Your Guide to Smart Travel Planning: Navigating Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
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Planning a holiday, whether domestic or international, is an exciting venture. However, for those with pre-existing medical conditions, careful consideration of travel insurance becomes paramount. Insurance providers often view these conditions as higher risk, potentially resulting in increased premiums.
Below we have some points you can consider if you are looking to purchase travel insurance.
Evaluating Eligible Conditions
When seeking travel insurance*, pre-existing medical conditions are a key consideration. Insurers analyse conditions such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and neurological issues. The severity of these conditions and the potential for complications or emergency medical treatment during travel can impact coverage costs. Some travel insurance providers, like InsureandGo*, consider all pre-existing medical conditions for possible cover, some at no extra charge.
Defining Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions encompass illnesses or injuries diagnosed or treated before applying for travel insurance*. This can range from chronic illnesses like diabetes to past injuries or surgeries. For example, InsureandGo* considers any diagnosed medical condition for which, in the last 5 years, you or any insured person has suffered from or has received any form of medical advice, treatment or medication, as a pre-existing medical condition.
Approval Process and Assessments
Insurers typically determine the approval of pre-existing conditions through a medical assessment. This involves evaluating the risk of potential medical expenses based on the traveller's medical history and current health status. Insurers may request details such as the date of diagnosis, past hospitalisations or surgeries, and the type of treatment or medication received. InsureandGo* streamlines this process with a quick assessment via a short online or phone questionnaire, taking only 5-10 minutes.
Documentation Requirements
Some insurers may require travellers with pre-existing conditions to provide a medical certificate before coverage is approved. This certificate, issued by the traveller's general physician, outlines details of the medical condition, required medications or treatment, and the potential risk of medical emergencies during travel. InsureandGo* is a travel insurance provider that doesn't require medical certificates unless a claim is made.
Physical Evaluation Practices
While physical examinations are not common, some insurers may request one for complex medical histories or high-risk pre-existing conditions. However, InsureandGo*, for example, does not require any physical evaluations during the initial policy purchase. Evaluations may be necessary later if a claim is filed.
Handling Pending Medical Tests
Disclosing information about pending medical test results when applying for travel insurance* is crucial. Insurers may delay coverage approval until the results are received, ensuring an accurate assessment of the traveller's health.
Changes in Conditions Before the Trip
If medical conditions change between purchasing the policy and the trip, travellers should promptly inform their insurer to make necessary adjustments to coverage.
If you are in doubt about any of the medical requirements, limits, or levels of cover in your travel insurance policy, ensure you read your Product Disclosure Statement properly before you purchase.
Additional Considerations
When purchasing travel insurance* for pre-existing conditions, factors beyond medical coverage come into play. Consider the type of travel, destination, coverage limits, deductibles, and any exclusions or limitations related to pre-existing conditions. Evaluate features such as trip cancellation, interruption coverage, baggage protection, and emergency travel assistance services.
If you are considering purchasing Travel Insurance, InsureandGo* is offering Seniors Discount Club members a 15% discount on their One-trip policies and a 20% discount on their Cruise policies*. Use code SDC15 in the promotional box at www.insureandgo.com.au/* or call 1300 401 177.
A note from InsureandGo:
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited ABN 49 000 525 637, AFSL 240816, issues InsureandGo Travel Insurance (the insurance). For full details of the benefits, terms and conditions and exclusions that may apply please read the Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination (TMD) and Financial Services Guide available on our website at https://www.insureandgo.com.au/ to decide if the insurance is right for you. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance has appointed Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd, ACN 140 219 594 as its Authorised Representative (AR Number 424825) to deal with this insurance product.
*Please note, members, that this is a sponsored article. All content of ours that has an asterisk next to it means we may get a commission when you click on a link – at no cost to you! We do this to assist with the costs of running the SDC. Thank you!
Below we have some points you can consider if you are looking to purchase travel insurance.
Evaluating Eligible Conditions
When seeking travel insurance*, pre-existing medical conditions are a key consideration. Insurers analyse conditions such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and neurological issues. The severity of these conditions and the potential for complications or emergency medical treatment during travel can impact coverage costs. Some travel insurance providers, like InsureandGo*, consider all pre-existing medical conditions for possible cover, some at no extra charge.
Defining Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions encompass illnesses or injuries diagnosed or treated before applying for travel insurance*. This can range from chronic illnesses like diabetes to past injuries or surgeries. For example, InsureandGo* considers any diagnosed medical condition for which, in the last 5 years, you or any insured person has suffered from or has received any form of medical advice, treatment or medication, as a pre-existing medical condition.
Approval Process and Assessments
Insurers typically determine the approval of pre-existing conditions through a medical assessment. This involves evaluating the risk of potential medical expenses based on the traveller's medical history and current health status. Insurers may request details such as the date of diagnosis, past hospitalisations or surgeries, and the type of treatment or medication received. InsureandGo* streamlines this process with a quick assessment via a short online or phone questionnaire, taking only 5-10 minutes.
Get insured at a discounted rate for your next holiday! Image source: Shutterstock.
Documentation Requirements
Some insurers may require travellers with pre-existing conditions to provide a medical certificate before coverage is approved. This certificate, issued by the traveller's general physician, outlines details of the medical condition, required medications or treatment, and the potential risk of medical emergencies during travel. InsureandGo* is a travel insurance provider that doesn't require medical certificates unless a claim is made.
Physical Evaluation Practices
While physical examinations are not common, some insurers may request one for complex medical histories or high-risk pre-existing conditions. However, InsureandGo*, for example, does not require any physical evaluations during the initial policy purchase. Evaluations may be necessary later if a claim is filed.
Handling Pending Medical Tests
Disclosing information about pending medical test results when applying for travel insurance* is crucial. Insurers may delay coverage approval until the results are received, ensuring an accurate assessment of the traveller's health.
Changes in Conditions Before the Trip
If medical conditions change between purchasing the policy and the trip, travellers should promptly inform their insurer to make necessary adjustments to coverage.
If you are in doubt about any of the medical requirements, limits, or levels of cover in your travel insurance policy, ensure you read your Product Disclosure Statement properly before you purchase.
Additional Considerations
When purchasing travel insurance* for pre-existing conditions, factors beyond medical coverage come into play. Consider the type of travel, destination, coverage limits, deductibles, and any exclusions or limitations related to pre-existing conditions. Evaluate features such as trip cancellation, interruption coverage, baggage protection, and emergency travel assistance services.
If you are considering purchasing Travel Insurance, InsureandGo* is offering Seniors Discount Club members a 15% discount on their One-trip policies and a 20% discount on their Cruise policies*. Use code SDC15 in the promotional box at www.insureandgo.com.au/* or call 1300 401 177.
A note from InsureandGo:
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited ABN 49 000 525 637, AFSL 240816, issues InsureandGo Travel Insurance (the insurance). For full details of the benefits, terms and conditions and exclusions that may apply please read the Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination (TMD) and Financial Services Guide available on our website at https://www.insureandgo.com.au/ to decide if the insurance is right for you. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance has appointed Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd, ACN 140 219 594 as its Authorised Representative (AR Number 424825) to deal with this insurance product.
*Please note, members, that this is a sponsored article. All content of ours that has an asterisk next to it means we may get a commission when you click on a link – at no cost to you! We do this to assist with the costs of running the SDC. Thank you!
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