If I have a medical condition, will an ordinary travel insurance cover me?

What do you consider to be a medical condition?

Sometimes people think they don't have a medical condition because it's controlled by tablets. For example, someone might have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or cholesterol but because of the medication being taken, their blood pressure and cholesterol readings are normal. However, these are medical conditions that need to be declared because if medication stopped being taken, the blood pressure and cholesterol levels would probably change and potentially be a risk to health.

Rather than not declare something and risk it not being covered, we advise calling 0844 357 1315 and talking with one of our specialist staff. They will let you know if we need to make a note of it, to ensure that any claims related to the medical condition are covered by the policy.

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Why can't you cover every medical condition?

All insurance boils down to calculating the level of risk that a claim will be made on a policy.

Claims are paid from the amount of money collected by premiums. Any insurance needs to ensure that the amount of money in the 'pot' of premiums collected is sufficient to pay all claims made.

The higher the risk of someone making a claim - for example, someone with a serious or unstable medical condition - the more money has to be available to meet those claims.

Sometimes an insurance company will charge very high premiums but will then be able to cover a higher level of risk. We try to keep our premiums on the lower side, so therefore have to place a limit on the types or seriousness of the medical conditions we're able to cover.

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What is different about your medical travel insurance?

Our policy is specifically designed to be able to include a wide range of pre existing medical conditions.

In order for our travel insurance policy to include medical conditions, you need to declare them to us. Otherwise, they will not be covered by the policy.

We will need to know what conditions you have and sometimes other details such what medication you are taking. We have specially trained staff who will ask you questions about your medical condition and, based on your circumstances, be able to tell you if we are able to include it in the cover. If so, you will be given a premium quote. You can go ahead and book the policy in the same call or, if you wish, call back and book it at a later time.

When you receive your insurance documents, it is important to read them carefully, to ensure we have confirmed that your medical conditions (if any) are included in the cover. It is also important to be sure that the policy covers other requirements you may have, such as the level of cover provided and that the dates of your trip are correct on the Schedule.

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What might happen if I'm not covered by a specialist travel insurance policy?

If something happens to you that is excluded by an ordinary travel insurance, you will not be able to make a claim for it.

If you have ordinary travel insurance, it is possible that the insurers will consider that even though it might not be 100% certain that the reason for you seeking medical attention is directly linked to your pre-existing condition, there might be a possibility that it is. This might mean that you would not be covered by the policy. This is where you fall into a 'grey area'.

If you have a medical condition that is not specifically covered by a policy, you will not be able to claim for any costs associated with advice or treatment that you have received because of it. These costs may, of course, be minor. However, if you need hospitalisation, then costs start to mount.

It's possible that if you have not disclosed a material fact that might increase the risk of you making a claim, an insurer could void the entire policy.

If you need to extend your trip because you are in hospital and a travelling companion wishes to remain with you, they may have additional costs in terms of accommodation and return flights.

If you need to be repatriated to the UK, you will need to pay for your air tickets if you are able to fly by standard aircraft. Sometimes it is necessary to be accompanied by a doctor and/or a nurse and you will have to pay for this.

If you are not able to fly by standard aircraft it may be necessary to repatriate you by air ambulance. This is highly expensive - easily in the region of £15,000-£25,000.

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How much is your medical travel insurance likely to cost?

The premiums for our insurance will depend on your individual circumstances.

Factors that influence the price include:

Please call us on 0844 357 1315 for your quote.

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What if I am travelling with others?

If you are travelling with others, they should seriously consider being covered by our policy, also.

This ensures that if we have agreed to include your medical condition, should you need to cancel, cut short or extend your trip because you need medical treatment, your travelling companions would be able to claim for losses they incur because of cancelling, cutting short or extending their trip.

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What is the maximum age you cover?

Insurance for a single trip: no upper age limit

For an annual, multi-trip policy: cover available if you book before your 75th birthday

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Isn't it the case that insurers just take my money and rarely pay out on claims??

No. We pay out many thousands of pounds in claims each year!

People suggest that insurers don't pay claims have often made a claim that simply isn't and was never intended to be covered by the policy.

This is why we send out a summary of cover, detailing extactly what is covered and the financial limit of cover. We also send out the full policy wording. This goes into details about what is and what isn't covered. No insurance is designed to cover absolutely everything. It's important that you read the policy wording to ensure it is meeting what you need and what you expect.

Furthermore, you have a 14 day cooling off period, which gives you the opportunity to check the details of our policy.

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