If you are travelling overseas, it is always a good idea to buy a travel insurance policy to cover your medical expenses in case you become ill on your trip or have an accident in which you are injured. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, it can be difficult to buy travel insurance, depending on your condition. Fortunately, there are companies that offer policies to people who may have difficulty getting a policy for their trip.
Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
Many travel insurance companies will not offer their policies to certain people, such as those who are over 50 or those with pre-existing medical conditions. They feel that people in these categories are more likely to file a claim than the average traveller under the age of 50 due to their medical history or age. While some conditions are more serious than others, any pre-existing medical condition that you have could exclude you from being able to get travel insurance coverage.
Even if a company does provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, you still have to notify the company of medical conditions you currently have or have had in the past. It is especially important to tell them about conditions for which you are prescribed medications, such as heart-related conditions, circulatory and respiratory conditions, and cancer-related conditions. Not revealing a medical condition can cause your policy to be invalidated.
Conditions Affecting Cost
While most medical conditions can be covered at no additional cost to the traveller, you may have to pay a higher premium for some pre-existing conditions. It just depends on the travel insurer and their policies for covering pre-existing conditions. When searching for a travel policy, you can compare costs based on your condition on sites like MedicalTravelCompared, so you can find out if your condition will raise the premium on some policies. However, before you can compare costs, you will need to do a medical screening, which can be done online.
Medical Screening for Policies
While some insurance policies require you to go to a doctor for medical screening, when searching for travel policies online, you can do a medical screening online as well. You simply answer a series of questions about any pre-existing medical conditions you currently have, as well as questions about conditions you may have had in the past. Even if your life is no longer affected by a medical condition you had in the past, you still need to reveal the condition when buying an insurance policy.
When you fill out the medical questionnaire, you may be asked about the medications you take for some pre-existing conditions. You may not have to name the medications, but just tell how many of them you take for your condition. This information may determine if you have to pay a higher premium for a travel insurance policy based on your pre-existing conditions, even though they may not affect your life now.
Travel Insurance Coverage
Without a travel insurance policy, you could end up owing several thousand pounds if you are hurt in an accident or taken ill in a foreign country and have to visit a doctor or go to the hospital. However, if you have a travel insurance policy, then your medical expenses will most likely be covered. In addition, if your medical condition is serious and you need to be transported home, the policy will cover the costs of your repatriation to the United Kingdom.
There are many advantages to having a travel insurance policy other than medical coverage for accidents and illnesses. Most travel policies will also cover expenses if you have to cancel your travel plans due to your own illness, a serious illness in your immediate family, or a death in the family. The policy will help reimburse you for the cost of your aeroplane or cruise tickets, as well as other expenses if you have to cancel your travel plans.
Some travel policies will also cover the costs of airfare if you miss your flight and have to take another to your destination, no matter what the cause for missing it. If you were simply running late and missed your connection, you can call the company with which you have the travel policy and initiate a claim, and they will often help you get another flight to where you are going. Additional services may include:
- Coverage for cancellations on your trip.
- Coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
- Coverage for lost or stolen baggage.
- Reimbursements for items you need like toiletries or clothing if baggage is lost or stolen.
Having a travel insurance policy can keep you from losing hundreds of pounds if your trip turns into a disaster for some reason.
Travel Exclusions
When you are searching for a travel insurance policy, it is important to not only compare the costs of the available policies for those with pre-existing medical conditions but to carefully compare the coverage as well. Some policies have exclusions in coverage, and you need to know what they are before buying a policy. Some exclusions include medical conditions that are in the process of being diagnosed or for which you have a pending surgery.
Your claim may be denied if you consume too much alcohol and you were injured or taken ill as a direct result of your alcohol consumption. In addition, there are some limitations for participating in some sports or activities. Even if the policy considers the activity to be standard, there could be some limitations and exemptions included in the policy. For instance, if you are a runner, you could be covered for injuring yourself if you were running for exercise, but if you were competing in a race, then your claim could be denied.
It is important to know exactly what is covered by your travel insurance policy so you are not surprised when you make a claim with the insurance company.
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