Travel insurance with pre existing medical conditions

Protect yourself from huge medical bills abroad by getting travel insurance for pre existing conditions.

Updated Feb 20, 2021

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Important:

Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the pandemic. Some information may not be accurate at this time. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please note:

Some policies may not be available through Finder at this time
It’s unlikely that your policy will cover expenses from border closures

Finally, some good news! Travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again. Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance.

The good news is that you can get travel insurance that will provide you with cover for pre-existing conditions. In fact, many Australian travel insurers have a list of pre-existing conditions they cover automatically. And for conditions that aren’t automatically covered, it could be as simple as completing an online medical questionnaire and paying an additional premium.

To help you out we’ve broken down the conditions automatically covered by all the travel insurers you can access through finder, along with more information on how to get cover with a pre-existing condition, pre-existing conditions waivers and more.

Get your quotes for travel insurance that considers all pre-existing conditions

Which pre-existing conditions are automatically covered by the travel insurance brands on Finder?

Search for your condition to see which travel insurance brands will cover you.

Provider	Pre-existing condition	Get quote
Columbus Direct	All conditions are considered. An online medical assessment is available.
Insureandgo	Insureandgo consider all pre-existing conditions, but for an accurate assessment you're best to get a quote and do an online medical assessment.
AllClear	All conditions are considered
Budget Direct	Asthma, Cataracts, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 and 2), Eczema, Ear Grommets, Glaucoma, Hay fever, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High blood pressure (Hypertension)... Acne, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Dry Eye Syndrome, Epilepsy, Food intolerance, Gastric reflux, Gout, Hiatus hernia, Hypothyroidism (including Hashimoto's disease), Macular degeneration, Meniere's disease, Rhinitis and Sinusitis
1cover	Acne, Allergies, Asthma, Bell's palsy, Benign positional vertigo, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Cataracts, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Dry eye syndrome, Diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2), Epilepsy... Folate deficiency, Gastric reflux, Goitre, Glaucoma, Graves' disease, Hiatus hernia, Hypercholesterolaemia , Hyperlipidaemia , Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, Impaired glucose tolerance, Incontinence, Insulin resistance, Menopause, Nocturnal cramps, Pernicious anaemia, Reynaud's disease, Sleep apnoea, Trigeminal neuralgia, Trigger finger and Vitamin B12 deficiency
Travel With Jane	Allergies, Asthma, Cataracts, Coeliac Disease, Congenital Blindness, Congenital Deafness, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 and Type 2), Epilepsy, High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Osteoporosis... Acne, Bell's Palsy, Benign Positional Vertigo, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dry Eye Syndrome, Folate Deficiency, Gastric Reflux, Goitre, Glaucoma, Graves' Disease, Hiatus Hernia, Hyperlipidaemia (high blood lipids), Hypothyroidism, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Incontinence, Insulin Resistance, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Macular Degeneration, Meniere's Disease, Migraine, Nocturnal Cramps, Osteopenia, Pernicious Anaemia, Plantar Fasciitis, Raynaud's Disease, Sleep Apnoea, Solar Keratosis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Trigger Finger and Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
