Medical travel insurance

Absolutely! If you're well enough to travel and haven't been advised against it by a doctor, you should be able to get travel insurance. Just be sure to let your insurer know about any medical conditions when purchasing your policy. It's really important for 2 main reasons:

• You'll get the right coverage for your needs.
• You won't invalidate your policy if you need to make a related claim.

Having a pre-existing medical condition might mean you pay a slightly higher premium, as there's a greater chance you'll need medical assistance while abroad. But, in most cases, getting a quote is straightforward—especially with our panel of insurers who cover a wide range of medical conditions!

It's a good idea to consider medical travel insurance as soon as you've booked your trip. By doing this, you'll be covered if you need to cancel because of unexpected illness. It'll also save you from the stress of sorting travel insurance close to your trip.

Struggling to get covered? Don't worry, you're not out of options.

If you're having trouble finding a policy, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has a directory of travel insurers specifically for those with pre-existing conditions.

You can find the directory of insurers on the MoneyHelper website. You can also phone the MaPS for free, impartial advice on 0800 138 7777.

A pre-existing condition includes any health issue you've been diagnosed with or are being monitored for at the time of taking out your policy.

Here's some examples of pre-existing medical conditions:

• Asthma and other respiratory problems
• Diabetes, including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes
• Mental health conditions like depression or anxiety
• Cancer, even if you're in remission
• Heart conditions like coronary heart disease
• Joint and bone conditions like arthritis and rheumatism
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Epilepsy

If you're unsure about whether or not to mention a condition, just check with your insurer. They're there to help you! Declaring all your medical conditions is the easiest way to make sure you get the protection you need.

Just something to keep in mind—failing to declare a medical condition could mean you're not covered for any related medical treatment you might need. This could leave you with expensive medical bills to pay, especially if you need to be transported home for further treatment.

If you're looking for travel insurance and have a medical condition, you might wonder how to keep costs down.

Like we've mentioned, the price of your travel insurance can depend on things like your age and how long you'll be travelling for. While you might not be able to change these factors, here's a few tips that could help you save on your insurance:

• Increase your excess: The 'excess' is the portion you'd pay out of pocket if you make a claim. In general, the higher your excess, the lower your premium. Just make sure you're comfortable with the amount you choose so it's manageable if you do end up making a claim.
• Consider the additional cover you need: Adding policy extras usually comes at an added cost. So, think realistically about what you'll need for this trip. If you're planning a beach holiday, you might not need the same level of cover as an adventure-packed getaway.

• Compare travel insurance quotes: The simplest way to find a better price is to compare travel insurance quotes! This gives you a clearer picture of what different policies offer, so you can pick one that suits both your needs and budget.
• Consider different policy types: Planning on travelling multiple times in a year? Consider multi-trip travel insurance. It might be cheaper and easier than buying separate policies each time.

By taking these steps, you'll give yourself a better chance of finding affordable cover that suits your travel plans and medical needs. Hooray!

Exactly what's covered will vary between providers and policies. But, here's what's normally included on travel insurance:

• Medical cover: You'll normally be covered for emergency medical treatment up to a set amount.
• Repatriation cover: If a medical team decides it's necessary to fly you home for treatment, insurance can cover the costs.
• Cancellation and curtailment cover: If you need to cancel or cut your trip short for unexpected reasons, your insurance can cover this.
• Third party liability cover: You're normally covered if you injure someone or damage their property.
• Travel disruption cover: Your travel insurance will cover the costs if bad weather, strikes or mechanical issues prevents you from travelling.

What isn't covered?

• Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions. Emergency treatment for any undeclared medical conditions won't be covered.
• Travelling against FCDO advice. If you travel to a country that the FCDO advises against, you won't be covered.
• Incidents involving drugs or alcohol. If you become ill, injured or lose your belongings while under the influence, you won't be covered.
• Known events. This includes things like natural disasters or extreme weather that occur before you buy your insurance.
• Extreme sports or activities. Certain activities usually require a specialist adventure travel insurance policy. If you want to play a lot of golf on your trip, you could consider adding golf insurance. And, if your insurer doesn't cover scuba diving, you may want to consider adding scuba diving travel insurance to your policy.
• Changing your mind. If you decide you just don't want to go on holiday, you won't be covered for anything you've already paid for.