Am I covered for existing medical conditions?

If you suffer from an existing health condition, our travel plans can offer cover for more than 40 common conditions. However, it’s important to be aware of what conditions are attached to each medical condition that you will need to meet in order for them to be covered. 

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What is an existing condition?

An existing condition a medical condition that, at the time you bought the travel insurance policy, you or a reasonable person in your situation should have known existed. This includes conditions that are:

Keep in mind existing conditions are also considered to be those for which, in the six months prior to the time you buy your policy, you have had medical treatment, medication prescribed or surgery.

Can I get cover for existing medical conditions?

Our policies offer automatic cover for more than 40 common conditions including Asthma, Coeliac Disease, Diabetes and Sleep Apnoea, subject to all criteria being met. The list of criteria is available in the relevant PDS.

What happens if I don’t meet the criteria to be covered for an existing condition?

If you don’t meet the criteria for automatic cover, that doesn’t mean you can’t be covered at all for that condition. You now have the option to apply for the existing condition under the ‘specified medical conditions’ option, and go through the medical screening and health questionnaire. This option is not available on our Essentials plans.

What if I have an existing condition that isn’t automatically covered?

If the existing condition isn’t one that we automatically cover, you can apply to be covered for your other existing condition(s) under the ‘specified medical conditions’ option. This option is not available on our Essentials Plans.

What is the Specified Medical Conditions option?

If you have one or more existing medical conditions that aren’t automatically covered, you must let us know at the time you buy your policy, and complete a medical screening. We’ll ask you some questions about your health and then determine whether we can offer you cover and, if so, on what terms.

If we can offer you cover, there will be an additional premium payable. If you choose to pay the additional premium, the condition becomes a specified medical condition covered under your policy and you’ll then be covered for events that arise from the specified medical condition(s).

What if I choose not to get cover for an existing medical condition? 

If you have an existing medical condition that’s not automatically covered, or added to your policy as a specified medical condition, then you won’t be covered for any claim that arises from that existing medical condition. You can still be covered for all other events and benefits that do not arise from the existing condition, subject to policy terms being met.

What if I experience a change in my health before my trip?

If your health changes after you buy your policy but before you depart on your trip, you must check with your doctor that you are fit to travel, and get written confirmation. If you don’t do this, and/or are unfit to travel due to the medical condition, you won’t be covered for any claim that arises from that condition if you still travel.

Is pregnancy considered an existing condition? 

We don’t consider pregnancy to be an existing medical condition.

If you’re pregnant at the time you buy your policy, or fall pregnant afterwards, you’ll have cover for any event that arises from your pregnancy, provided that the event that causes your claim is covered by this policy and is a pregnancy-related illness. We can only cover you up until the end of the 26th week of your pregnancy. 

Are there any exclusions?

There are some things we can’t cover, including but not limited to: 

Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions outlined in the PDS. Read your policy carefully and contact us if you have any queries.