What pre-existing medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance?

Finding the right travel insurance, especially when you have pre-existing medical conditions, can help you enjoy a stress-free holiday. We look at what medical conditions you need to declare, why this is important and what to look for in a policy

​Understanding pre-existing medical conditions and travel insurance

To buy and maintain valid travel insurance, it’s important to declare any medical conditions you may have. This will ensure that providers can assess whether they’re able to meet your needs for medical care and provide adequate cover.

This is why it’s so important to pay close attention to what insurers call pre-existing medical conditions. These are any condition you have had before buying the policy and the term covers physical as well those concerning mental health.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

Every insurer will have a different approach to insuring each of these conditions, so look out for exclusions that may affect you. And it’s important to note that the length of time a condition or symptoms have existed will have an effect on how your personal risk is viewed.

It’s a good idea to share more details with your insurer if any of the following looks familiar to you or anyone else included on your policy:

• Had a condition diagnosed in the last two years
• Taken any prescribed medication or required treatment within the last two years
• Been a registered in- or out-patient at a hospital, clinic or GP surgery in the last two years
• Been placed on a waiting list (e.g. for an operation or treatment) that could cause you to cancel or shorten your trip
• Been involved in a medical test for which you’re awaiting results
• Been advised of a terminal illness
• Had any illness that has caused a hospital stay of more than 24 hours or required surgery in the last five years

Examples of common conditions

The types of physical and mental health conditions you should declare include, but are not limited to:

• Heart-related conditions including heart disease, congenital heart disease, angina, or if you've had any heart surgery
• Respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and asthma
• Neurological disorders including strokes, epilepsy or Parkinson's disease
• Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder
• Blood conditions such as haemophilia or any blood clotting disorders
• Digestive system conditions, for example, Crohn’s disease, liver disease or gallstones
• Musculoskeletal conditions including arthritis, rheumatism and osteoporosis
• Cancer in all its forms
• Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2
• Kidney disorders including chronic kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis)
• Infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis
• Pregnancy especially if it is a high-risk pregnancy or there are any related complications

How far back do medical conditions need to be declared?

As a rule of thumb, you should declare any condition you’ve experienced in the last two years, though this may vary between insurers.

Any medical condition that is ongoing and you’re receiving treatment for should also be disclosed.

How much does medical travel insurance cost?

If you have any – or several – medical conditions, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get insurance (though some providers may decline certain conditions). But it might mean your insurance is more expensive than it would be for someone who doesn’t have those conditions.

Factors that may affect costs

The cost of any insurance policy increases or decreases depending on the risk the insurance company thinks it’s taking on:

• The older we get, the more susceptible to illness and accidents we can be.
• The severity of your condition may increase the likelihood you’ll need treatment.
• Some countries, such as the US, Canada and Japan, have high healthcare costs that will have to be paid by the insurer and reflected in the cost of your policy.
• The length of time you are on holiday increases the risk you may require treatment.
• High risk activities, even sports such as skiing, will also increase the cost of your insurance policy.

Medical screening and questions asked

If your insurer is concerned about any of your pre-existing medical conditions, they may ask you to complete a medical screening, usually a questionnaire. But if they need more information, they may ask to have a phone call to clarify the details of your conditions and any treatments or medications you are taking to manage symptoms.

Ways to bring down the cost of your travel insurance

All the above may add to the cost of your travel insurance but there are ways to also reduce costs. For example:

• Buying an annual policy, rather than a new one for every trip.
• Adjusting the excess on your policy. This is the amount you agree to contribute towards the cost of a claim, and the higher that contribution is, the less you’ll pay for your policy.
• Check the level of cover the policy has to make sure you aren’t paying for cover that you don’t need.
• If medical care is expensive in the country you are planning to visit, the cost of insurance will be higher, so consider alternatives if price is a priority.
• Shop around and look for travel insurance that specialises in covering pre-existing medical conditions – like Age Co Travel Insurance.

​What does travel insurance typically cover?

Travel insurance can cover a wide range of scenarios. On the whole, many policies include protection for:

• Emergency medical expenses
• Lost or stolen personal items
• Cancellation, curtailment and travel delays
• Legal protection

Many will also offer ways to customise your travel insurance, such as adding cruise cover or extra protection for your travelling companions.

What does travel insurance not cover?

There might be some significant exclusions, however:

• Unplanned high-risk activities
• Injuries sustained while intoxicated
• Certain destinations
• And undeclared pre-existing medical conditions

Factors like high-risk activity will be accepted by some insurers with more information and a higher premium – and it’s the same approach for medical conditions.

Will I be offered cover if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

After having completed medical screening, the insurer will likely take one of the following approaches:

• Offer you cover based on their standard terms
• Offer you cover on their standard terms but with the specific pre-existing medical condition excluded. Any incident related to that wouldn’t be covered under your policy
• Offer cover with specific terms, restrictions or a higher excess
• Offer cover to include the pre-existing medical condition but charged at a higher price
• Decline to insure you

If you are refused insurance based on a pre-existing medical condition, you may need to look towards specialist insurance options, such as Age Co Travel Insurance.

Can you get travel insurance if awaiting a diagnosis?

If you’re currently undergoing tests or waiting for a diagnosis, let your insurer know. It may be that they won’t cover you if anything related to that condition happens on holiday, but they might accept the risk, depending on your personal situation. With all medical issues, the hard-and-fast rule is to be honest and upfront with your insurer.

If you’re not, and you travel without having declared all your medical conditions, you could find the entire policy invalidated, even when trying to make a claim on an unrelated part of it.

And if you were to experience a medical emergency in one of those high-cost countries with an invalidated policy, you could end up having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds in medical costs.

Summary: honesty is the best policy

In order to keep your travel insurance valid, you should always declare any known pre-existing medical conditions.

If you find your insurer isn’t willing to cover your conditions, have a look around. Specialist options, such as travel Insurance with medical conditions, may be able to help.

There will almost certainly be a screening process to understand your situation better so be prepared to list all the conditions you have as well as:

• Whether or not you are currently undergoing treatment or taking medication.
• What treatments and medication you have taken in the last two years.
• If you are currently undergoing tests for an undiagnosed condition.
• Or if you have ever refused medical treatment.

All of this will allow the insurer to understand your personal situation better and ensure you have the right cover.

Don’t let your medical conditions put you off going on holiday but don’t put it at risk either. Tell your insurer everything they need to know and take that dream trip knowing that, should the worst happen, you and your holiday are covered.