We all know medical bills abroad can be expensive. People don’t realise it, but it takes just 3 minutes to get a medical travel insurance quote and you can go ahead and enjoy your holiday knowing you’ve got cover for your condition.
Need more help?
What is medical travel insurance?
Medical travel insurance is a type of travel insurance designed for people with pre-existing conditions. It will cover you for health problems that you've visited the doctor about or are having tests for.
A regular travel insurance policy without pre-existing condition cover, won't pay out for claims relating to health problems you already have.
How much medical cover should I get?
This depends on the pre-existing condition you have and the likelihood that you'll need treatment while you're away.
Most medical travel insurance quotes provide around £5m worth of cover, which is normally more than enough. If you have any doubts about your level of cover, contact your insurer.
How can I get cheaper travel insurance with a medical condition?
The best way to get a cheap medical travel insurance policy is to buy your policy with plenty of time left before you travel. You should also declare any medical conditions before buying, to avoid the risk of a claim being rejected in the future.
How long you’re away for, where you’re travelling and what activities you’re doing can also affect the cost of a policy.
Can you get travel insurance for pre-existing conditions?
Yes, you can get travel insurance for pre-existing conditions. Only in some of the most serious circumstances will insurers refuse to provide cover. You may be asked to pay more for your insurance due to your pre-existing condition, but for milder conditions it’s usually not much.
Is pregnancy a pre-existing medical condition?
No, most insurers don’t consider pregnancy a pre-existing medical condition, so you don’t need to buy a medical travel policy to cover it.
You can still buy a travel insurance policy while pregnant which covers you for anything unexpected while on holiday.
Check the details of your chosen policy with the insurer in more detail before you buy.
Can you get medical only travel insurance?
Medical travel insurance, along with travel insurance in general, includes cover for things like cancellations and lost or stolen belongings, as well as medical cover. The main difference between medical travel insurance and standard travel is that medical travel insurance will also cover you for pre-existing medical conditions – illnesses or injuries that you already had at the time you took out your policy. To get a medical travel insurance quote you need to declare them on our travel insurance quote form.
What do I do if I’m refused a quote?
Unless it’s a particularly serious condition, it’s unlikely that you’ll be refused a quote. We work with a specialist panel of insurance companies who give quotes for many declared serious medical conditions.
If for any reason you do struggle to get a quote, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) offers a directory of insurers to help cover pre-existing conditions.
You can find out its directory of insurers by phoning them on 0800 138 7777 for free impartial advice.
Am I covered if I develop a condition after I buy my travel insurance policy?
If you develop a medical condition after you've bought your travel insurance but before you travel, you should contact your insurer and declare it to them. This may be referred to as your 'ongoing duty of disclosure' or a 'change in health'.
Your insurance company will be able to clarify whether you are covered.
Can I exclude a medical condition from my travel insurance?
If you don’t disclose a medical condition on your policy but then go on to try and claim, it’ll most likely be rejected by your insurer. You must disclose any medical conditions that you have before travelling, otherwise you run the risk of having to cover any medical bills yourself.
Can I travel if I have a terminal illness? Will I be covered?
Terminal illnesses are included in the pre-existing medical condition category, but you’ll still need to check with your insurer to see whether you’re covered. It’s also a good idea to get advice from your doctor before you decide to travel.
What is the difference between travel insurance and medical insurance?
Medical travel insurance covers the same things as standard travel insurance but also covers you for certain pre-existing medical conditions. It means that you’ll be covered for illnesses or injuries you already have at the time you take out the medical travel insurance policy. Standard travel insurance won’t cover you for pre-existing conditions.
How much travel medical insurance do I need for the USA?
Health care in the USA generally costs more than in Europe. As a UK citizen, you won't be entitled to free or low cost emergency treatment like you can get in the EU by presenting the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
If you’re travelling to the USA, it’s extremely important that you have adequate travel insurance in place. If you’re travelling to the USA and you have a pre-existing condition, it’s vital that you take out medical travel insurance.
Do travel insurance companies check medical records?
Insurers can only check your medical history after obtaining your permission. They could ask for this when you get a medical travel insurance quote. If you’ve given your permission, they may later ask for your GP to provide information on your medical history.
It’s important to declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have when you get travel insurance quotes. Otherwise, you could find that your travel medical claims end up being refused.
Do I need medical insurance to travel to Europe?
You don’t have to have medical insurance to travel to Europe, but it will cover you for any declared pre-existing medical conditions as well as for other illnesses or injuries that occur while you’re on holiday. You’ll also be covered for things like cancellations, accidents, theft or loss of belongings.
What our travel insurance expert says
What are the different types of travel insurance?
Family travel insurance
means you can get one policy that covers everyone, rather than buying individual policies.
Long stay travel insurance
is the perfect policy for those who plan to travel for an extended period.
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Our service is free and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website which is based on a percentage of the total annual premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.
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