If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, then you could be struggling to find effective or affordable travel insurance. It is not, however, impossible, as specialists in travel insurance for people pre-existing medical conditions like AllClear Travel Insurance will work hard to accommodate you. 

Crohn’s, one of the main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causes inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. It most commonly affects the lower small intestine but can impact anywhere along the alimentary tract which runs from the mouth to the anus. People with Crohn’s can have problems digesting and absorbing nutrients and creating healthy stools. It is an incurable long-term, or chronic condition which may be treated with steroids, immunosuppressants or surgery to remove inflamed or ulcerated tissue.

Yes. Insurers ask you to declare any pre existing health conditions from which you suffer or have suffered within a specified time frame. If you do not advise your insurer when getting a travel insurance quote then should you later claim on your policy, it may be refused due to your non-disclosure. This could leave you personally liable for emergency medical bills and any other costs that might otherwise have been covered by your policy, such as medical repatriation.

If you declare you have Crohn’s when taking out your policy then by law an insurer cannot refuse insurance as people with chronic health conditions are protected under disability legislation. They are, though, within their rights to place exclusions and limits on the cover they provide or to charge you a higher premium. You will find that AllClear, as an insurance company specialising in serving people with disabilities and chronic health issues, can arrange effective and highly competitive travel cover.

Crohn’s & Colitis UK publishes this handy, informative and downloadable (PDF) guide with the charity’s wider website providing more extensive information and advice. For expert insight into the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of Crohn’s disease, visit the NHS website’s guide.