Fast Cover	Allergies, Asthma, Cataracts, Coeliac Disease, Congenital Blindness, Congenital Deafness, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 and 2), Epilepsy, Glaucoma, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Migraine, Osteoporosis… Acne, Bell's Palsy, Benign Positional Vertigo, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dry Eye Syndrome, Folate Deficiency, Gastric Reflux, Goitre, Graves' Disease, Hiatus Hernia, Hyperlipidaemia (High Blood Lipids), Hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's Disease, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Incontinence, Insulin Resistance, Macular Degeneration, Meniere's Disease, Nocturnal Cramps, Osteopenia, Pernicious Anaemia, Plantar Fasciitis, Raynaud's Disease, Sleep Apnoea, Solar Keratosis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Trigger Finger and Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
World2cover	Allergies, Asthma, Cataracts, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2), Epilepsy, Hip / Knee replacement, Hypercholesterolaemia, Hypertension… Acne, Bell's palsy, Benign positional vertigo, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Dry eye syndrome, Gastric reflux, Gastric / Peptic Ulcer, Glaucoma, Gout, Graves' disease, Hiatus hernia, Hyperlipidaemia, Hypothyroidism, Incontinence, Insulin resistance, Macular degeneration, Meniere's disease, Migraine, Nocturnal cramps, Plantar fasciitis, Reynaud's disease, Sleep apnoea, Solar keratosis, Trigeminal neuralgia and Trigger finger.
World Care	Asthma, Cataracts, Cochlear implant, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Conjunctivitis, Diabetes (type 1 or type 2), Eczema, Glaucoma, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High blood pressure (Hypertension), Single uncomplicated pregnancy, up to and including 23 weeks... Acne, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Cleft palate, Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Dengue fever, Dry eye syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, Ear grommets (if no current infection), Gastric reflux (GORD), Gout, Hay fever, Hiatus hernia, Hormone replacement therapy, Hyperlipidaemia (high blood lipids), Hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's disease, Lipoma, Macular degeneration, Meniere's disease, Rhinitis, Rosacea, Sinusitis and Tinnitus.
Medibank	Allergies, Asthma, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Coeliac Disease, Congenital Blindness, Congenital Deafness, Hip replacement, Shoulder replacement, High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Skin cancer... Acne, ADHD, Anxiety, Bell's Palsy, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Depression, Ear grommets, Epilepsy, Gastric Reflux, Goitre, Graves' Disease, Gout, Hiatus Hernia, Hip resurfacing, Peptic ulcer, Gastric ulcer,Plantar fasciitis, Raynaud's Disease, Stenosing tenosynovitis, Urinary incontinence, Underactive thyroid and Overactive thyroid.
Zoom	Allergies, Asthma, Cataracts, Coeliac Disease, Congenital Blindness, Congenital Deafness, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 and 2), Epilepsy, High blood pressure (Hypercholesterolaemia), High blood pressure (Hypertension ), Menopause... Acne, Bell's Palsy, Benign Positional Vertigo, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dry Eye Syndrome, Folate Deficiency, Gastric Reflux, Goitre, Glaucoma, Hiatus Hernia, Hyperlipidaemia (High Blood Lipids), Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid), Impaired Glucose Intolerance, Incontinence, Insulin Resistance, Nocturnal Cramps, Osteopenia, Pernicious Anaemia, Sleep Apnea, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Trigger Finger, Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Vitamin D Deficiency.
Travel Insurance Saver	Allergies, Anaemia, Asthma, Benign breast cysts, Cataracts, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness or deafness, Diabetes Mellitus Types 1 and 2, Epilepsy, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), Hip and knee replacements, Menopause, Pregnancy related conditions... Acne, Bell's palsy, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, Glaucoma, Goitre, hypothyroidism, Hashimotos disease, Graves disease, Grommets, Hiatus hernia, Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, Peptic ulcer disease, High Lipids (Hyperlipidaemia), Insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, Incontinence, Macular degeneration, Migraines, Nocturnal cramps, Plantar fasciitis, Raynaud's Disease, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Trigger Finger and Routine screening Tests
