Medical travel insurance

How medical travel insurance works

Medical travel insurance is designed for people with pre-existing conditions. It covers you for health problems that you've visited the doctor about or are having tests or treatment for.

A regular travel insurance policy without pre-existing condition cover doesn't pay out for claims relating to health problems you already have.

Medical travel insurance, and travel insurance in general, includes cover for things like cancellations and lost or stolen belongings, as well as medical expenses.

The amount of medical cover you need depends on your pre-existing condition 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.

What you don't need to declare to your insurer

It’s important that you're honest when you answer the questions we ask about your pre-existing medical conditions. But there are some things you don’t need to declare on your travel insurance:

• Pregnancy: Being pregnant isn’t considered a pre-existing medical condition unless you have complications. Standard travel insurance should cover any medical needs that might arise because of pregnancy, but check the details of your chosen policy before buying. Read more about travelling while pregnant.
• Contraceptives: When you get a quote, there’s no need to tell us about any contraceptives your doctor has prescribed.

How to get travel insurance with a pre-existing condition

Getting a quote for medical travel insurance only takes a few minutes. Having this information ready makes it easier:

• Your name, age and address
• Where you're travelling
• The length of your trip
• Details of your medical conditions, including any medication you’re taking

When you fill out our travel insurance quote form, we'll ask you questions about your health so we can show policies with the right level of cover. This is why it's important to answer the questions accurately and honestly. If you have a serious medical condition, we may require more information.

We compare prices from travel insurance companies to help find the right policy at the right price. We’ll show you a list of quotes from the insurers who can offer the cover you need based on the information you’ve given us.

Then all you need to do is read the policy details and make sure you have the right level of cover before making your decision.

How to get cheaper travel insurance if you have a medical condition

Since travel insurance can be more expensive if you have a medical condition, it’s good to know what steps you can take to reduce your costs:

• Increase your excess: Often the price of your policy is cheaper if you choose to pay a higher excess. But make sure the excess you choose is affordable in case you do need to make a claim.
• Consider annual multi-trip travel insurance: If you’re planning to take several trips over the next 12 months, you might find an annual policy better value overall. Bear in mind some insurers only offer single trip policies to those with medical conditions, so you might find there are fewer annual policies to choose from.
• Choose additional cover carefully: Add any additional cover that you need for your trip, but think carefully about what you actually need. Don’t add extra cover 'just in case' if there’s no chance you’ll use it, as it will increase the price of your policy.
• Compare quotes: To get the best price for the cover you need, the easiest thing to do is compare quotes and prices.