Understanding Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions Coverage

Many travelers find reassurance in travel insurance, as it offers protection against unforeseen events, such as medical emergencies, while they are away from home. Having medical coverage abroad can be especially important for those who have or have had pre-existing medical conditions in the past or are older in age. 

While difficult to find previously, many visitors insurance or travel medical insurance plans today offer coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. However, this benefit is different from pre-existing conditions coverage and understanding what exactly it covers and what it doesn’t can be tricky.

What Is Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions?

The term acute onset of pre-existing condition generally refers to an unwarned, sudden and spontaneous outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing medical condition that is rapidly progressive and requires urgent care. The condition must not be a chronic condition and can’t be a condition that the insured was currently suffering from or taking medications for.

Each visitor insurance plan will have a varying definition of what they consider to be an acute onset of a pre-existing condition, so it’s crucial to review your plan’s benefit details to understand their definition of an acute onset of pre-existing condition and what could be covered under that benefit.

Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition Coverage Explained

Many visitors insurance policies do offer some form of coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. The purpose of this benefit is to cover the risk that the recurrence or outbreak of pre-existing medical conditions could happen suddenly and unexpectedly. The condition must be life-threatening and the person must seek medical care within 24 hours.

Since every situation is different, it’s impossible to know whether or not a claim in relation to the acute onset of a pre-existing condition will be approved or denied. The situations surrounding an individual claim, including detailed medical information from an attending physician, will ultimately help the insurance company come to a determination of whether or not your claim is approved under the acute onset of pre-existing conditions benefit.

What Is Covered by Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions Coverage?

The acute onset of pre-existing conditions benefit covers necessary heath care for any medical emergency that's life-threatening or requires immediate medical treatment. It may also cover you for emergency medical transportation, emergency room costs, surgery, medications, and more depending on your plan. 

Unfortunately, it is unrealistic to provide acute onset of pre-existing condition examples as each individual situation will be different. Generally, your occurrence needs to meet the following conditions to be considered an acute onset of a pre-existing condition:  

• The recurrence or outbreak must be sudden, unexpected, and rapidly progressing 
•  The pre-existing condition must not be a chronic or active condition 
•  The condition must be life-threatening and require immediate care 
•  You must seek medical care for the occurrence within 24 hours

What Isn’t Covered by Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions Coverage?

The acute onset of pre-existing conditions benefit will not cover conditions that are chronic or congenital, or a condition that has gotten worse over time. It also won’t cover treatment or services for pre-existing conditions that were planned, scheduled, expected, or elected for.

Additionally, the following services are typically not covered under the acute onset of pre-existing conditions benefit:

• Any routine medical checkups. Example: A physical exam or seeing a doctor if you're healthy. 
• Any preventative care or medical consultations. Example: Getting a flu shot or taking a treadmill test. 
• Refill of prescription medication. Example: Refilling of blood pressure medication or refilling of diabetes glucose meter test strips. 
• Health management classes. Example: Consultations, health management seminars, or health consultations.

Only after you file your claim with your insurance company will you know if your particular occurrence will be covered under the acute onset of pre-existing conditions benefit. After you file your claim, the insurance company will make their determination based on medical records and the attending physician’s report.

Best Visitor Insurance Plans for Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions

Here are some of the top recommended visitors insurance plans that include coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions: 

You can also compare visitor insurance plans to find the policy that best fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions