If you have pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, or any other medical issue you’re receiving ongoing treatment for, you’ll usually have to pay higher premiums for your travel insurance.
Unfortunately, travel insurance premiums tend to rise as you get older, and if you have a pre-existing condition, you’re likely to pay even steeper prices. However, there are lots of ways to save and still get a decent affordable policy which will provide the cover you need.
Here we explain what to watch out for when buying travel cover, and where to find cover that won’t break the bank.
What impact does having a health condition have on travel insurance?
If you have a health condition, insurers will consider that there’s a greater risk of you making a claim when you’re away, and your travel insurance premiums will therefore be higher to reflect this additional risk.
This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to buy cover, but you do need to tell your insurer about any condition you already know about, however mild or serious it is.
This can either be when you buy the insurance, or if you’ve already purchased an annual policy, as soon as you find out about the condition. In some cases you might still be able to buy standard insurance but it all depends on the insurer and the type of medical condition you have. Your condition may be covered by your policy, or the insurer may decide to list it as an exclusion, so that you aren’t covered for claims associated with your particular medical issue.
If you fail to tell the insurer about a condition you did know about, and something happens which is related to it, your claim might be rejected. For example, if you have a heart condition and then have a heart attack – if you haven’t told the insurer in advance, you wouldn’t be able to claim for medical costs, or repatriation back to the UK if you need it.
What does my travel insurance policy need to include if I have a pre-existing condition?
As with any type of insurance, it’s essential to read the policy’s small print carefully so that you know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for. It’s also important to buy insurance as soon as you have a trip booked. This is because as soon as you buy the policy you are covered, should you need to cancel for any reason – such as falling ill and not being able to go.
Here we outline what your policy needs to include.
Medical cover
Insurers typically define pre-existing conditions, either physical or mental, as any condition which someone has had treatment for, or seen a doctor about. How insurers will view conditions which were treated many years ago will vary from provider to provider so check this before you buy a policy.
As many countries outside of the UK don’t have a free health service, like the NHS, people usually have to pay for medical treatment, either through a health insurance policy or paying when they need it. These costs can be high and this is what your travel insurance should pay out for. Your policy should also pay out for repatriation back to the UK if you need it and in the worst case scenario, cremation costs.
It’s also worth taking a Global Health Insurance Card with you if you’re holidaying in Europe, although this should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. The Card will provide you with access to ‘medically necessary state-provided healthcare’ while you are in a European Economic Area country and certain other countries.
Medically necessary healthcare is any healthcare that can’t wait till you come home to the UK, so might include things like emergency treatment and visits to A&E, as well as treatment for long-term or pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes or asthma. You may need to pay a percentage towards this treatment, even though you might get it free from the NHS if you were at home. Find out more in our guide Everything you need to know about the Global Health Insurance Card.
Cancellation of a holiday
Holiday cancellation can be for any reason, such as if you’ve fallen ill and can’t travel or the holiday the travel company has gone into administration.
Your insurer will have a list of reasons it will accept and as long as you have cover in place, you should be able to use it to get back any costs you’ve already paid out.
Delays to your travel
If you’re stranded because of bad weather or a strike means your flight is later than planned, you may be covered under your travel insurance.
It’s important to check the wording here, as often insurers may expect you to ask for a refund, or compensation from the travel provider first. Some will also only allow you to claim for specific reasons, which should be listed in the policy wording.
Lost, stolen, or damaged belongings
If your belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged you will be able to claim on your policy. Within the policy wording there will be an upper limit for how much you can claim for so if you’ve got a lot of expensive items, you’ll need to make sure the limit covers these.
For things that are worth a lot, such as cameras, laptops, and jewellery you may have to list these separately or buy a separate policy for them.
Personal liability
Most insurers include personal liability cover of around £2m as standard. This will pay out if you accidentally harm someone else or their property while on holiday.
Where to buy travel insurance
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to buy insurance is through a comparison website, such as Gocompare.com, payingtoomuch.com, comparethemarket.com and MoneySuperMarket*.
However, some providers selling insurance for those with pre-existing conditions won’t be listed by these sites. If you have a serious condition, such as cancer for example, you may need to buy a specialist policy. Find out more in our article Travel insurance if you have cancer.
The Money Advice Service’s Travel Insurance Directory has a list of 30 specialist insurers who provide insurance for people who are more likely to need medical intervention while they are away.
If you’re still having problems, either because you can’t find insurance or the price is really high, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has a service whereby it can match you with an insurer providing specialist cover.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, we have partnered with Staysure to provide you with first class travel insurance, tailored to suit your needs. There’s no upper age limit and they’ll cover most pre-existing medical conditions. You can also take advantage of their 20%‡ discount, just quote RLESS at checkout.
‡Discount applies to the base premium of the policy only and not to medical screening costs or add-ons where relevant. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
Is a single policy cheaper than an annual policy?
For those with serious health conditions, a single policy is often a cheaper option than buying an annual travel insurance policy, unless you make several trips overseas each year. Always check quotes for both before you buy. Learn more in our article Should I buy annual or single trip travel insurance?
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