Can I Get Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?

Many people tend to overlook the importance of travel insurance when they go on holiday. People don’t naturally expect to get sick during a relaxing holiday, but unfortunately, many do require medical attention on our holidays. Whether you get bad stomach flu or lose your luggage, travel insurance is a necessity to ensure you don’t need to worry about expenses on top of everything else.

The ABI said the total amount paid to those travelling abroad in 2018 for medical claims was £400 million - the highest since 2010.

It is this probability of medical claims that makes travel insurance premiums higher for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Although finding cheap holiday insurance with pre-existing conditions will be a bit more difficult, it isn’t impossible.

Pre-existing conditions can cover many medical conditions from respiratory problems to conditions such as diabetes. If you have a pre-existing condition, you should get adequate cover for your holiday because you are more likely to require help than a healthy person. After all, you don’t want to end up paying thousands of pounds for what amounts to little more than a check-up at the hospital.

Although many insurance companies offer you higher premiums or might not even offer insurance at all, there are travel insurance options for people with medical conditions. You can compare travel insurance options online through comparison websites, as well as conducting your own research.

Travel insurance for pre-existing conditions can often be tailored to your needs, instead of it meaning just higher premiums. For example, some insurance companies might exclude treatment for the pre-existing condition from the policy or add certain restrictions. Therefore, you might be able to find cheap holiday insurance even with pre-existing conditions.

The key to finding cheap holiday insurance is to ensure you are honest with your possible insurer. Don’t try to save money and withhold information regarding your condition. If you get sick and your insurer finds out it was a pre-existing condition, your claim might be rejected.

Your holiday destination might also affect the premiums, as some countries have higher medical costs to others. Remember that you should definitely travel with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are heading to another EU member state. You can find more detailed information about the EHIC from the NHS website.

Finding cheap holiday insurance with pre-existing conditions is possible, as long as you start looking early enough and make sure you discuss your condition with the insurer. Use comparison websites and discuss your options with the insurers. Many insurance companies have specific health lines opened up for people with pre-existing conditions to guarantee you find the right cover for your needs without paying a fortune.

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