Cover Pre-existing Conditions with Medical Travel Insurance

Medical travel insurance is a term often used for travel insurance that may include cover for pre-existing medical conditions. This specialist type of travel insurance can offer the same broad protection many travellers look for from a standard policy, while also considering claims linked to a condition you already had before taking out the policy – known as a pre-existing medical condition.

Standard travel insurance providers may not cover some pre-existing conditions, or they may apply limits, exclusions or higher premiums. Comparing quotes from specialist medical travel insurance providers can help you understand what is available, what has to be disclosed, and how cover, exclusions and pricing may differ.

Finding Insurance to travel with Pre-existing Medical Conditions

When you’re planning to travel, having suitable travel insurance can feel especially important. In the UK, you’ll find a range of travel insurance policies covering different destinations, trip lengths and activities – like skiing, for example. You can learn more about the benefits of Travel Insurance here, on our Standard Travel Insurance page.

If you have a medical condition when you take out your travel insurance policy, you will usually need to declare it – that means telling the insurer about your condition and answering their medical questions accurately. This matters because cover for undeclared conditions may be limited or excluded, and insurers may treat the same condition differently depending on their wording and underwriting approach.

An alternative is to compare quotes for Medical Travel Insurance from specialist insurance providers that are set up to consider a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions, although prices, terms and acceptance can vary from one provider to another.

What conditions will be covered?

The specific pre-existing medical conditions covered by medical travel insurance may vary from one specialist provider to the next, but examples of conditions that some insurers may consider include:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Heart Conditions
• Mental Health Conditions
• Many Chronic illnesses – including cancer, for example.

The list of conditions is wide, and eligibility, exclusions and prices can vary depending on the insurer and the information disclosed. Taking a little time to complete a quote request and then compare the policy wording, medical screening outcome, excesses and limits may give you a clearer picture of which options are available for your circumstances.

What should I look at when comparing Travel Insurance Quotes?

When comparing UK insurance, it helps to read the policy wording as carefully as the quote itself. With medical travel insurance, it can be useful to check not just the price, but also medical declarations, exclusions, excesses, destination limits, cancellation cover and whether any add-ons are included or extra. The aim is to understand what the policy does and does not cover before you buy.

Here are some of the types of protection you can expect from a travel insurance policy, although cover levels and conditions may vary by insurer:

• Medical Expenses if you are injured or become ill while you are away from home
• Repatriation – the cost of bringing you home if you are ill or injured seriously
• Cover for lost passports, travel documents and money
• Cover for lost, damaged or delayed luggage
• Cover for travel delays or cancellations outside your control
• Personal liablity cover if you cause an accident or injury somebody else
• Cancellation costs if you need to cancel your holiday for reasons beyond your control and stated in the policy

What Kind of Travel Insurance Policy should I go for?

It can help to think about how often you travel and where you tend to go. You can either buy Single Trip Travel Insurance for each holiday, or look at Annual Cover with a Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Policy. Multi-trip cover may suit people who travel more often, but the maximum trip length can vary. Destination also matters. UK travel insurance policies are often available for Europe or Worldwide, and worldwide cover is commonly split into options either including or excluding the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Some insurers may also define Europe slightly differently, so it is worth checking the policy wording carefully.

Covid and Travel Insurance

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, travellers have become more aware of how important travel insurance can be. Many people had to cancel or change plans because of illness or travel restrictions, and most UK travel insurance policies now refer specifically to coronavirus. Even so, the level of cover, exclusions and cancellation terms can still vary, so it is worth checking the wording before taking out a policy.

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