What is medical screening for travel insurance (2024)

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  • What is medical screening for travel insurance?

What is medical screening for travel insurance?

Medical screening is part of the quote process. Medical screening for Travel Insurance with pre existing conditions is a number of simple questions about the medical conditions you declare. Travel Insurance providers carry out medical screening to ensure that they offer you the right level of cover.

Medical screening questions

Examples of questions asked during medical screening include:

  • Have you had any surgery, inpatient, or outpatient treatment or any referrals or investigations?
  • Have you had any unplanned hospital admissions?
  • How many medications do you take?
  • Are you or have you ever been a smoker?

Declaring all pre-existing medical conditions during the screening process

You need to declare all medical conditions which fall inside of the medical warranty. You can find the medical warranty at the start of the quote process.

Do you have to include a medical condition that doesn’t affect you?

Yes, you’ll need to declare all medical conditions which fall inside of the medical warranty. Although conditions can be well managed and controlled at home, that can change when travelling. So it’s important to make sure that you are fully covered for all eventualities.
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kay Greveson, explains: “A pre-existing medical condition can be affected by changes in temperature and climate and should always be declared, even if it is being controlled by medication.”

Declare your conditions, not your symptoms

You will only ever need to declare the name of your diagnosed medical condition. The screening questions may then ask you about your symptoms.

Do you need to declare a condition for which you do not have medication or/ no longer take medication for?

Yes – you’ll need to declare any medical condition which falls inside of the medical warranty.

Do you need to declare a condition that was incorrectly diagnosed?

You won’t need to declare a condition if it was misdiagnosed and is not something you’re living with. You will, however, need to declare the correct diagnosis for the condition.

Do you need to declare a voluntary hospital admission if the question asks about compulsory admissions?

As you have not yet had the procedure, you will need to declare the medical condition which you are waiting for a procedure. You will then just answer the medical questions relating to this medical condition.

No, if the question specifies ‘Compulsory’ you’ll not need to include a voluntary hospital admission.

Do you class attending A&E as an admission?

No, we do not class attending A&E as an admission.

Do you need to declare a one-off episode?

Yes, you’ll need to declare a one-off episode if it’s for a diagnosed medical condition. You must declare all medical conditions which fall inside the medical warranty and you must be ‘fit to travel’. If the one-off episode is for an undiagnosed condition that you are under investigation for we cannot offer cover. If you are currently

Do you need to declare private medical treatment during the screening process?

Around 11 per cent of the UK population has some form of private medical insurance. Therefore many people make use of private medical treatment. If you are one of the many seeing a consultant privately you would need to include this when completing your quote.

Do you need to declare a drug or alcohol-related medical condition?

Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 60 medical conditions. You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions. No matter the cause of a condition,

The AllClear medical screening process

At AllClear, we understand that travelling with a medical condition means you have a few more things to consider. So, we keep our medical screening process as quick and simple.
Hear what our customers have to say about our Medical screening:

Easy to use website

“Easy to use the website. Questions were straightforward and insurance options clear. Documents came in post in 2 days” – Denise

Read AllClear Trustpilot Reviews

Trustpilot

Benefits of AllClear Cover

Gold Gold Plus Platinum
Emergency medical expenses and Repatriation costs Up to £10m Up to £15m Unlimited
Cancellation* and Curtailment Up to £2k Up to £15k Up to £25k
Travel Delay Up to £300 Up to £1,500 Up to £1,500
Recuperation stay
Personal Belongings Up to £2k Up to £2.5k Up to £3k
Personal liability Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m
Legal protection cover Up to £50k Up to £50k Up to £100k
* If you buy a policy which includes cancellation cover
All these figures are per person and per trip

Freephone to get your quote on: or

Author notes

Written by Lydia Crispin, MA Content Creator at AllClear
Edited by Letitia Smith, M.Sc. Content Manager at AllClear

Written by: Lydia Crispin | Travel Insurance Expert
Last Updated: 23 February 2024


† Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 70,000 reviews as of January 2024. AllClear Gold Plus achieved a Which? Best Buy.

What is medical screening for travel insurance (2024)

FAQs

What is medical screening for travel insurance? ›

A 'medical screening' is the process by which we declare your medical conditions. You will input your diagnosis, and the screening system brings up a series of questions in relation to this condition.

What is a medical screening for insurance? ›

During the medical exam, a licensed healthcare professional will collect vital health-related data. This information helps the insurer assess your current health status and identify any underlying medical conditions that may affect your life expectancy.

