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What medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance?
To find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, it is important to know what medical conditions you have to declare for travel insurance
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Going on holiday is always exciting and having travel insurance, with medical cover if needed, can provide valuable peace of mind that you will be protected financially should anything go wrong.
With around 70% of insurers excluding pre-existing medical conditions from the coverage of travel insurance products, if you are specifically looking for medical travel insurance, you might be worried about finding affordable cover.
Fortunately, premiums for travel insurance with medical conditions might not be as high as you think, and there are specialist providers which cater specifically for travellers who have or have previously had health issues. You must, however, make sure you declare any conditions you have which fall within the medical warranty, to ensure you will be covered if you need treatment while you are away.
Here is what you need to know about buying travel insurance with pre-existing conditions.
What medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance?
As a general rule, you will need to declare any medical condition for which you have had treatment at hospital (inpatient or outpatient), clinic or GP surgery, or if you have had surgery. You should also declare any condition you have been prescribed medication for.Â
The time frame in which you will need to declare the conditions will depend on the medical warranty that you will see at the start of the quote process.Â
Some of the medical conditions you need to declare for travel insurance quotes include:
- Respiratory conditions
- Heart, liver, kidney, brain or circulatory disease or damage,Â
- Diabetes,Â
- Strokes or central nervous system disorders
- Terminal illnesses.
You should also declare any psychological or mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
What is a pre-existing condition for travel insurance purposes?
A pre-existing condition, for travel insurance purposes, is any health condition for which you have had symptoms, been diagnosed with or have received medical treatment for an agreed time frame
For example, if you were diagnosed with cancer two years ago, have had treatment and are now in remission, you may still need to declare this to your insurer. Similarly, if you have high blood pressure, asthma or epilepsy you should declare this, even if it is being controlled by medication.
If you are unsure whether you need to declare a medical condition you have had previously, it is best to declare it so that you can make sure you will be covered while you are away.
What if you develop a new medical condition after taking out travel insurance?
If you are diagnosed with a new medical condition after taking out travel insurance, you should let your insurance provider know as this would be considered a change in state of health.Â
What happens if you don’t declare medical conditions for travel insurance?
If you don’t provide your travel insurance provider with information about a medical condition you have, you may not be covered if you need to make a claim on your policy. It’s therefore essential to declare any medical conditions you may have, even if you can manage them with medication.
It could prove extremely costly if you need medical treatment while you are overseas, as bills can often run into thousands of pounds.Â
Ideally therefore, you should look for a travel insurance policy that provides you with at least £10m or £15m of cover for medical emergencies. If you are travelling in Europe, you should also make sure you have a GHIC card.
Your policy should also cover you if you have to cancel your trip because of your medical condition.Â
Finding the best travel insurance if you have medical conditions
Your best option if you have a pre-existing medical condition and need travel insurance is to find a specialist provider which will cover these conditions and provide you with comprehensive cover for medical expenses while abroad .
The Telegraph Media Group Travel Insurance Service is provided by AllClear, one of these specialist providers, covering over 1,300 different medical conditions. All the AllClear branded policies also include Covid-19 cover. Simply get in touch with AllClear’s helpful team or click the link below to find out more and get your quote.
Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition? AllClear provide comprehensive cover for medical emergencies while you're away - Get a quote today.
Read more:Â
- 9 considerations when buying family travel insurance
- Why you need cruise travel insurance before you set sailÂ
- Travel insurance for Dubai
- Travel insurance for over 70s
Telegraph Media Group Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of AllClear Insurance Services Limited, a company that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Â
The above article was created for Telegraph Financial Solutions, a trading name of The Telegraph Media Group. For more information on Telegraph Financial Solutions click here.