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Travel Insurance » Medical Travel Insurance

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 Travel Insurance for your medical conditions.

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Why do you need Medical Travel Insurance?

Emergency medical treatment abroad can cost more than you think. That’s why medical cover should be your number one priority when looking for 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 cover for up to unlimited emergency treatment, 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. 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.

  • 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 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.”

84 percent

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

What our customers say

With over 110,000 reviews on Trustpilot, it’s easy to see what our customers think about AllClear.

Case Study – Sheila Lowrie

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.”

Read more

So what’s a pre-existing medical condition for Travel Insurance?

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:

Letitia Smith

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. Declaring all your pre-existing conditions helps make sure you have the right cover. With comprehensive cover you can travel with peace of mind, even if the unexpected happens while you’re away.”

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 for Travel Insurance. 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.

Limitations of GHIC: what they don’t cover

The GHIC has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card means you’ll receive emergency and necessary state healthcare 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 Unlimited
Cancellation* and Curtailment Up to £2k Up to £15k Up to £25k
Travel Delay Up to £300 Up to £1,500 Up to £1,500
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?

Travel insurance looks after you when abroad (and before you go) provides assistance in case of unforeseen emergencies However, certain types of claims may not be covered. You should review your policy document carefully before you travel. This will help you to know what benefits you have, and what exclusions apply.

Examples of situations where you may not be covered:

  • Travelling against the advice of a medical professional

  • If you choose not to travel

  • If you have not declared a pre-existing medical condition

  • If you are travelling specifically to receive medical treatment abroad.

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 health conditions you can get specialist insurance from AllClear.

  1. Call us or go online for a quote. As a specialist, AllClear can cover all pre-existing conditions.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

How can you reduce the cost of Travel Insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

If you’re concerned about the cost, there are some steps you can take to get cheaper Travel Insurance.

  • Consider arranging a shorter trip.

  • Consider choosing a destination with lower medical costs. Coverage tends to be pricier when traveling to countries with high private healthcare expenses.

  • If you plan to travel two or more times within a year, an annual policy is typically more cost-effective than securing coverage for each trip.

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 Annual Multi-Trip Insurance.

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 expenses.

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 conditions. So, if you’re looking for Travel Insurance for over 70s or over 60s we can help you!

How much medical cover do you need for Travel Insurance?

Medical care 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, a medical holiday insurance policy offers up to unlimited cover for emergencies and repatriation.

Is there an age limit?

No. Our policies have no upper age limit, whatever your health 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 condition(s) when completing your Insurance quote. You can do this via our website or over the telephone. These conditions may incur an additional premium.

Some of the questions we might ask will be about your:

  • Diagnosis

  • Investigations

  • Treatment or surgery

  • Medical appointments

  • Medication

  • Recent hospital admissions

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.

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.

 

Letitia Smith

Our expert advice on Medical Travel Insurance…

“Everyone has the right to travel and living with medical conditions shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your holiday. It does help to be prepared and make sure you have comprehensive Medical Travel Insurance. That way, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing you’re covered if the unexpected happens and you need emergency medical assistance while you’re away. It means there will be a 24 hour helpline to help you through a difficult situation.”

Letitia Smith MSc, Travel Insurance expert

Get the most out of your trip with our helpful guides

Where are you visiting?

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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.

Written by: Letitia Smith | Travel Insurance Expert
Last Updated: 19 January 2024



3 - Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 40,000 reviews as of September 2023.

 

Reviewed by Kay Greveson, Clinical nurse specialist and Chair of IBD Passport charity. Kay is a qualified independent nurse prescriber and has been an IBD specialist nurse since 2005. Kay’s research interests include travel health and IBD.

2 – From 100,000+ Trustpilot reviews as of January 2023.
4 – AllClear Annual Survey. January 2023. 3,901 responses.