Travel insurance compare pre existing medical conditions

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Table of Contents Show

How Do Travel Insurers Define A Pre-Existing Condition?
How Can You Get a Waiver for a Pre-Existing Condition?
Pre-Existing Conditions Not Eligible for a Waiver
COMPARE AND BUY ONLINE
WHY BUY FROM US ?
BEST PLANS & PRICES
EASY COMPARISONS
Travel Insurance and Pre-Existing Conditions
Exclusion Waivers for Pre-Existing Conditions
Considerations
Coverage Types
Compare and Buy Travel Insurance
Click here to compare providers and plans now
Do travel insurances cover pre
What counts as a pre
Does Allianz cover pre

The federal Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, prohibits health insurance companies in the U.S. from refusing coverage or bumping up insurance premiums because you have a pre-existing condition. Travel insurance policies don’t fall under this law.

However, a feature of a travel insurance policy known as a “pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver” could let you, for instance, cancel a trip due to a flare up of an existing condition and then be reimbursed for nonrefundable travel costs.

How Do Travel Insurers Define A Pre-Existing Condition?

Travel insurance companies normally exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage. These conditions rank among the most frequent reasons for denial of travel insurance claims.

In the world of travel insurance, a pre-existing condition refers to an injury, illness or medical condition that prompted someone to seek treatment, experience symptoms or take medication before buying the travel insurance policy, according to travel insurance provider Allianz Travel.

To determine what qualifies as a pre-existing condition, an insurer looks back 60 to 180 days before the day the policy was purchased, says Squaremouth, a travel insurance provider. If a traveler had any changes in their medical status during that period, such as a new diagnosis, a decline in health or the addition of new prescription medication, the condition will be considered pre-existing.

Allianz Travel notes that you don’t need an official diagnosis from a health care professional to have something designated a pre-existing condition for travel insurance purposes.

How Can You Get a Waiver for a Pre-Existing Condition?

You can generally get a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver only within 14 to 21 days of making an initial deposit for a trip and after insuring the full nonrefundable costs of a trip. So it’s really best to buy your travel insurance immediately after booking your trip, making sure the policy includes the exclusion waiver.

A pre-existing condition waiver might even take effect if a non-traveling member falls ill or dies and the insured traveler must cancel or cut short a trip.

If you meet various eligibility requirements, such as being “medically stable” to travel when your policy is purchased, the insurance company won’t charge extra for a waiver. Most travel insurance policies don’t impose an age limit.

Common claims tied to a pre-existing condition include emergency medical care, emergency medical evacuation, trip cancellation, trip interruption and travel delay.

Here are three possible scenarios where a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver could be used:

Pre-existing arthritis that brings a halt to your plans for Antarctic excursion
Mild heart attack suffered while exploring China after being diagnosed with coronary artery disease
Flare-up of pre-existing lupus while you’re on a Caribbean cruise

Without a waiver, a travel insurer won’t pay for medical bills or claims related to your recent medical history, such as high blood pressure or asthma. With a waiver, a travel insurance company can’t examine your recent medical records when it’s reviewing a medical claim.

Pre-Existing Conditions Not Eligible for a Waiver

Even with a waiver, some medical scenarios still likely won’t be covered by travel insurance. These include:

Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia
Anxiety
Depression
Pandemic
Illness or injury related to alcohol or drug abuse
Complication-free pregnancy or childbirth

Some high-dollar trips (perhaps $50,000 or more) also may be ineligible for pre-existing condition waivers.

Be sure to carefully read your travel insurance policy to see what’s covered and what’s not when it comes to pre-existing conditions. Also, be aware of the policy’s limits for travel medical insurance and medical evacuation coverage, to avoid any surprises.

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Pre-Existing Condition Coverage - Travel Insurance Benefit

So, you’re planning a vacation and are buying travel insurance to ensure a smooth, worry-free experience. What if you have a pre-existing condition? Are you out of luck? Not quite, but you have to be especially careful while comparing and contrasting travel insurance plans to avoid unpleasant surprises. Although pre-existing condition coverage isn’t available per se, it may be achieved through an exclusion waiver. Travel insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions by default, so such waivers are necessary for adequate protection.

Travel Insurance and Pre-Existing Conditions

For the purposes of buying travel insurance, a pre-existing condition is defined as any illness, disease, injury or other condition that happens prior to a plan’s effective date and for which you experienced symptoms or sought treatment. Insurance providers check to see if you were medically stable during the “look-back period,” which is typically a period of 60 to 180 days prior to a plan’s effective date. If it is determined that you were not medically stable during that time, you are considered to have a pre-existing condition. Any fallout due to that condition won’t be covered by a standard travel insurance policy.

Exclusion Waivers for Pre-Existing Conditions

You can’t purchase pre-existing condition coverage, but many travel insurance plans offer waivers for pre-existing condition exclusions. Naturally, adding this option might cost more money (or is simply enabled if you purchase the policy within a set amount of days of your initial trip payment), but it ensures that you won’t lose money if your pre-existing condition negatively impacts your travel plans.

Considerations

Pre-existing condition exclusions on travel insurance plans do not apply to situations like emergency medical evacuations, accidental death and dismemberment, repatriation, baggage and baggage delays or collision damage waivers. The only policies that allow you to waive pre-existing condition exclusions are travel insurance package plans, so you will want to compare and contrast several such policies to zero in on one that’s right for you. Make sure to read the fine print of such policies and waivers carefully to ensure that you aren’t left footing the bill due to an issue regarding your pre-existing condition during your travels.

If you believe that you will be deemed medically unstable for the look-back period leading up to your getaway, obtaining an exclusion waiver for your travel insurance package plan is essential. Take your time and research plenty of different policies to find one that suits your needs and budget. With this coverage in place, you’ll be better able to enjoy your time away.

Coverage Types

Compare and Buy Travel Insurance

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Do travel insurances cover pre

Generally, travel insurance plans extend pre-existing medical condition waivers to all qualifying travelers — no matter their ages. However, a few plans do enforce age limits. If you have questions on age limits, talk with a licensed travel insurance agent at InsureMyTrip to review options.

What counts as a pre

Pre-existing medical conditions are usually defined as an illness or injury you had before or when you take out a travel insurance policy. This includes physical conditions such as cancer, diabetes or respiratory issues, as well as non-physical conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Will pre

Yes. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can't refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts.

Does Allianz cover pre

Travel insurance only covers pre-existing medical conditions if you buy your plan within 14 days (depending on your plan) of making your first trip payment or deposit.