Existing medical conditions may impact your travel plans or travel insurance coverage. For anyone with an existing medical condition, filling out a medical screening is a crucial step in securing the right coverage for your travels.
Here's what you need to know about our medical screening process, and how it can help with your coverage.
- Medical screening is essential for travellers with existing conditions.
- Full disclosure of medical conditions during the policy application process is crucial to avoid claim denials.
- nib offers cover for over 40 existing medical conditions, but for others, additional coverage may be added with an extra premium after a medical screening.
- The screening is quick, taking about 10 minutes, and is necessary before a Certificate of Insurance is issued.
- Failing to complete the medical screening or disclose conditions could invalidate your coverage.
What is a medical screening?
A medical screening is a quick assessment where we ask a few targeted questions about your health and any existing medical conditions.
This process helps determine if you're covered for your specific medical needs during your trip. The screening typically takes just 10 minutes and is necessary before your Certificate of Insurance can be issued.
By completing a medical screening, we can evaluate whether existing medical conditions are automatically covered or if additional coverage is needed.
Why do I need a medical screening?
If you have an existing medical condition, it’s important to complete the medical screening when buying your travel insurance. Without a medical screening, we cannot guarantee that your medical conditions will be covered under your policy.
The screening determines whether or not you are covered for any existing medical conditions that may affect your travel. If your condition is not automatically covered under nib's standard policy, we may offer coverage through a specified medical condition option, which would involve an additional premium.
What is a ‘specified medical condition’?
A specified medical condition is an existing medical condition that we’ve agreed in writing to cover under your policy, and for which you’ve paid an additional premium. The additional premium will be shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
Why the medical screening process is important:
- Ensure coverage for existing medical conditions
If you have an existing medical condition, such as diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, or mental health issues, your travel insurance may not automatically cover medical emergencies or incidents related to these conditions. Completing a medical screening allows nib to assess your condition(s) and determine whether coverage can be provided for any potential medical events that might arise while you’re overseas.
- Helps assess risk and tailor your travel insurance plan
The screening process gives us the ability to understand the specifics of your existing medical conditions.
For instance, you might need additional evacuation cover if your medical condition might require urgent medical attention while traveling, especially in remote or less-developed areas. Based on the assessment, we can also determine if additional premium adjustments are necessary.
- Prevents coverage gaps
If you fail to complete the medical screening or don’t disclose your medical history, there may be gaps in coverage. In the event of a medical emergency related to an undisclosed condition, the insurance policy may not cover your medical expenses.
- Identifies coverage exclusions and adds optional coverage
Not all existing medical conditions are automatically covered. Through the medical screening process, nib can identify whether a particular condition can be covered under specific terms. The screening also ensures that you are fully aware of any exclusions related to your condition.
- Complies with insurance requirements
Travel insurance policies vary in how they cover existing conditions. Most insurers, including nib, require that travellers complete a medical screening to ensure that their existing conditions are understood and covered properly.
Without the medical screening, some insurers may refuse to cover any health-related issues that arise during your trip. If you don’t declare your condition or undergo the necessary screening, your insurer may deny claims related to your condition.
Existing medical conditions and coverage
Here’s an overview of what happens based on your existing medical conditions:
- Automatically covered conditions: nib covers over *40 existing medical conditions automatically when you buy your travel insurance policy. These include common conditions that don’t significantly increase your travel risk. Subject to criteria listed.
- Non-automatically covered conditions: If your condition is not automatically covered, you must undergo a medical screening. During this process, our team will determine if coverage is available for your condition, and if so, the terms and conditions under which it would be covered.
- Additional premiums: If you need to add coverage for an existing medical condition, this may result in an additional premium. The medical screening helps establish the terms for coverage and determine any extra costs involved.
- Exclusions: It's important to note that if you fail to disclose any existing medical conditions or do not complete the medical screening when required, this may affect your coverage. If your condition is not disclosed, you risk having claims for related health issues denied.
*The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement.
Why is full disclosure crucial?
Honest and complete disclosure of your medical history during the application process is essential. If you fail to disclose relevant information about your existing medical conditions, it can lead to serious consequences, including the rejection of claims or cancellation of your insurance policy.
