If you have a medical condition, then you will need to make sure you declare it when you apply for your travel insurance as you will find that your policy may be null and void if you fail to declare anything medical that you know about. It’s not only current medical conditions that need to be declared, as you will also need to make sure you inform the insurance provider if you have suffered from a problem in the past such as if you have had a stroke or a heart attack or if you are now cancer-free.
Many travellers fear that because they have a medical ailment that they won’t be able to take out insurance but this is not the case. You can get a bespoke insurance deal that will cover you for your specific problem and circumstances and while this may cost a bit more than a regular insurance package, you will get the peace of mind that you are travelling with insurance in place. Now Travel Insurance can provide cover for people with medical conditions and they will create a personalised package for you if they don’t already have one set out to suit your circumstances and situation.
Different Illnesses
Medical insurance will cover you for a wide variety of ailments, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Cancer
- MND
- COPD
- Asthma
- High cholesterol
- Joint replacement
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
Whenever you take out travel insurance, it is important to inform the provider about your medical history, as well as your current medical situation. This is important whether you have something serious such as cancer or something less serious like asthma.
So, why is insurance more expensive when you have an illness or medical condition?
When you are sick or have been sick, you are at a higher risk of needing to have medical treatment. This is why insurance providers will usually charge more for medical insurance compared to regular insurance. However, the one thing that is very important to remember is that this additional cost will likely be far less than the bills will come to if you require medical treatment or attention in a foreign country.
For Example: If you have a heart attack while on holiday in Thailand and you don’t have insurance, then you will be responsible for paying the money that it will cost to get medical attention in an international hospital, where the rates are high. Alternatively you can visit a government hospital where the level and standard of care you will be given will be poor and when you are making decisions about your health it is important to make them based on what is best for you rather than what you can afford.
When you have insurance, you can make a decision about what care you get and where without worrying about the financial burden.
Medical Emergencies
If you don’t have a pre-existing problem but you end up having a medical emergency while you are away, then it is important to check the small print in the terms and conditions of your policy to ensure that you are covered for the following:
- Medical expenses up to a set amount
- Repatriation costs
- Emergency dental work
Regular insurance packages can include coverage for medical expenses but if you have had a pre-existing condition that you failed to declare when you took the policy out, then you may find that you are not able to make a claim should you need to.
You should get an insurance package that will include the cost of emergency transport to get home and this is often listed under the title of “repatriation”.
Important Tips
There are lots of things to do when you take out insurance, from checking the terms and conditions through to making sure the policy is valid for where you want to travel to.
Here is a summary of all of the things that you need to make sure your insurance covers you for, whether you have a pre-existing medical condition or you simply want to take out insurance:
- Where you can travel to
- What activities you can do
- When the insurance company won’t pay out on a claim
- How long the policy is valid for
- What variances will affect a claim?
- How long you are allowed to be away for
Make sure you take out insurance before you go away rather than when you arrive and most insurance companies will only cover you if you organise the policy before you get to your destination.
Remember: There are some things that will affect your ability to make a claim, so even if you have checked the fine print and found a deal that suits your budget and your needs, you will still need to make sure that you don’t take any drugs or drink too much alcohol, as taking these risks can make your policy null and void.
If you are involved in an accident and need medical attention as a result but you are found to be under the influence of drink or drugs, then you will be unable to make a successful claim as you will invalidate your contract.
Other factors that can affect whether or not a provider will pay include the following:
- Travel to a country that is on a travel warning list
- Travel anywhere that isn’t permitted in your contract
- Have a medical condition that you fail to declare
- You are found to have been dishonest about your age, name, sex or other personal details
- Take excessive risks, such as bungee jumping without specialist adventure insurance
Lastly, whatever type of insurance policy you choose to take out, you will need to make sure that you take your insurance details with you wherever you go and also take photocopies and keep email proof, as you never know when or where you might need to make a claim.
