How to Get Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions with Travel Insurance

Traveling with a pre-existing condition can be stressful and risky. Pre-existing conditions are classified as any illnesses, injuries, and medical conditions that exist before your policy purchase. If you file a travel medical claim but didn’t obtain the necessary coverage beforehand, the insurance company may deny your claim based on any pre-existing conditions you have.

To get travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, you will need a pre-existing condition waiver. Let’s go over the definition of pre-existing conditions, how to secure travel insurance coverage, and other essentials.

Understanding Pre-existing Conditions in Travel Insurance

Definition of Pre-existing Conditions

Travel insurance companies generally classify pre-existing conditions as any injury, illness, or medical complication that is present in a set “look-back period” before you go on a trip.

Common examples of pre-existing conditions for travel insurance include:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Arthritis
• High blood pressure
• Chronic illnesses
• Recent surgeries
• Recent injuries

After you file an insurance claim, your travel insurance company may review your medical records from the past 60 to 180 days. If they see that you’ve had a condition that has changed or worsened during this look-back period, they can deny your insurance claim.

Insurance Policy Definitions

Each insurance company may define pre-existing conditions with different terms and conditions. For example, they may have differing look-back periods. Some insurers look at only 60 days before the start of your insurance coverage. Other policies might not even include a look-back period, so long as you purchase the policy within 14 days of your trip deposit.

Make sure you understand your specific policy’s definitions of what counts as a pre-existing condition and how you can gain coverage for it.

Impact on Coverage

In general, pre-existing conditions are excluded from travel insurance coverage by default. If you have pre-existing conditions and end up needing to file a travel medical claim, it may be rejected due to your pre-existing medical condition. This means that obtaining the right policy if you have any pre-existing conditions is more important than ever.

If you’re uncertain about how your condition might affect insurance coverage, it is best to confirm with an insurance agent or expert. They can help you see what type of insurance plan or waiver you will need to secure adequate travel coverage.

Steps to Obtain Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions

Disclosure of Medical History

Disclosing your medical history is an essential part of obtaining coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. If you are not upfront about your medical history and current conditions, you might end up with the following consequences.

• Claim denial: Insurance companies will deny your travel medical insurance claim if they discover that you hid a pre-existing health condition from them.
• Inadequate coverage: Incomplete medical records may result in the insurer offering you a policy that fails to reflect your actual insurance needs. This gap in coverage can pose a serious risk.
• Legal issues: When you buy an insurance policy, it serves as a legally binding contract between you and the insurance provider. If you didn’t meet the policy requirements by giving accurate and complete information about pre-existing conditions, your coverage may be abruptly canceled.
• Stress: Going on a trip while knowing you failed to disclose your medical history to your travel insurance company can be an unnecessary source of stress. Travelers benefit from the peace of mind of knowing their insurance policy is valid and can provide the necessary financial support in case of an emergency.

Choosing the Right Insurance Provider

It’s important to find a suitable travel insurance provider if you have any pre-existing conditions. Many top insurance companies cover pre-existing medical conditions as long as you obtain a waiver and apply for the coverage.

Other than obtaining coverage for pre-existing conditions, the right insurer can also offer you a wide range of additional benefits. Once you have found a few insurance provider options, take the time to compare specific policies. Even under the same insurance provider, you can gain drastically different coverage based on what plan you choose.

Understanding the Look-back Period

The look-back period refers to a time frame when a pre-existing condition is considered stable. Stable means that the condition has not changed or worsened during this period of time before you’ve purchased the policy. Look-back periods for travel insurance usually range from 60 to 180 days.

If you want to get your pre-existing condition covered, you need a pre-existing condition waiver. This typically involves the insurance company using the look-back period to gauge whether you qualify for the waiver.

Purchasing a Waiver of Pre-existing Conditions

With many travel insurance policies, you will need to buy a waiver of pre-existing conditions in order to obtain coverage for pre-existing conditions. This waiver extends your travel insurance coverage to include illnesses, injuries, and other medical conditions that are present before purchasing the policy.

To buy a waiver, an individual typically needs to:

Shop early: Buy the travel insurance policy within ~14-21 days after making your first trip payment.

Be medically fit to travel: Insurers usually require you to submit a doctor’s letter that confirms you have been assessed and are medically fit to travel.

Insure completely: Usually, you need to choose an insurance plan that insures the entire trip cost in order to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver.

Timing of Purchase

If you have any pre-existing conditions that might affect you while you’re traveling, it is a good idea to buy insurance ASAP. If you delay the purchase, you might no longer be able to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver.

Generally, travel insurance companies only approve coverage for pre-existing health conditions if you buy the insurance policy within 14 days of paying for all of your prepaid trip expenses.

Tips for Ensuring Adequate Coverage

Reading Policy Details Carefully

Before you purchase an insurance product, make sure you understand the policy terms and restrictions. The terms and conditions detail what the coverage limits and exclusions are, including how your travel insurance provider handles claims involving pre-existing conditions.

