assistive device insurance separate from travel insurance (currently often bundled without concrete coverage)
- Multilingual assistance 24/7 — currently often limited to NL/FR/EN
Combine with other pillars
- Financial support deepdive — VAPH/health insurance fund context
- Coast from the Netherlands/Germany — cross-border within the EU
- Day trip to Zeeland/NL-Limburg — the reverse direction
- Occupational therapist group outing — for group insurance context
- Dutch wheelchair tourists in Belgium — EDC/EHIC from NL perspective
- French wheelchair tourists in Belgium — MDPH certificate cross-border
- German wheelchair tourists in Belgium — Schwerbehindertenausweis recognition
- Accessible airports Zaventem/Charleroi + Sunflower lanyard — airport PRM flow for international flights
Final thoughts
Travel insurance with a disability is a niche market within the Belgian insurance sector. For wheelchair users and others with a disability, a specialised policy is often more useful than a standard policy with an exception clause.
Our recommendation for the first insurance question: contact your health insurance fund's social service — they have concrete experience with which insurers work well for disability-related claims and can give you informed advice.
Have a travel insurance experience with a disability that we should include here? Let us know — first-hand info about specific insurers, cross-border emergencies and repatriation flows helps us gradually expand this pillar.
Important disclaimer: this pillar provides general guidelines. Insurance terms and conditions change. Always verify with the specific insurer when signing up and keep contact numbers on hand during your trip.