Reading a travel forum recently, I came across someone asking about travel insurance. Specifically, where to find a policy and more importantly, one that will cover pre-existing medical conditions.
This is a very common question. Even travel insurance novices have heard that pre-existing conditions are one of the most common reasons for a claim being denied.
Imagine you’re enjoying your trip aboard a cruise ship, enjoying the ports of call, sightseeing, and relaxation. Out of nowhere, an old condition acts up and puts you in the hospital. You need to cut the trip short, receive medical treatment in a foreign country, and eventually be flown home on a special medical evacuation flight.
Sounds expensive right? It is, and if the expenses are not covered by your travel insurance policy, there is a serious bill to pay. You have travel insurance, but will it cover the expense, even though it was from a pre-existing condition?
Some policies will cover pre-existing conditions
The key is to do some research and ask some questions first. Check out one of the comparison sites (listed at end of post) and see how the different products stack up against each other.
To cover pre-existing conditions, a travel insurance policy must be purchased at the right time
You will see some that have pre-ex coverage, but only if the policy was purchased within a certain time frame. Usually, this time frame is within a couple weeks of the initial trip deposit date.
In other words, once you started planning and paying for the trip, buy your travel insurance and get covered
Once you have compared some policies online, call the company and ask specific questions. Have them go over the actual policy wording with you so you understand what is covered, and what is not.
Be honest about pre-existing conditions. If a claim is made, the insurance company will research your medical history. The best policy is to be honest upfront, and avoid a bad situation later
