Medical coverage is an important component of most travel insurance products. Although this automatically comes with a policy, it doesn’t mean that every individual will qualify for these health benefits. Those with pre-existing medical conditions or existing health problems may find themselves excluded from taking out a standard policy. What are the alternatives?
Why are Existing Health Conditions an Issue?
A travel insurance policy works on a risk factor basis. If an individual has (or has had) a medical condition or health problem in the past then the risk exists that this may be an issue again in the future. Plus, given that many take out a travel policy when they take trips to foreign places, this can end up being especially expensive for the insurance company if medical claims are made.
For these reasons many standard travel insurance policies may exclude those with a prior history of conditions or illnesses. They may, for example:
- Not give them any travel coverage at all.
- Give them a base policy but exclude them for claiming on health grounds related to their medical history or condition.
- Charge them extra to get coverage.
Those with pre-existing medical conditions or health issues may want to consider specialist policies that are able to deal with their medical needs.
What is Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?
This kind of policy is designed to give travel coverage to those with a pre-existing medical condition or a previous health problem. It can, for example, often take into account the medical condition and history of the individual and accept the increased risk that they pose.
It’s worth remembering that not all travel insurance policies that claim to offer this service can be ranked equally. Each insurance provider will have their own risk criteria. Factors that may affect coverage include:
- The individual’s age.
- The medical condition that they currently suffer from.
- Any health problem that they have had in the past.
- When they last had a problem or had to have treatment.
There are degrees of risk to be considered here too. An individual with an ongoing condition may be much more expensive to insure than one that had a problem a few years in the past and that has been fine for a period of years.
How to Find a Cheap Travel Insurance Policy With an Existing Health Condition
Finding cost-effective policies can be difficult. For some this will mean a specialist policy; others may be able to pay a little extra to get coverage added to standard policies. This comes down to the individual, their condition and the criteria set by each individual insurance company.
Not all insurers will set the same criteria for their pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance. Some will be more relaxed about some conditions than others so taking the time to shop around to compare policy terms and conditions and the subsequent costs may well be worth doing.
Carol Finch - Carol Finch is the Topic Editor for Retirement Planning, Budgeting, E-Commerce & Technical/Business Writing on Suite101.
Join the Conversation