Buying travel insurance to cover you in an emergency while abroad is usually easy, but what if you have a preexisting condition? The good news is that many travel insurance policies will cover treatment for your condition as long as you meet certain requirements.
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Can I get travel insurance for preexisting medical conditions?
Yes. Many insurers’ travel insurance plans will offer coverage for preexisting conditions, but only if you:
- Purchase your policy within the first few weeks of booking of your trip
- Insure your entire nonrefundable trip amount
- Have no flare-ups during the policy’s “look-back period,” which refers to a certain number of days before you apply for coverage in which you aren’t allowed to receive treatment for a preexisting condition (many policies don’t have a look-back period)
Your preexisting condition coverage is typically part of the travel insurance policy’s features, so you don’t have to pay extra for it. If the policy you’re considering has a look-back period, it will typically be 60, 90 or 180 days.
What is considered a preexisting condition?
A preexisting condition is defined as an injury or illness that requires you to obtain a medical diagnosis, examination or care. It also includes conditions that present symptoms or require medication. Some examples of preexisting conditions are diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer, hypertension and autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s, lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Qualifying for a preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver
The technical name of your coverage for your preexisting condition is “preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver.” The waiver is typically included for no additional cost and has no age restrictions, but read your policy’s fine print to understand exactly what is and isn’t covered. You may have to purchase the travel insurance policy within a certain time frame after booking your trip to qualify for the waiver.
A preexisting conditions waiver prevents companies from considering your medical history when you apply. However, some policies have a look-back period of 60 to 180 days.
If the preexisting ailment, injury or illness has changed or worsened in that period, or you’ve received care for it, an insurer can deny the waiver and won’t cover your preexisting condition. If you buy the policy anyway, you’d likely have to pay out of pocket for any medical care you receive for the condition during your trip.
More often than not, though, a plan will allow preexisting conditions. For example, 36 of the 49 companies in our study of the best travel insurance companies had offered a preexisting condition waiver with no look-back period.
What documents are needed for a preexisting condition exclusion waiver?
Information required to qualify for a preexisting exclusion waiver can include medical records from the look-back period and a note from your physician stating you are in good health and can travel.
If you make a claim for medical treatment you received during your trip, you’ll need to provide:
- The proper claim form
- Proof of travel
- A note from the attending physician
- Copies of your treatment records and medical bills
These document requirements may also apply if you come home early or cancel your trip because of a preexisting condition.
Which travel insurance companies offer preexisting medical condition waivers?
Many companies provide waivers for preexisting medical conditions, such as AIG Travel Guard, Allianz, AXA, HTH Worldwide, Seven Corners, Nationwide, Travelex and USI Affinity. Each insurer’s plans differ by premium and look-back period, which could make or break your ability to qualify. Before purchasing a policy, be sure the preexisting medical condition waiver makes sense for your situation.
That being said, here is a list of highly rated travel insurance plans to cover preexisting conditions without a look-back period:
- Travel Insured: Worldwide Trip Protector
- WorldTrips: Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier
- Trawick International: Safe Travels First Class
- GoReady: Choice
- Seven Corners: RoundTrip Choice
- AXA Assistance USA: Gold and Platinum
- USI Affinity: Diamond
- HTH Travel Insurance: TripProtector Preferred
How to get preexisting conditions covered by travel insurance
You must meet a few eligibility requirements to qualify for travel insurance with preexisting medical conditions. These include:
- Be healthy enough to travel during the trip
- Buy the policy within the first few weeks of booking
- Insure the entire nonrefundable trip cost
“Travelers do not necessarily need to apply for preexisting condition coverage, but they do need to meet the requirements set forth by the travel insurance provider,” said Steven Benna, marketing manager at Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison tool. “Preexisting condition coverage is a time-sensitive benefit. It is typically only available for 14 to 21 days after a traveler makes their initial trip deposit.”
This initial trip deposit includes any payments you make for hotels, flights or tour tickets.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The most common preexisting condition limitation is a “look-back period” that will exclude certain ailments from your coverage if you received treatment or diagnosis for them for a certain number of days before you leave, Benna said.
“Depending on the policy, this is the 60 to 180 day period before the day the policy was purchased,” he said. “If a traveler had any changes to their medical status during that period, including a new diagnosis, a decline in health or a change in prescription, that condition will be considered a preexisting condition.”
Many policies include exclusions for certain types of medical conditions, too, including:
- Mental and nervous system conditions such as anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s or dementia
- Pregnancy or childbirth without complications
- Cosmetic procedures
- Drug- or alcohol-related illnesses or injuries
- Injuries sustained during extreme sports (like off-piste skiing) or risky behavior
- Treatment that isn’t medically necessary
- Traveling specifically to get medical treatment abroad
Most travel insurance policies have a list of excluded illnesses and treatments that aren’t covered. However, those are different than preexisting conditions. A preexisting condition that isn’t part of the exclusion list is covered under most policies, but some policies have a look-back period (window of time before purchasing the policy in which any conditions you receive treatment for or are diagnosed with aren’t covered) that may exclude the condition from coverage.
For example, 36 of the 49 policies we examined in our ratings of the best travel insurance companies offered coverage without a look-back period for preexisting conditions. The 13 policies with look-back exceptions had time periods that ranged from 60 to 180 days.
To apply for travel insurance with preexisting conditions, you must be sure to do so shortly after making the first booking of your trip, usually within 14 days of the first payment made for the trip.
After researching companies of interest and comparing prices, you can typically apply online or over the phone, depending on the company. You’ll need to provide the total cost of your trip, where you’re going, where you live, when you’re traveling, the cost of your trip and when you paid off the trip. However, you may want to speak to a representative to confirm the plan you’re considering covers preexisting medical conditions and how it works.
Suppose your travel insurance policy doesn’t cover your preexisting condition. In that case, you can still purchase travel insurance to cover any new injuries or illnesses during your trip, including treatment or medical evacuation if necessary. Travel insurance can also cover lost luggage, trip interruptions, delays or cancellations, rental car damage and accidental death or dismemberment (AD&D).
If your policy provides a preexisting condition waiver, you won’t need to provide any medical information when you purchase your policy. If you make a claim, though, you’ll need to provide several types of documentation.
“This will include written physician statements, medical records and history, hospital bills and other documentation supporting the claim,” Benna said.
