Recently, there seems to be a lot of confusion around making claims on travel insurance policies and pre-existing conditions – even Peter Greenberg felt compelled to write about it. We’d like to take a moment to clear up some confusion and point you to our resources.
While each individual travel insurance policy is different, one thing remains the same: if you have a pre-existing condition, these coverages cannot be honored without the purchase of a pre-existing condition waiver:
- medical coverage
- trip cancellation coverage
- trip interruption coverage
You can review all the details about pre-existing coverage, but it’s important to remember that no insurance company can insure things that have already happened. That’s like purchasing home insurance while your house is on fire and then expecting the company to provide payment.
Stop, even if you know how to treat your condition!
If you have a pre-existing condition, and even if you understand how to treat it, you are still expected to get an independent confirmation through a medical doctor before you enact a travel change for which you will make a claim. Very specifically, the insurance company needs to verify that you are cancelling or interrupting your trip due to the pre-existing condition.
So, please before you hop off that cruise or leave the tour and make new flight arrangements home, call your travel assistance services line and get the necessary verifications so your coverage remains intact.
Pre-ex does not apply here
The fact that you or a traveling companion has a pre-existing condition does not apply to these coverages:
- medical evacuation
- repatriation
- accidental death and dismemberment
- baggage and personal effects
- car rental collision
