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We'll ask you a series of questions about your cover needs and your condition. It's important to be honest to avoid invalidating any future claims.
Compare travel insurance for pre-existing conditions
Find tailored travel insurance for medical conditions by comparing deals from the UK’s leading insurance providers.
1Accurate as of August 2023
If you declare a pre-existing medical condition, your travel insurance premium is likely to be more expensive as it will take into consideration the higher risk that you might need medical. Your insurance will ensure you are covered if you need any medical treatment while you are away. We offer cover for a wide range of medical conditions, but for some cases, you may need to consider specialist cover.
Customers with more serious medical conditions
We can show you prices from a panel of specialist medical insurers that cover many pre-existing medical conditions, so it’s worth getting a quote.
If you're struggling to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPs) also provide a list of specialist insurers on the MaPs directory website, or you can call the British Insurance Brokers Association on 0370 950 1790.
Medical travel insurance is usually offered on a guaranteed acceptance basis, although certain conditions may be excluded if the insurer is unable to offer cover. For claims related to medical conditions, the insurer will contact your GP to verify the medical situation. It's important to carefully review the policy terms before purchasing to ensure that you have the necessary coverage.
We'll ask you a series of questions about your cover needs and your condition. It's important to be honest to avoid invalidating any future claims.
We'll use your answers to search the market for insurers and policies you may be eligible for, ordered by the cheapest first and including details of any exclusions.
Click through to your chosen provider and you'll be covered for the duration you’ve specified should anything happen during your trip.
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 is not limited to:
Mental health issues need to be declared as much as physical ones. These includes bipolar, depression and anxiety.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can affect your health in many ways and need to be disclosed.
There are a myriad of heart conditions that if you have you will need to disclose, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
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 fibroids also need to be disclosed.
Joint issues such as arthritis or gout issues can cause you some problems while you're travelling.
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.
At MoneySuperMarket, we’re here to make sure your holiday planning is as easy as possible. Here’s what you’ll get:
We search through leading insurance providers, so you can find great deals to match your needs.
You may be asked for additional questions or a health check to ensure your insurance policy best suits your needs.
Thousands of happy holidaymakers say they’d use our services again – so why not try it now and see how much you could save?
Emergency medical expenses: Your medical bills will be covered if you need emergency medical treatments during your trip. This includes treatments for existing conditions if they are named in your policy.
Cancellation cover: With cancellation cover, you'll be able to claim for the cost up to a certain amount if you have to cancel your holiday as a result of an incident or event covered by your policy.
Lost baggage & belongings: If your baggage or personal belongings are lost, damaged, or stolen during your holiday, you’ll be able to claim up to a certain amount.
Travel disruption: If your trip is delayed or cut short as a result of a disruption, you’ll be able to claim for parts of your trip that are affected, like flights or accommodation.
Repatriation: If you need to be brought back home during your trip in a medical emergency, this will cover the cost of arranging your repatriation.
Personal liability: Should you be at fault in an incident, for example, if you injure someone or damage their possessions, you’ll be covered for the cost of legal fees and any damages or costs you are legally liable for.
Excluded pre-existing conditions: You will not covered for medical expenses arising from pre-existing medical conditions that have been excluded or weren’t mentioned in your application
Airline strikes: If your flight is cancelled or delayed due to an airline strike, then you may be able to receive compensation through the airline although you can still claim on your travel insurance for other costs such as accommodation
Choosing not to travel: Your travel insurance will not cover you if you simply decide you no longer want to go on holiday
High-risk sports: A standard travel insurance policy will not cover higher-risk activities like winter sports. However, you can get specialist cover
Missed flights: If you miss a flight because you were late or didn't get through security on time, you will not be covered by your travel insurance provider
Alcohol-related incidents: If you have an accident or an incident occurs while you are under the influence, most providers are unlikely to pay out on the claim
"There’s no denying that you’ll probably pay more for your travel insurance if you have a pre-existing condition. But failing to declare your medical history could have serious implications if that condition flares up while you’re away, potentially leaving you without valid cover when you need it most. It’s not worth it. The application process will make it clear what you need to disclose, and always ask for help if you’re unsure.
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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:
Comparing quotes from a range of providers lets you find the best deal at the best price, with the add-ons you need
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
Give us details on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, and a little about your medical condtion and you’ll be able to compare travel insurance quotes
We’ll show you which travel insurance quotes are the cheapest along with info on claims experience, a quality score and cover level, as well as any extras you may need
Once you’ve found a policy that suits your medical and travel needs, you can call or click through to apply for your insurance policy directly with the insurer
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.
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