When looking for a travel medical insurance plan, you may notice that most plans exclude pre-existing conditions. You may have even filed a claim with your travel insurance company and have it denied for this reason.
Although a handful of travel medical insurance plans offer some form of pre-existing condition coverage, most plans do not. We will go over why travel medical insurance usually doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, and how to find the best insurance plan with such coverage.
What You Will Learn in This Guide:
- Why most travel medical insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions
- How insurance companies define and verify pre-existing conditions
- Tips for selecting the best insurance plan for your specific health needs
- What to do if your travel insurance claim related to a pre-existing condition is denied
Does Travel Insurance Cover Pre-existing Conditions?
Most travel medical insurance plans do not cover treatment for pre-existing conditions.
A pre-existing condition is typically defined as an ailment, injury, sickness, or other health condition that existed in the policyholder, whether known or unknown, before they purchased their travel medical insurance plan. When you receive treatment from a doctor or hospital, an attending physician will determine whether or not your condition was pre-existing.
There are a few reasons why travel medical insurance doesn’t typically cover pre-existing conditions:
- These conditions existed in you (whether known or unknown) before the start of your insurance plan, and travel insurance is meant to cover new injuries or illnesses after the effective date of your plan.
- Pre-existing conditions are a known risk that comes with a strong likelihood that you'll need treatment or care.
- Travel insurance is short-term and designed to cover unforeseen illnesses or injuries while abroad.
- Treatment for pre-existing conditions is often expensive.
- Visitors insurance only requires a one-time premium as opposed to domestic health insurance, which you continue to pay for periodically, making it less financially plausible for a travel insurance company to pay for pre-existing condition treatment.
Why Are Pre-existing Conditions Often Excluded From Travel Medical Insurance?
Think of pre-existing conditions coverage like this:
Now, using this same logic, we can look at pre-existing conditions. Travel medical insurance is designed to provide assistance for unexpected illness or injury that occurs during your travels, which is what you are paying for with the short-term coverage. It typically does not cover illnesses that already existed prior to purchasing your plan, similar to the car insurance scenario explained above.
Secure the Best Travel Medical Insurance For Pre-Existing Conditions
If you are a traveler that has a known pre-existing condition or you are a senior traveler, you still have options when it comes to travel medical insurance plans with pre-existing conditions coverage. These plans may come with a higher premium but can offer limited coverage in certain instances for pre-existing conditions.
Additionally, there are plans that offer coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions, which typically refers to the sudden or unexpected recurrence of a previous pre-existing health condition which is not chronic and was not being suffered from at the time of purchasing your plan.
Now that you have a better understanding of why pre-existing conditions aren’t typically covered under travel medical insurance, you can be better prepared when purchasing a travel medical insurance plan and save yourself frustration in the future during the claims process. Have a question? Our Customer Success Team is available and ready to assist you with any questions you may have.
- Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded because they represent known risks with a high likelihood of requiring treatment
- For seniors or travelers with known conditions, specialized plans like INF Elite X and Visitors Protect offer the best coverage options
- Working with an experienced insurance advisor can help identify the best available options for your specific health situation
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Medical Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions Coverage
What qualifies as a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance?
What qualifies as a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance often depends on how the insurance company defines it. For example, INF Elite X defines it as the following:
"An illness, disease, or other medical condition of the Covered Person for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, monitoring or treatment was recommended or received from a Doctor, and/or which would have caused a reasonably prudent person to seek medical attention, before the Covered Person’s coverage became effective under the Policy, whether disclosed or not on the Covered Person’s application or online enrolment.”
Each provider may define it differently. If you ever need assistance understanding what constitutes a pre-existing condition, our licensed insurance experts are available to assist you.
How do insurance companies verify pre-existing conditions?
Insurance companies will verify pre-existing conditions as they are processing your claim. To get the whole picture, they may request documentation, review prior claims, or assess your medical history. This typically includes:
- Reviewing your medical records from before the policy effective date
- Examining prescription history
- Requesting statements from your treating physicians
- Comparing the condition that prompted your claim against your medical history
- Checking if treatment was sought during the look-back period
Can I get travel insurance with a heart condition or diabetes?
Yes. Some travel medical insurance policies may cover conditions related to your heart or diabetes. We would recommend the following:
- Best Visitors Insurance for Elderly Travelers with Heart Conditions and/or Diabetes: INF Elite X
- Best Overall Travel Medical Plan with Pre-Existing Coverage: Visitors Protect
- Best Affordable Pre-Existing Condition Visitors Insurance with Basic Coverage: INF Premier X
Are mental health conditions considered pre-existing?
Yes. Many travel medical insurance plans exclude coverage for mental or nervous conditions as they are considered pre-existing conditions. It’s always a good idea to read through your travel insurance policy’s description of benefits to understand its exclusions, such as mental health treatment and to reach out to a travel insurance expert for assistance when it comes to understanding travel insurance mental health coverage.
What should I do if my travel medical insurance claim is denied?
If your claim related to a pre-existing condition is denied but you believe it should be covered under your policy terms, take these steps:
- Review your policy details carefully to understand the specific language about coverage
- Gather additional medical documentation showing how your situation meets the policy's definition of covered events
- For acute onset claims, obtain documentation from the treating physician stating the sudden and unexpected nature of the episode
- Submit a formal appeal with all supporting documentation
- Consider reaching out to VisitorsCoverage. If you purchased a plan through us, our team can help bring extra eyes or escalate the case, if need be
Is there travel insurance for seniors with pre-existing conditions?
Yes. Seniors with pre-existing conditions can get travel medical insurance that includes the pre-existing conditions coverage. Some insurance policies have age caps, so it is important for a senior to check the eligibility requirements for the policy they are considering to ensure they will get coverage.
How do I prove my condition was stable before traveling?
To demonstrate stability, gather medical records showing consistent treatment without changes, statements from your physician confirming stability, prescription records showing consistent medication, and results from recent check-ups indicating the condition was under control.
INF Elite X has a “24-month” rule stating that you may not have a pre-existing condition or be declared as “stable” as long as you have been taking the same medication at the same dosage and no changes in treatment for at least 24 months before your coverage starts.
Is there any travel medical insurance plan that fully covers pre-existing conditions?
No visitor insurance plan offers 100% comprehensive coverage for all pre-existing conditions with no limitations. Some premium travel insurance plans for U.S. citizens traveling abroad offer pre-existing condition waivers if purchased shortly after making trip deposits, but these still have restrictions. For visitors to the U.S., the best options are plans with robust acute onset coverage, though these only cover unexpected emergencies, not routine care or anticipated complications. Coverage limits, age restrictions, and specific condition exclusions apply to all plans. The insurance market continues to evolve, so working with an experienced insurance advisor can help identify the best available options for your specific health situation.