What conditions are not covered by travel insurance? ›

Conditions which may not be covered

Conditions like terminal illness, the need for oxygen, pending surgery, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, specific types of cancer, congestive heart failure, and recurring pain are generally excluded from coverage.

Does travel insurance ask for medical records? ›

Their experts will want to weigh up the likelihood that you might make a claim relating to your condition, which they'll have to pay out. And beware, if you don't disclose relevant medical information in your insurance application, your policy could be invalidated in the event of a claim.

Is high blood pressure a pre-existing condition for travel insurance? ›

Holidaymakers often ask: 'Is high blood pressure a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance? ' The answer is simple – high blood pressure is classed as a pre-existing medical condition, so you do need to tell your insurance provider when applying for a policy.

How do I prepare for medical screening? ›

7 Tips for a Successful Medical Exam
  1. 1) Get a good night's sleep. Try to get eight hours the night before your exam so your blood pressure is as low as possible.
  2. 2) Avoid salty or fatty foods. ...
  3. 3) Avoid exercise. ...
  4. 4) Don't drink coffee or any caffeinated products. ...
  5. 5) Fast. ...
  6. 6) Drink water. ...
  7. 7) Know your meds.

What is the purpose of medical screening? ›

A screening test is done to detect potential health disorders or diseases in people who do not have any symptoms of disease. The goal is early detection and lifestyle changes or surveillance, to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively.

Can travel insurance deny pre-existing conditions? ›

While most travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions from medical expenses and evacuation coverage, you may be able to obtain coverage with a pre-existing conditions waiver.

What is considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance? ›

With many travel medical insurance plans, a pre-existing condition is defined as any medical condition, sickness, injury, illness, disease, mental illness or mental or nervous disorder or resulting consequence, regardless of the cause, that existed with reasonable medical certainty during a specified amount of time ...

Does high cholesterol affect travel insurance? ›

If you're about to sign up for travel insurance, make it clear that you have this condition when you register. If you don't tell your insurer about a pre-existing medical condition (including high cholesterol), you may not be able to claim if something happens as a result of your condition on holiday.

What is the look back period for travel insurance? ›

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.

What is the difference between travel insurance and medical travel insurance? ›

Medical insurance for travel is specifically designed to cover any medical expenses you may incur while traveling. Travel insurance, on the other hand, provides more comprehensive coverage, including things like trip cancellation, lost luggage, and emergency medical evacuation.

How long does it take for a travel insurance claim to process? ›

In general, however, most claims should be processed within a few weeks (once the insurance company has all the documentation they need). Keep in mind that one of the biggest factors in determining the speed of the claims process is how quickly you and/or your medical provider provide all necessary information.

Does blood pressure medication affect travel insurance? ›

The quick answer to this question is: yes. You should always tell your insurer about your high blood pressure, even if it's being well-managed through medication.

Does being on statins affect travel insurance? ›

If you're taking statins for controlling cholesterol levels, let your insurer know before you take out a policy. Even though they're a very common medication, they can still affect how likely you are to make a claim. Your best bet is to declare any medication you're on, apart from contraceptive treatment.

What is considered high blood pressure for travel insurance? ›

What is considered high blood pressure for travel insurance? According to Blood Pressure UK, an ideal blood pressure reading is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg, anyone with consistent readings of 140/90mmHg and above is considered to have high blood pressure⁹.

What is the difference between a medical screening and a medical examination? ›

A medical screening is often focused on specific health conditions or risk factors, while a medical evaluation considers the individual's overall health and well-being. A medical screening is usually quick and non-invasive, while a medical evaluation may involve more time and may require additional tests or procedures.

Is health screening the same as a physical? ›

While a physical includes a full examination and a wellness evaluation, an Annual Wellness Visits focuses solely on a patient's answers to a health risk assessment. It does not typically include any lab work or tests requiring physical contact.

What is the difference between medical surveillance and screening? ›

The fundamental purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment of the individual and thus has a clinical focus. The fundamental purpose of surveillance is to detect and eliminate the underlying causes such as hazards or exposures of any discovered trends and thus has a prevention focus.

What not to say when applying for life insurance? ›

LYING ABOUT DRUG USE OR TOBACCO & ALCOHOL USE

An applicant for life insurance must disclose lifestyle habits, good and bad, including use of alcohol or use of tobacco.

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