Ask Travel Guard: Pre-existing Conditions and “Look Back” Periods

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How are pre-existing conditions handled with travel insurance? I’ve heard of the “look back” period; can you explain this?

A Pre-existing Condition Exclusion Waiver is offered in some travel insurance plans through Travel Guard. In order to obtain the waiver the travel insurance needs to be purchased within 15 days of the traveler’s initial trip payment. If the traveler purchases an insurance plan that offers a pre-existing condition waiver and doesn’t purchase within 15 days of their initial trip payment, we do have a look back period. A look back period is the length of time we would look back to determine if a pre-existing medical condition exists. The timeframe can vary based on the insurance plan purchased and the insureds state of residence, but is generally anywhere from 60-180 days.

Travel Guard is the nation’s leading provider of travel insurance, assistance, and service plans, covering more than 6 million travelers worldwide each year. Travel insurance plans through Travel Guard are distributed by more than 12,000 travel agents across the United States.

Travel insurance plans through Travel Guard may include coverage for trip cancellation, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation expenses, and lost or delayed baggage. Most plans also include 24-hour travel assistance services* for emergency medical assistance, last-minute or emergency travel changes, lost luggage tracking, pre-trip travel advice, and more.