Can you get Travel Insurance with medical conditions?
You can get Travel Insurance with medical conditions if you buy cover from a specialist Travel Insurance provider like AllClear. Some policies will only cover you for medical issues due to accidents and emergencies unrelated to any pre-existing conditions. So if you’ve had a hospital appointment, visited a GP or taken any medication in the last two years, you’ll need specialist Medical Travel Insurance.
Why do you need Medical Travel Insurance?
Emergency medical treatment abroad can be unusually high. That’s why medical cover should be your number one priority when looking for Medical Travel Insurance.
It covers emergency medical costs including hospital charges and ambulance fees. It also covers repatriation (medical transport back home) if needed.
Medical Travel Insurance gives you four key benefits in addition to those provided by standard Travel Insurance:
Cover for your pre-existing conditions while abroad. AllClear Travel Insurance with medical conditions includes cover for medical emergencies up to £15 million, including treatment for ongoing medical issues.
Cover for cancellation due to a pre-existing medical condition. You can also be covered for up to £15K if you need to cancel your holiday because of your medical condition, or a complication related to it.
Repatriation costs, if medically necessary. The Association of British Insurers found that emergency medical assistance in some areas of Europe can exceed £250,000. Transport home after a medical emergency can also be very expensive; an air ambulance from the USA, for example, could cost you £80K to £100K. Without Medical Travel Insurance, you wouldn’t be covered for these costs, or any expenses related to your treatment for any pre-existing conditions.
Peace of mind. While you’re away, you’ll have access to 24-hour medical emergency assistance, so you can travel with confidence, knowing we’ll be there just in case.
What happens if you don’t have Travel Insurance?
With a standard Travel Insurance policy, you would need to pay for costs incurred due to your pre-existing conditions, which can easily reach thousands of pounds very quickly.
According to FCDO figures, if you were to fall over in Spain and require treatment for a broken leg, you would be looking at costs of around £15,000. Even minor ailments such as an infection or stomach bug in the USA could cost you £100, 000 if you require flights home.
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kay Greveson explains more: “People often do not realise the cost of medical emergencies abroad. It’s natural that people believe it won’t happen to them, but even the most well-managed conditions need to be covered, in case the unexpected happens.”
In our 2023 Annual Survey, over 84% of you said you’d be travelling with one or more medical conditions4, making comprehensive cover essential.
What our Customers Say
Case Study – Sheila Lowrie
Sheila has been with AllClear since 2015. When the couple visited their holiday home in Portugal, her husband was taken ill, she found out the true importance of having Specialist Medical Travel Insurance.
“When my husband fell seriously ill, he was suddenly taken to hospital in Portugal so you can imagine how traumatised I was. I rang AllClear and they were absolutely fantastic. They arranged for the air ambulance to come and collect him, the doctor and nurse came to the hospital to meet us and they actually escorted him all the way home to Newcastle, even taking him into the hospital to make sure everything was OK. It was amazing and meant so much to me.”
So what’s a pre-existing medical condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is any illness or injury you have before you buy your Travel Insurance. It could be an ongoing condition, or one you have been treated for in the past. As part of the quote process, we’ll guide you through any relevant questions that may apply and help you ensure you’re covered if you need treatment abroad.
Some of the most common conditions we cover include:
-
Diabetes: More than 4 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, which can impact your health in many ways.
-
Heart conditions: Such as heart disease, heart attack and atrial fibrillation are common and vary in severity.
-
Circulatory conditions: Issues with blood flow such as stroke, high blood pressure needn’t stop you from travelling.
-
Respiratory conditions: Conditions which breathing such as asthma, or COPD are often manageable with the right medication.
-
Chronic conditions: There are conditions which have long term impacts on health such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, disability, Crohn’s disease
-
Bone and joint conditions: Issues affecting your bones or joints like arthritis, back problems or osteoporosis can affect how you travel.
-
Other conditions: AllClear cover a wide range of conditions, including mental health issues, after-surgery, undiagnosed conditions, gallstones
Our experts say…
“People often underestimate just how important it is to let us know about their medical conditions. Even if something is minor and controlled at home, changes in climate can affect it. Making sure you tell us about all your pre-existing conditions helps us ensure you have the right cover. Missing something out to try and save a few pounds on your premium could leave you having to foot a much larger bill.”
Letitia Smith MSc, Travel Insurance expert
What conditions don’t need to be declared?
As part of the quote process, we ask you to declare all of your conditions as part of our medical screening. But you may wonder if there are any conditions you don’t need to declare.
If you’ve had a cold or flu, but didn’t need to see a doctor or take any prescribed medication, then you don’t need to tell us about it. We also don’t need to know about a complication-free pregnancy or any contraception prescriptions.
How does Medical Travel Insurance work?
Travel Insurance offers financial protection for specific problems you might face on holiday. The medical section of your policy covers the cost of medical care if you become ill or have an accident.
Medical Travel Insurance and the GHIC
The GHIC has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card means you’ll receive treatment in EU countries as though you were a local citizen.
However, the GHIC isn’t a substitute for Travel Insurance. It doesn’t cover you for:
- the costs of rescue and repatriation (an air ambulance from Spain back to the UK costs £10,000 or more)
- lost or stolen property such as passports, baggage or precious items
- losses from trip cancellation, curtailment and interruption
- extra travel and accommodation costs due to illness
- any medical treatment needed outside of the EU
What does AllClear Medical Travel Insurance cover?
