Pre-existing conditions and travel insurance

Pre-existing medical conditions greatly impact travel insurance coverage. Travel insurers consider preexisting conditions any illness that was diagnosed, assessed or treated within a certain timeframe, defined by your insurer, before you purchase your policy. 

Insurers require pre-existing conditions to have been stable for a defined period of time, prior to you purchasing your policy, before medical emergencies related to the condition may be covered.

A “stable” health condition describes any medical condition for which there has been no new treatment or change in treatment type or frequency. Examples of pre-existing conditions include chronic illnesses, recent surgeries, or ongoing treatments.

Within the period prior to the effective date of your policy specified by the exclusion, there can also be no signs or symptoms of a health condition, new diagnosis, test results showing deterioration, hospitalization, or referral to a specialist. You must also not be awaiting surgery or the result of medical investigations. 

Based on your age and the length of your trip, our plans specify a period (either 90 or 180 days) that a previous medical condition must be stable prior to the effective date of your policy. Some insurers require customers with preexisting conditions that aren’t stable to pay higher premiums to access coverage for emergencies related to that condition. The severity of the condition can also impact premium costs. 

It is important to accurately disclose any pre-existing conditions when purchasing travel insurance. Failure to disclose pre-existing conditions will void any insurance claims related to those conditions.

Our comprehensive travel insurance plans and emergency medical-only travel insurance plans include coverage for certain medical emergencies related to pre-existing conditions that have been stable for 90 to 180 days. You can find policy documents on each plan’s webpage. 

If you have complex medical needs, it is important to have current documentation from your physician regarding the stability and severity of any pre-existing conditions before purchasing travel insurance. You and your doctor’s knowledge of your medical condition should guide your decision on what level of coverage works for you. 

If your condition has been stable for an extended time period, you may benefit from purchasing insurance that requires your condition to have been stable for a certain time period. If your stability is variable, you may want to consider an insurer that asks for higher premiums for those with pre-existing conditions.

Paying a higher premium may allow you to have more extensive coverage if you experience a medical emergency related to a pre-existing condition with variable stability and severity.

Travel insurance may protect the finances and health of people with pre-existing conditions. But it is important to understand your policy’s guidelines on how long a preexisting condition must be stable, and premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. Travel insurance will also protect people with pre-existing conditions if they experience a covered medical emergency unrelated to their pre-existing condition. 

Do all travel insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions? Not all travel insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions. Some low-cost travel insurance plans only offer emergency medical benefits without coverage for incidents related to pre-existing conditions. And some travel insurance plans, such as some offered by credit card companies, don’t offer any emergency medical coverage.

Is any condition that occurred in the past considered pre-existing to travel insurers? Conditions are considered pre-existing if they are diagnosed, treated or assessed within a certain period before you purchased your insurance policy.

If my travel insurance plan covers preexisting conditions, can I purchase it at any time before my trip? No. Most travel insurance plans that cover pre-existing conditions specify that you must purchase your policy with a certain window after you pay for your trip.

If you have complex medical needs, it’s important that you consider travel insurance policy guidelines on preexisting conditions, and the possible severity and frequency of any medical emergencies related to your condition.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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