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Find tailored travel insurance for medical conditions by comparing deals from the UK’s leading insurance providers.
Medical travel insurance is not a requirement to travel, but it is recommended because it covers unexpected medical expenses while you're abroad. If you fall ill or have an accident, the costs of treatment can be extremely high in foreign countries. Medical cover ensures you get the necessary care without worrying about the bills.
If you’re being quoted a high cost, it might be cheaper to buy a single policy, instead of an annual travel insurance policy.
Medical travel insurance can cover you for any pre-existing health conditions while you’re away. To buy it, you will need to tell your insurer about your health condition and in some cases may need to show details of a recent medical exam. It’s important to be honest with your insurer, as if you leave something out and then make a claim, it may be rejected.
If a standard insurer can’t help, a specialist provider may offer you cover. The Money Helper website has a list of specialist providers that may cover your condition or you can call the British Insurance Brokers Association on 0370 950 1790.
Yes, you can get travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition, although it might be more expensive than standard travel insurance. This is because an insurer sees you as a higher risk of making a claim on the policy. However, there are still lots of policies to choose from for those with pre-existing conditions. They cover a wide range of health problems and there are also specialist insurers who can help. It is important to declare any pre-existing conditions you have. If you fail to do so, you risk invalidating your insurance resulting in any claims being rejected.
Pre-existing medical conditions are usually defined as an illness or injury you had before or when you take out a travel insurance policy. This may include but isn't limited to:
Mental health issues need to be declared as much as physical ones. These include bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can affect your health in many ways and need to be disclosed
It is important that you disclose any heart conditions or history of heart related issues to ensure your policy will cover you
Chronic illnesses such as Crohn's disease, cancer, and IBS can come under long-lasting chronic health issues
Asthma can range in terms of severity, but other airway conditions such as cystic fibroisis also need to be disclosed
Joint issues such as arthritis or gout issues can cause you some problems while you're travelling
While you need to be candid about any pre-existing conditions that you have, you will not need to declare:
Pregnancy – it isn't considered a pre-existing condition. Do get in touch with your insurer to make sure that your covered for travel – your coverage could change depending on how many weeks pregnant you are.
Contraception – You don’t need to declare contraceptive medication.
The cost of your travel insurance will depend largely on where you’re going, what you plan on doing and the severity of your condition. As you would expect, the more adventurous you’re being and the longer you’re away are key considerations. There are things you can do to reduce the cost of your quote, however:
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The longer you leave it to buy travel insurance, the more it costs – and you won’t be covered for cancellations
If you plan on travelling three or more times in 12 months, an annual policy may work out cheaper overall
Asking for a higher excess fee tells insurers you’re less likely to claim, so it'll often mean a lower premium
"Having a pre-existing medical condition means you will most likely have to pay more for travel insurance as there is a higher risk that you will make a claim. It’s important to declare our medical history when travelling as it could have serious consequences if a condition flares up while we're away. With the right cover we can avoid being landed with an expensive medical bill. It's simple to compare policies to get the right cover, which costs from as little as £0.97iii so you can travel with peace of mind and enjoy your trip."
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List any conditions you have, or anyone on your policy has, and give details of recent medical treatment for the condition. If you have a terminal illness, list it here.
You can choose a policy, insurer, and level of cover here. Read all the small print so you know exactly what you are (and aren’t covered) for with your existing health conditions.
Easily compare policies from the leading providers in the UK and get cover for your trip and any existing medical conditions from today
If you go on holiday with a standard travel insurance policy and don’t inform your insurer of your medical circumstances, there’s a very real danger that any claims you make – especially those of a medical nature – are rejected. The worse the condition, or the more directly it is involved in claims you make, the more chance there is that your insurer will investigate your medical records and reject your claim.
In a standard travel insurance policy, £5m is considered a decent level of cover for medical expenses. For most people, this will be enough to cover treatment for pre-existing conditions, but policies for people suffering from the most complex or severe might have a higher threshold – for a higher price.
Your travel insurance is likely to be approved in all but the most serious circumstances, though there’s a good chance you might have to pay more than the average traveller.
If your condition is mild or well-managed, you may not see any bump in premiums at all.
UK residents can still use a valid European Health Insurance Card, or the new replacement – the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). The GHIC is not as comprehensive as good quality travel insurance so holidaymakers should have both. It does not cover treatment in private hospitals overseas and it doesn’t cover repatriation costs, for example.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition you should still be able to find travel insurance, but you might need to take out specialist cover as not all standard policies will offer the right level of protection.
Your destination is a major factor that travel insurance providers consider, and it can be particularly important if you have a pre-existing condition – for two main reasons:
Medical treatment costs: The cost of medical treatment in some countries, such as the USA, can be very expensive, so you may need to pay more for cover
Local diseases: Some areas also carry high risks of disease – for example, malaria in tropical countries
If you need medical treatment while you’re abroad, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible and get them to agree on coverage of any treatment before you receive it. However, this may not be possible if you’re in a medical emergency.
You may be required to pay upfront for your treatment – in this case, you’d claim back the cost when you get home, so remember to get a receipt for any medical costs you pay.
If you develop a condition after buying travel insurance you should tell your insurer as soon as you can. They may have to adjust your policy, and it could affect the overall price you pay – but better than voiding your policy completely.
If you’re waiting for a diagnosis for a medical condition you shouldn’t take out travel insurance until after you’ve received the diagnosis.
Terminal illnesses will still be classed as pre-existing conditions, and whether or not they will be covered will depend on your insurer.
If you are on any over the counter pain killers or anti-biotics, it is unlikely that you will need to disclose that to your insurer however, if you are on blood thinners or any medication for any mental health issues or chronic health problems, you will need to disclose that on your insurance application as it will likely be highlighted on your medical health check as well.
Insurers don’t usually categorise pregnancy as a pre-existing condition, and you should be covered for medical emergencies related to your pregnancy so long as you haven’t had any prior complications.
You may not be able to travel if you’re more than 37 weeks pregnant – though if you’re having twins or triplets the limit may be different. In any case, it’s best to check with your insurance provider directly to make sure you’ll be covered.
Travel insurance policy inclusions and exclusions vary. The following information provides a general overview of common travel insurance inclusions include: Repatriation, baggage cover, cancellation cover, and emergency medical cover. Common exclusions include: Alcohol/drug related incidents, pre-existing conditions that were not declared, high-risk sports, excursions and airline strikes.
Always read your policy documents thoroughly to understand what is and isn't covered before your trip.
Specialist travel insurance is tailored for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, providing cover that standard policies often exclude. Pre-existing condition travel insurance is a specific type of specialist insurance that focuses on covering conditions that might not be covered by standard policies.
While many conditions can be covered with specialist travel insurance, there are some limitations. Conditions that are considered life-threatening or terminal may not be fully covered. Additionally, some insurers may have specific exclusions or limitations for certain conditions.
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