SWIPE TO COMPARE POLICIES
Gold |
Gold Plus |
Platinum |
|
| Emergency medical expenses and Repatriation costs | Up to £10m | Up to £15m | Up to £15m |
| Cancellation* and Curtailment | Up to £2k | Up to £15k | Up to £25k |
| Extended cover | 30 days FREE | 30 days FREE | 30 days FREE |
| Friend or relative to stay with you if you fall ill | Up to £2k | Up to £2k | Up to £2k |
| Travel Delay | Up to £100 | Up to £350 | Up to £500 |
| Personal Belongings | Up to £2k | Up to £2.5k | Up to £3k |
| Personal liability | Up to £2m | Up to £2m | Up to £2m |
| Legal protection cover | Up to £50k | Up to £50k | Up to £100k |
* If you buy a policy which includes cancellation cover. / All these figures are per person and per trip.
What’s not covered?
Health cover provides assistance in case of unforeseen events. However, this does not mean that every situation is covered.
You should review your policy carefully before you travel. This will help you to know what benefits you have, and what exclusions apply.
Examples of events which are not covered include:
-
Travelling against the advice of a medical professional
-
If you choose not to travel
-
If you have not informed us of a pre-existing medical condition, or any
-
If you are travelling specifically to receive treatment, tests or consolidation
How to get travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions
Insurance for medical conditions doesn’t have to be hard to buy. If you have serious medical conditions you can get specialist Travel Insurance from AllClear.
-
Call us or go online for a quote. As a specialist medical travel insurance, AllClear can cover all pre-existing medical conditions.
-
Tell us about your condition. As part of the quote process, we’ll run through a medical screening, and ask you some questions about your conditions.
-
Select your level of cover. Once you’ve completed the medical screening process, you’ll be able to choose the level of cover which best suits your needs.
What can you do to reduce the cost of medical Travel Insurance?
If you’re concerned about the cost of medical Travel Insurance, there are some steps you can take.
-
Consider arranging a shorter trip.
-
Changing your destination to one with lower medical costs.
The length of your trip and the cost of medical treatment in the country you plan to visit can affect the costs of medical cover. For example, a week’s trip to Milan will be cheaper to cover than a two-week holiday in New York City.
One thing you should never do is to declare your medical conditions inaccurately. Doing so may reduce the policy premium, but you would invalidate your cover and leave yourself responsible for all the costs incurred in the event of a claim.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Travel Insurance and Medical Insurance?
A standard Travel Insurance policy is only designed to cover accidents and emergencies rather than elective treatment or continuing treatment of chronic conditions. Both types of cover are available for single trips and as an annual multi-trip policy.
How much does Travel Medical Insurance cost?
We consider a number of factors when calculating the premium (price of the policy).
These include the destination you’re travelling to. Spain, the United States and Canada are among the more expensive countries for medical treatment.
Other factors are: the length of your trip; the type and severity of your medical conditions; your age and the level of benefits being offered to you. At AllClear, we offer senior Travel Insurance, so that you can have comprehensive cover at any age, no matter your medical conditions. So, if you’re looking for Travel Insurance for over 50s or Travel Insurance over 60s we can help you!
How much medical cover do you need for Travel Insurance?
Medical emergencies abroad can be very expensive. A stomach bug treated in a hospital in the USA with return flights home could cost around £100k.
At AllClear, medical travel insurance policy offers up to £15 million of cover for medical emergencies and repatriation.
Is there an age limit?
No. Our policies have no upper age limit, whatever your medical conditions. Only our optional winter sports cover is limited to those 65 or under.
How do you declare medical conditions?
You’ll need to answer a series of questions relating to your medical condition(s) when completing your Travel Insurance quote. You can do this via our website or over the telephone. These conditions may incur an additional premium.
How to make sure you’re ‘fit to travel’?
If you need to make a claim, you may need a letter from your doctor confirming that you were fit to travel at the time you bought your policy, and the date when you were declared unfit to travel.
What is medical emergency assistance?
If you need emergency treatment, the emergency medical assistance company will liaise with the hospital and medical professionals during your treatment. If needed, they’ll arrange for your return home. All our providers offer 24-hour medical emergency assistance.
Can you still get cover if your medical condition is undiagnosed?
We need to know the name of your medical condition. If you have a currently undiagnosed condition you’ll need to wait until your GP or consultant has given you a diagnosis. Then you can get a quote.
What about your prescription medication?
We suggest you carry extra supplies in case you’re delayed abroad. Subject to airline restrictions, carry your medication in your hand luggage and not in checked-in bags.
Also, it’s useful to travel with a copy of your prescriptions. Always check that your medications are not prohibited in the destination you’re travelling to.
Our expert advice on Medical Travel Insurance…
Get the most out of your trip with our helpful guides
Where are you visiting?
Explore our helpful guides for tips to ensure you remember everything you need when travelling to one of the below destinations
Which activities do you have planned?
Whether you’re planning a skiing holiday or setting sail on a cruise, remember to add extra coverage to your policy for a worry-free trip.
