Home > Travel Insurance and Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: What to Know
Traveling abroad is exciting, but if you have pre-existing medical conditions, it’s essential to understand how travel insurance works, what is covered, and what isn’t.
In this article, we’ll break down the essentials of travel insurance and how it relates to pre-existing medical conditions.
We’ll go over what qualifies as a pre-existing condition, how to declare it, and what may or may not be covered to give you peace of mind during your trip.
Whether you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or something else, you’ll find answers to common questions and be able to approach your trip with accurate information.
A pre-existing medical condition is any health issue you’ve had before your travel insurance policy starts.
These conditions could range from issues like high cholesterol or blood pressure to more serious ones such as heart disease, diabetes, or a history of strokes.
Long-term illnesses and diseases, such as auto-immune diseases or genetic disorders, are also considered pre-existing conditions.
Some common examples of pre-existing conditions include:
Additionally, some specific health-related concerns are considered pre-existing conditions, so they are not covered either. These include illnesses diagnosed previously.
No, travel insurance, including Schengen visa insurance, does not cover pre-existing conditions.
Travel insurance is designed to provide coverage for common risks of travel, such as accidents, medical emergencies, lost luggage, etc. Your exact coverage will depend on the policy that you choose.
Because travel insurance does not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, it’s a good idea to schedule a physical with your doctor before you travel abroad.
This will allow you to discuss and create a plan regarding your health while you are overseas.
Travel insurance is different than health insurance.
When purchasing travel insurance, there typically aren’t any forms relating to your medical history that you will need to fill out.
With that being said, you will be expected to share any relevant medical history if you experience a medical emergency abroad. If it is related to a pre-existing condition, it will not be covered.
When it comes to pre-existing conditions, medical emergencies related to known conditions are not covered.
If other emergencies occur, such as unforeseen illnesses, accidents, and injuries, contact your insurer immediately.
Insurte's policies provide 24/7 support and assistance, so they will be available to give you advice and the next steps for your claim.
It’s important to always read the specific terms and conditions before purchasing a policy, so you know exactly what is covered and what isn’t. For example, there may be exclusions that aren’t pre-existing conditions.
Traveling with confidence is still possible with pre-existing conditions. There are a few ways to prepare for your trip abroad to help you feel more peace of mind while traveling.
It’s essential to understand that when you purchase travel insurance, you will not be asked about pre-existing conditions, but that doesn’t mean you are covered for them.