Travelling with a pre existing medical condition can be problematic. Many insurers exclude pre existing conditions as standard, whether that condition is a heart condition, HIV or AIDS, or a recurring injury. Motivations for doing so are the higher risk of having to pay out a medical condition that may be triggered during a trip. However, there are specialist forms of medical insurance for travellers that make allowances for different pre existing conditions, albeit with some catches. When arranging insurance, it is important to give full disclosure about conditions to avoid later problems, while also having to accept some exclusions, as well as higher costs. Attention to detail and planning insurance well in advance of a booked trip will also reduce the chance of problems with an insurer.
1 – Full Disclosure
List any or all pre existing medical conditions for your insurance. The questions on a form or from an insurance agent may be very personal, but will put you into a better position overall in terms of the policy received. Different companies will vary their approach to medical insurance for travel, so make sure you read through their terms and conditions before approaching them. In most cases, you will have to attach a waiver to a general policy that accepts excess payments onto a premium, or personal liability for handling extra costs.
2 – Accept Exclusions
Many insurers will be pragmatic about what can and cannot be included on an insurance policy for travellers with pre existing conditions. If you do get frustrated with what seems to be an unfair policy, move on until you find a better option. In the same way, you may find that insurance companies will not allow you to claim on a policy if you take part in any dangerous activities while on a trip that may aggravate a condition. You may also find that certain parts of a general travel insurance policy, which might include cancellation insurance against a trip, is invalidated if you have a condition that might cause you to cancel a journey at short notice.
3 – Higher Costs
Travel medical insurance is unfortunately going to be much higher than standard travel insurance, and even more so if visiting countries with high medical costs like the United States, Canada or Spain. Paying a premium on your insurance will, however, be worthwhile if you do have to claim.
4 – Follow Details
Check all details for a waiver before you travel, and before you commit to a single policy. Insurance companies will vary, so make sure that the policy you sign, and the premiums you agree to, are the best for your personal situation. A waiver agreement may contain different forms of liability, and you may have to provide evidence of appropriate medical supplies that need to be taken on a trip to ensure that a condition does not lead to a more serious emergency. While there are no guarantees that there won’t be problems, agreeing on a detailed policy will certainly make things easier to resolve.