Travel Insuranz	Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Bee Sting Allergy, Benign Breast Cysts, Benign Renal Cysts, Cataracts, Congenital Blindness, Congenital Deafness, Epilepsy, Hay Fever, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Menopause, Pregnancy up to 18 weeks, Psoriasis… Acne, Allergic Rhinitis, Bunions, Chronic Sinusitis, Dermatitis, Dry Eye Syndrome, Ear Grommets, Eczema, Folate Deficiency, Food Intolerance, Gastric Reflux, Glaucoma, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Incontinence, Insulin Resistance, Latex Allergy, Macular Degeneration, Nocturnal Cramps, Pernicious Anaemia, Raynaud's Disease, Trigger Finger, Urticaria and Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
Australia Post	Allergies, Asthma, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Coeliac disease, Ear grommets, Epilepsy, Gout, Hip replacement, Knee replacement, Shoulder replacement, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High blood pressure (Hypertension), Menopause, Skin Cancer… Acne, Bell's Palsy, Bunions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Gastric reflux, Goitre, Graves' Disease, Hiatus hernia, Hip resurfacing, Migraine, Peptic ulcer, Gastric ulcer, Plantar fasciitis, Raynaud's Disease, Stenosing tenosynovitis (Trigger Finger), Urinary incontinence, Underactive thyroid and Overactive thyroid.
American Express	Asthma, Cataracts, Coeliac disease, Diabetes - Type 1, Diabetes - Type 2, Epilepsy, Hay fever, Hip replacement, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), High blood pressure (Hypertension), Osteoporosis… Acne, Bell's palsy, Benign positional vertigo, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Dry eye syndrome, Eczema, Folate deficiency, Food intolerance, Gastric reflux, Goitre, Glaucoma, Gout, Graves' disease, Hiatus hernia, Hyperlipidaemia (Raised lipids), Hypothyroidism (including Hashimoto's disease), Impaired glucose tolerance, Incontinence, Insulin resistance, Iron deficiency anaemia, Lipoma, Macular degeneration, Meniere's disease, Migraine, Nocturnal cramps, Oseteopenia, Peptic ulcer, Pernicious anemia, Plantar fasciitis, Raynaud's disease, Rhinitis, Rosacea, Sinusitis (chronic), Sleep apnoea, Solar keratosis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Trigger finger and Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Webjet	Allergy, Asthma, Bell's Palsy, Cataracts, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia). High blood pressure (Hypertension), Pregnancy, Acne, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Ear grommets, Gastric reflux (GORD), Goitre, Gout, Graves' Disease, Hiatus hernia, Hip Replacement/Surfacing, Hypothyroidism, Knee Replacement, Menopause, Migraine, Peptic Gastric Ulcer, Plantar Fasciitis, Raynaud's Disease, Shoulder Replacement, Skin Cancer, Stenosing Tenosynovitis (Trigger Finger), Urinary Incontinence and Underactive Thyroid.
Virgin	Asthma, Cataracts, Cochlear implant, Coeliac disease, Congenital blindness, Congenital deafness, Conjunctivitis, Dengue fever, Diabetes (type 1 or type 2), Glaucoma, Hay fever, High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolaemia), Hypertension, Single uncomplicated pregnancy, up to and including 23 weeks… Acne, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Cleft palate, Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Dry eye syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, Ear grommets, Eczema, Gastric reflux (GORD), Gout, Hiatus hernia, Hormone replacement therapy, Hyperlipidaemia (high blood lipids), Hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's disease, Lipoma, Macular degeneration, Meniere's disease, Rhinitis, Rosacea, Sinusitis and Tinnitus.

