Can I get travel insurance with a heart condition?

Key takeaways

• Specialist travel insurance providers can cover you if you have a pre-existing heart condition

• Look for travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, repatriation, trip cancellation related to your heart condition, and medical expenses

• Pack extra medication and ensure proper supplies for your trip, and consider consulting your doctor for travel-specific advice

Can I get travel insurance with a heart condition? 

If your doctor has said you’re fit to travel then you should be able to get travel insurance with a heart condition.

However, it could be more expensive than standard travel insurance because insurers may see you as a higher risk of making a claim on the policy.

How can I get travel insurance with a heart condition?

• You can compare medical insurance quotes from 59^{^} trusted insurers on MoneySuperMarket

• You can use a specialist provider that caters for people with pre-existing conditions. The MoneyHelper website has a list of specialist providers or you can call the British Insurance Brokers Association on 0370 950 1790.

📣 Did you know? Around 1.4 million people in the UK today have survived a heart attack, according to the British Heart Foundation.

Do I need travel insurance if I have a heart condition? 

We always recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy whether you have a pre-existing condition or not. But it’s particularly important if you have a heart condition so that you have cover for:

• Any medical treatment you may need while you are on holiday

• Repatriation expenses to get you back home, if the worst should happen while you are away 

What heart conditions can be covered by travel insurance? 

Here is a brief list of the common heart conditions that our insurance providers cover:  

• Angina  

• Cardiomyopathy  

• Heart disease  

• Heart failure  

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol  

• Heart attack  

• Blocked/narrowed arteries  

• Heart bypass  

Travel insurance policies can be tricky when you have medical conditions. Be sure that you are transparent with your provider and that you disclose all conditions that relate to your heart condition so you will not be in a position that makes your policy void, leaving you with a hefty medical bill. 

What does travel insurance cover me for if I have a heart condition? 

There are often different levels of cover you can choose from but your policy is likely to include:  

• Medical expenses: Protection for medical bills or emergency medical treatments.

• Repatriation/emergency assistance: Covers the cost of bringing you back to the UK in a medical emergency   

• Personal liability: Protects you if you are involved in an at-fault incident that results in legal costs or damages while you are on holiday  

• Theft or loss of baggage and personal belongings  

• Holiday cancellations, delays, or cutting your trip short  

• Travel disruption: You can claim for delays if bad weather, strikes, or something breaking down affects your flight, ferry or other mode of transportation

What doesn’t travel insurance cover me for if I have a heart condition? 

Travel insurance doesn’t typically cover:

• Undeclared pre-existing conditions: You need to tell insurers about medical conditions in advance for them to be covered

• Choosing not to travel: You can’t claim simply because you no longer want to go on holiday or if you split up with a partner you planned to travel with

• Negligence: Such as if you hurt yourself while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if your belongings are stolen while left unattended

• Extreme sports: Some common sports and activities will be covered but anything considered high-risk, such as bungee jumping or shark diving, may require paying an extra premium

• Recoverable losses: This includes being able to rebook a trip and credit vouchers

How do I declare a medical condition on my travel insurance?

When getting a quote for travel insurance the travel insurance provider will ask you if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Pre-existing conditions include diagnosed health conditions or ailments awaiting diagnosis.

If you answer ‘yes’ they are likely to then ask you a series of questions about your condition. This is known as ‘a medical screening questionnaire’.

What questions will I be asked about my heart condition?

You may be asked:

• Whether you smoke or if you’ve ever been a smoker

• If you have ever had a heart attack and how many times

• Whether you have an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)

• If you’ve ever had a heart bypass, an angioplasty or a coronary stent

• Whether you can walk a short distance on a flat surface without chest pain, tightness or breathlessness

• What medication you take

How will my medical information be used by my travel insurer?

The information will be used to make sure you have the right cover in place, and at the right price for the insurer.

Medical screening doesn’t mean your travel insurer will access your medical records or speak to your GP – so it’s important you answer all the insurer’s questions as honestly as you can.

When can I fly after a heart attack?

Your GP will advise when you’re fit to fly but usually the advice is to wait at least 7-10 days if you’ve had a mild, uncomplicated heart attack. If there were complications or you had to have surgery you will need to wait longer.

You’ll also need to check with the airline you are flying with and your travel insurance company to see if they have any restrictions.

How can I travel safely if I have a heart condition?

• If you’re planning to travel abroad, speak to your doctor first to make sure you’re fit to fly. If you are, get guidance about how to manage your medication with different time zones

• Take out travel insurance and check policy exclusions to understand what activities or situations are not covered by your policy

• Avoid extreme temperatures - either too hot or too cold - to prevent breathlessness

• Choose accommodation which is close to restaurants and shops so you don’t have to walk too far

• Pack your medication in your hand luggage, along with any doctors’ letters and test results, emergency contacts and your travel insurance details

• You’ll need to tell airport staff if you have a pacemaker or an ICD, and show them your device identification card. A hand-held metal detector should not be used directly over your device

What happens if I need medical treatment while I’m abroad? 

• Contact your insurer’s 24/7 medical assistance team for authorisation and coordination of your care

• Make sure you get receipts for any medical treatment you have to pay for so you can reclaim the cost when you’re back home

• If you need to come home urgently for medical reasons, speak to your insurer about repatriation

Does my GHIC card cover medical treatment for my heart condition? 

A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will only cover you for state medical provision and you may still have to contribute towards the costs.

A travel insurance policy will also provide cover for:

• Repatriation

• Private treatment

• Trip cancellation

• Theft or loss of your belongings

You are also covered from the moment you buy travel insurance in case the holiday company goes bust.

Some insurers will insist you have a GHIC or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – or your policy won’t pay out for medical costs.

Having both a GHIC card and travel insurance will give you added peace of mind.

How much does travel insurance cost if I have a heart condition? 

The average cost of medical travel insurance is £18.73^{^} , according to MoneySuperMarket data.

By comparison, travel insurance prices start at 72p^{^} a day for a single-trip travel policy for someone with no medical conditions.

When you have a pre-existing condition, such as a heart condition, your travel insurance policy is often more expensive than for someone without a condition because:

• Insurers may consider there is a higher risk of you making a claim on the policy

• You’ll need to be covered for anything that could happen unexpectedly related to your heart condition while you’re abroad

However, the price of your insurance will also depend on other factors, including:  

• Your destination  

• Your age 

• The duration of your trip  

• How much cover you opt for  

• Any extra add-ons to your policy e.g. gadget cover 

• Your excess 

• How much luggage and cancellation cover you choose  

How can I get cheaper travel insurance if I have a heart condition?

• Shop around: Comparing quotes lets you find the best deal at the best price, with the add-ons you need

• Get multi-trip cover: If you plan on travelling three or more times in 12 months, an annual policy may work out cheaper overall

• Pay more excess: Choosing a higher excess fee signals to insurers you’re less likely to claim, so it will often mean a lower premium

• Buy in advance: The longer you leave it to buy travel insurance, the more it could cost – and you won’t be covered for cancellations