Most standard travel insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. This means that if the insurance company uncovers a pre-existing condition during a review of your medical records, they may reject your insurance claim.

Consulting with a Travel Insurance Specialist

Talking with a travel insurance expert can help you more easily find a suitable policy. Here are the top benefits of consulting with a travel insurance specialist or agent.

Receive tailored recommendations Understand fine print Access specialized policies Get exclusive offers

Evaluating Coverage Needs

Travelers should carefully assess their personal health needs when deciding what travel insurance to purchase.

It’s also important to take into account your travel plans. These can determine what coverage is optimal for your trip. Travelers can save money in the long run by tailoring insurance coverage to fit their specific requirements and mitigating specific risks.

For example, if you plan on partaking in high-risk activities or adventure sports, you can benefit from adventure sports coverage. This type of travel insurance covers activities that are typically excluded from travel insurance, such as:

• Mountain climbing
• Bungee jumping
• Scuba diving
• White water rafting

Here are popular and specialized travel insurance policies that are favored by travelers.

• Adventure sports insurance: Covers high-risk activities that are excluded by standard insurance policies.
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: Serves as life insurance for your trip. May be redundant if you already carry life insurance.
• Rental car protection: Covers damages to your rented car. Good to consider if you plan on renting a car for your trip.

Considering Comprehensive Plans

Travelers should consider a comprehensive travel plan. This helps cover more aspects of travel and health. A comprehensive travel insurance plan can cover:

• Lost or damaged baggage
• Trip cancellation
• Trip delays and interruptions
• Emergency medical expenses
• Medical evacuation

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Denial of Coverage

If you have a pre-existing condition, it is possible for a travel insurance company to deny your insurance claim. Here are common reasons for a denial of coverage:

• Your coverage lapsed
• The policy doesn’t cover your claim
• The insurance policy is for a single trip only
• You didn’t disclose your pre-existing condition

Steps to take if a claim is denied:

• Review the denial of coverage letter
• File an appeal
• Seek out a different insurance provider
• Call an attorney to fight the claim denial

An attorney with insurance expertise can advise you on whether you should dispute the denial of claim.

High Premiums

Travelers who have pre-existing conditions often find the cost of travel insurance more expensive. Generally, people spend 4% to 16% of their total trip expenses on travel insurance. If you have a pre-existing condition, the cost may skew higher.

To find affordable coverage, it’s a good idea to use online quote comparison tools for travel insurance. An insurance expert can also provide you with individualized guidance and affordable policy recommendations.

Limited Coverage Options

You might face limited options for travel insurance companies if you have severe pre-existing conditions. Either the coverage doesn’t suit your travel needs, or the insurance cost is too high. Make sure to explore alternative solutions and insurance providers before coming to the final decision.

Real-Life Examples and Case Studies

Case Study: Successful Coverage with Full Disclosure

A traveler with heart disease is worried about a cardiac event occurring while he is traveling to Europe for business. He decides to purchase travel medical insurance and notes that he needs to disclose his heart disease. He provides full disclosure and obtains the necessary pre-existing condition waiver.

While on his business trip, he ends up hospitalized. He files a travel medical insurance claim and gets most of his medical bills covered. Thanks to buying the right insurance policy ahead of time and obtaining a pre-existing conditions waiver, he was able to save thousands of dollars.

Case Study: Importance of Early Purchase

A traveler with asthma didn’t look into travel insurance for months after his first trip expense. He only decided to buy a policy two weeks before his trip departure. He was dismayed to find that he could no longer qualify for pre-existing condition coverage.

During his trip, he encountered health difficulties but was unable to get the medical expenses covered by his insurance company. While his travel insurance still covered lost baggage and trip delays, he faced financial challenges due to the gap in coverage.

Case Study: Getting a Waiver of Pre-existing Conditions

A traveler with high blood pressure was planning to go on a cruise in the summer. She purchased a travel insurance policy specifically for cruises. Although she was medically fit to travel, she wondered if she should obtain a pre-existing condition waiver.

In the end, she decided to purchase the waiver so that she has adequate travel health insurance. Even though no medical emergency ended up taking place on the cruise, she enjoyed significant peace of mind. She didn’t need to worry about whether she would be able to afford emergency medical evacuation or treatment in case something did happen. By buying a pre-existing condition waiver, she could go on the cruise without that stressor.

Summary

Before buying travel insurance, travelers should know these key points about pre-existing conditions:

• A pre-existing condition is any injury, illness, or health condition that exists when you purchase the policy
• Most travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions
• You need a pre-existing condition waiver so you can file successful travel medical claims
• Buying insurance early lets you qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver

It’s always a good idea to be proactive about your travel insurance when planning your trip. Having the right coverage could help you save thousands of dollars.

Looking for travel insurance? Check out our selection of the best travel insurance companies.