Q&A: Travel insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Purchasing the right travel insurance can be confusing. Especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are of a certain age. Some policies may not cover you for your needs or they may exclude you due to a medical condition.

We’ve assembled a list of common Questions and Answers to help you when shopping for travel insurance.

Travel insurance can cover you for a wide range of incidents when you’re travelling.

This type of cover may normally include features such as:

Did you know that cancellation cover is active as soon as you take out your policy? This means your holiday is protected straight away for any unforeseen events.

To read about our policies and to find out what we’ll cover, visit our main travel page.

There are some policies available to the market which offer cover for pre-existing conditions. With over 1300 pre-existing medical conditions covered by our policies with our partner All Clear, there is a good chance that you’ll be insurable. Find out more on our Travel page [link]

Where the UK has a National Health Service, many other countries do not, or this isn’t always offered to visitors.

It’s a good idea to consider getting emergency medical cover. We recommend contacting your travel provider and doing your own research on the countries you visit before shopping around.

The UK Government website has some basic advice on most countries around the world gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

If you are a UK citizen, you can apply for a GHIC which will provide basic protection in some countries, but this shouldn’t replace your own insurance cover.

From early 2021, the Global Heath Insurance Card, GHIC for short – is accepted in all European Union countries and Switzerland. It’s worth noting that the card is not accepted in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Adults and Children can claim their free card. The purpose is to enable you to get state healthcare in applicable countries, either at a reduced cost or to the same levels as a resident of that country. Cover can vary per destination, so it’s worth doing your own research on the countries you visit before finalising your plans.

If you’re travelling to a GHIC qualifying country, it’s easy to assume that it’s not important to have any medical cover. The GHIC only covers you for state treatment that’s provided by the country. However, you may find that the country you visit charges for certain medical care.

You will also need to consider any costs associated with getting home if you’re too unwell to stay in the country.

There is no upper age limit on the travel policies we offer. This means that you can get a quote and purchase a policy no matter your age.

To find out more about our Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions, visit our main Travel Page for more information.