What does medical travel insurance cover?
If you have a pre-existing condition, it’s really important that you take out medical travel insurance before you travel.
You can usually get travel insurance that covers these pre-existing medical conditions:
- Asthma and respiratory problems
- Heart conditions
- Diabetes
- Psychological conditions
- Terminal illnesses
If you’ve got any doubts about your medical condition being covered with a policy, contact the insurer before buying, as they’ll confirm if you’ve got the right level of cover.
Asthma and respiratory problems are common, with sufferers experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. Asthma is one of the most common pre-existing conditions covered by medical travel insurance.
Heart conditions include things like coronary artery disease, arrhythmia and heart valve disease.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood sugar is too high. It can cause major health complications but there are ways to effectively manage diabetes and stay healthy.Psychological conditions are also considered pre-existing conditions for medical travel insurance and should be declared when you get a quote for medical travel insurance.
Terminal illness is a condition that means you have a life expectancy of less than 12 months.
Need more help?
What is medical travel insurance?
How much medical cover should I get?
This will depend on your condition and what level of cover you’ll need for any associated medical expenses. 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?
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 pregnancy travel insurance policy to be sure you’re covered for anything unexpected while on holiday. There are certain limits on policies, for example depending on how far along in your pregnancy you are, or whether you’re having twins. Check the details of your chosen policy with the insurer in more detail before you buy.
Can you get medical only travel insurance?
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) have set up a directory of insurers to help cover pre-existing conditions.
You can find their directory of insurers on the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) website or you can phone 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 the medical condition wasn’t declared when you bought the original policy, then you won’t be covered. All conditions must be declared at the time of buying a policy.
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?
How much travel medical insurance do I need for the USA?
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?
Do I need medical insurance to travel to Europe?
What our travel insurance expert says
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.
Jac Morris
Travel insurance Product Executive
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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