TSA Screening Tips for Travelers With Medical Devices and Disabilities

Traveling with a disability, medical condition, or specialized equipment can make TSA screening challenging.

A disability or other medical condition shouldn’t stop anyone from traveling. However, getting through TSA screening with medical devices, medical implants, or medication can be challenging. Knowing how to navigate the system can also help you get through security faster.

Leave Yourself Plenty of Time

If you have additional support needs or are bringing something out of the ordinary through security, you should still leave yourself plenty of time. Arriving at the airport at least three hours before your flight to allow for extra time for screening is recommended, says Duncan Greenfield-Turk, who has Type 1 Diabetes and is a travel advisor with Global Travel Moments.

Contact TSA Cares

Almost anyone with a disability or medical issue that may require assistance or result in extra screening should contact TSA Cares before they fly. TSA Cares is a program that assists people with disabilities or other medical conditions to navigate airport security more easily. This includes passengers who need help getting medication or medical equipment through security.

To get assistance, contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours in advance by filling out their online form or calling (855) 787-2227. While passengers may be able to flag a TSA agent down at the airport, it’s much easier to have help arranged in advance, especially since every airport operates differently, Cheryl Mitchell, CEO of AccessForge, explains.

After contacting TSA Cares, the TSA will usually arrange for a specially trained Passenger Support Specialist (PSS) to assist, Mitchell explains. A PSS is a TSA officer with specialized training. The exact type of support provided varies based on the passenger’s need and the specific airport. Support can range from helping someone with a large supply of liquid medication pass through security without incident to opening a designated security lane for someone with more complex screening needs.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program

People with hidden disabilities can also use TSA Cares for help. Additionally, they self-identify as disabled by wearing a sunflower pin or lanyard. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program symbol subtly signals to trained TSA staff agents and airport staff that a passenger may need additional assistance. More than 200 airports worldwide participate in the program, including almost 80 in the United States.

TSA agents may allow those wearing a sunflower lanyard to use noise-blocking headphones or carry a security item through screening. They may also bring the passenger to the front of the screening line to prevent sensory overload. Many participating airports provide Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards free of charge, or passengers can order one in advance for a nominal fee through the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower store.

Getting Through Security With a Wheelchair

Most people walk through security with ease. However, for people with mobility challenges, it’s not so easy. For passengers “who cannot stand or raise their hands over their heads safely,” TSA allows them to remain in their wheelchair while undergoing a pat-down and security wand screening, says Mitchell. However, wheelchair users are required to remove any bags that are attached to their wheelchairs and put them through the X-ray machine. It’s helpful to remove those in advance.

Wheelchairs and wheelchair users will still be thoroughly screened. TSA agents will typically thoroughly inspect wheelchairs by hand and swab them to make sure they don’t contain any explosive residue. Wheelchair users are typically patted down by hand and screened with a hand-held wand.

How to Ensure Your Medication Isn’t Confiscated

Traveling with medication can raise red flags when going through security, especially if it’s liquid. The 3.4-ounce limit on bringing liquids through security does not apply to prescription medication. However, you should always notify the TSA agent if you are carrying a larger amount of liquid before screening, Greenfield-Turk recommends.

The TSA doesn’t require passengers to carry medications in original bottles with the prescription label attached, but “it helps to prevent unnecessary questioning,” Greenfield-Turk explains. Carrying printouts of your prescriptions from your pharmacy or a letter from your doctor can also help, he says.

To reduce the likelihood of running into problems, you should put your medication in a clear plastic bag, recommends Francesca Elisabetta Owens, founder of the travel agency Travel From the Insider Out, who has multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. She suggests placing a copy of a TSA Disabilities and Medical Notifications Card, which can be printed from the TSA website, in the front of the bag.

If you need to keep your medication cool, Greenfield-Turk recommends avoiding ice packs, which can trigger additional screenings. Instead, he recommends using a TSA-approved cooling case.

Make Sure Your Medical Equipment Isn’t Confiscated

Getting through security with medical equipment can raise some eyebrows, says Jessica Cox. a motivational speaker and pilot who was born without arms. She travels with a metal hook that helps her be more independent and has been questioned about more than once. To ensure your medical devices remain intact, Cox recommends setting them on top of other items in your bin during TSA screening. “It’s easily visible, and they don’t have to dig through the rest of your items to find them,” Cox explains.

“Having a bag that says ‘medical device’ or has a red cross on it could avoid problems or at least speed up the process,” she adds. A letter from your doctor explaining why you need the equipment may also help, says Owens. Although Cox hasn’t had any issues getting her hook through TSA security, if possible, she recommends traveling with a spare in checked luggage in case your medical equipment gets confiscated. If you check medical devices, Owens recommends taping a copy of the TSA Disabilities and Medical Notifications Card to the inside of your suitcase. “If TSA opens it, they immediately see there’s a medical reason for your equipment,” she explains.

Getting Through Security With a Prosthetic Limb

It may not be obvious to TSA agents that someone has a prosthetic limb. “Before you go through the scanner or metal detector, disclose it to the agents at the checkpoint,” Cox advises. You can do this verbally or discretely with a TSA Disabilities and Medical Notifications Card. “They will still need to inspect your prosthetic, but they will not require you to remove it in normal circumstances,” Cox says.

Typically, TSA agents cannot ask to expose “sensitive areas” or undress for screening, Cox explains. You also have the right to privacy during the process, she adds. However, those who would rather remove their prosthetic limbs can voluntarily do so, Cox explains. TSA agents will put the prosthetic through the X-ray scanner, which may be easier and faster for some people, she says.

Navigating Security With Implants

Some devices, such as pacemakers, insulin pumps, and other metal implants, cannot go through metal detectors, says Greenfield-Tuck. If you have this type of implant, inform a TSA agent before security and ask for alternative screening he says. “TSA cannot force you to remove a medical device if doing so could endanger your health,” he emphasizes.

Owens, who has implants in her heart, carries ID cards specific to her implants in her wallet in case she is questioned. If your doctor gave you a similar card, it’s a good idea to have it ready to show the TSA agent, she suggests.

Other implants, such as most cochlear implants, can go through the typical screening process, explains Suzanne Robitaille, a founding partner at public relations firm Archie Group who is Deaf. Robitaille explains that she does not need to remove her cochlear implants or their batteries before going through security. However, even implants that can go through security may draw some attention from TSA agents who aren’t familiar with them. Disclosing your implants in advance may help.

However, “as a Deaf person, you have to decide if you want to declare that you’re Deaf to TSA.” She notes that this may be helpful in case you are selected for additional screening or may have a hard time hearing the TSA agent’s instructions in a noisy airport, but it’s not required.

Keep Your Service Animal Safe

If you are traveling with a service animal, they will need to be screened. Alanna Flax-Clark, a para-equestrian who uses a wheelchair, says that TSA agents usually insist that she takes everything off her service animal and have him walk through the metal detector. Even though Flax-Clark’s service animal is well-behaved, she doesn’t like him being off his leash. “I kindly remind the TSA agent that my service dog can also get a pat down,” she says.

Since Flax-Clark also needs a hand pat down, this system works well for her. She cautions that “it’s never a fast process, but creating that space for education and awareness helps for a smoother and more pleasant experience.”

Pack Your Patience

Even with preparation, issues may arise. Greenfield-Turk suggests being “firm, yet polite.” Stay calm and “politely ask a supervisor to review the situation, advises Cox. “The agents have the power to make the situation worse if an argument erupts,” and ultimately have the final say, she says. Greenfield-Turk also recommends being prepared to “advocate for yourself as TSA officers may not be fully trained in medical conditions.”