Is your condition not listed above? Check how you can get cover for these pre-existing conditions

How does travel insurance for pre-existing conditions work?

Pre-existing conditions usually won't stop you from buying travel insurance. Insurers will consider most medical conditions and even if they decide not to cover yours, you can still get insurance covering everything else. It simply means you won't be covered for claims related to or caused by your pre-existing condition.

What else is on this page?

How to get cover
FAQs about pre-existing conditions

Steps for getting travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition

1. Be straight up with your insurer

If you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition and need travel insurance, you must let your travel insurance provider know of any pre-existing conditions you may have. If you don’t, you could be left out-of-pocket in the event where you need to make a claim.

2. Understand what is considered to be a pre-existing medical condition

The definition of a pre-existing medical condition varies slightly between insurers but the term is generally accepted to refer to:

An ongoing medical or dental condition of which you are aware, or a related complication you have or the symptoms of which you are aware
A medical or dental condition that is currently being treated or investigated by a health professional, or that has been treated or investigated by a health professional in the past
Any condition for which you take prescribed medicine
Any condition for which you have had surgery
Any condition for which you see a medical specialist
Pregnancy

Check your product disclosure statement (PDS) or contact the insurer directly to find out how your insurer defines a pre-existing condition.

3. Check to see if your condition is on the automatically covered list

While you’re looking at the PDS make sure you check to see if your condition is automatically covered or excluded by your insurer.

Check out which conditions are typically covered automatically

4. Complete the online questionnaire

If your condition is not mentioned on either list, you’ll need to complete your insurers medical screening process, which will most likely consist of you completing an online questionnaire. These questionnaire typically ask you about how long you’ve had your condition, the type of treatment you’ve undergone, whether or not you’re currently taking any medication and other relevant questions so that they may assess your risk level.

Typically you'll be asked:

What is the name of your condition?
What medications have been taken to treat the condition?
If you have been treated for blood pressure or diabetes, what was the last reading?
Have you changed your treatment medication recently? (generally in the last 3 months)

Have you seen a medical practitioner recently? (generally in the last 3 months)
Have you been admitted or undergone treatment in a hospital in the last 12 months?
Are you currently awaiting a medical review or treatment?

If you don't declare your condition, you won't be covered for any claims for losses that have occurred as a result of your condition. In some cases, your insurance provider can also choose to cancel your policy if they feel you have purposely withheld information that may increase the likelihood of a claim occurring.

5. Approval of cover

Once you’ve completed the medical questionnaire you’ll either have your pre-existing condition approved, which will generally result in you paying a higher premiums, or you’ll be told that the insurer won’t provide you with cover for your pre-existing condition.

6. Why get cover if your condition is not approved?

If your condition isn’t approved it doesn’t mean you can’t get travel insurance, it just means that you won’t be covered for claims that are the result of your pre-existing condition; this is called a pre-existing condition waiver.

Even though you’re not able to take out cover for claims related to your existing condition, you’ll still be entitled to lodge claims for cancellation, lost luggage and even medical claims so long as they aren’t related to your condition.

How do I know if my condition is covered?

Insurers vary in how they cover pre-existing conditions, so never assume that you’ll be automatically covered when you buy a policy. Instead, take a look at the pre-existing medical conditions section in the PDS.

This will contain the following information:

A list of pre-existing conditions automatically covered by the policy, usually without requiring you to pay an additional premium
Information on how you can apply to have any pre-existing condition not included in that list covered by your policy

If your condition is not automatically covered, you’ll need to declare it to the insurer when you apply for cover. This can be done by filling out an online health questionnaire or answering some questions about your condition over the phone. Your insurer will then assess whether or not it will cover claims arising due to your pre-existing condition, and you will typically need to pay an additional premium for cover to apply.

Check the list below for details of conditions which are usually automatically covered, conditions which you must declare, and conditions which are usually excluded.

If your condition is not listed in the policy, you must declare it to your insurance company. The company will assess the condition and decide whether or not cover can be provided. There are some general rules around coverage of certain conditions.

The list below is of conditions generally covered automatically provided the condition has been stable for the last 12 months and there is no planned surgery for the condition.

Allergies
Asthma
Bell’s Palsy
Bunions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cataracts
Coeliac Disease
Congenital Blindness
Congenital Deafness
Diabetes Mellitus (Type I and II)

Dry Eye Syndrome
Epilepsy
Folate Deficiency

Gastric Reflux
Goitre
Glaucoma
Graves’ Disease
Hiatus Hernia
High Cholesterol

High Blood Lipids
Hypertension
Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Insulin Resistance
Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Macular Degeneration

Meniere’s Disease
Migraine
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis
Pernicious Anaemia
Plantar Fasciitis
Raynaud’s Disease
Sleep Apnoea
Solar Keratosis
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigger Finger
Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

If you suffer from any of the conditions listed below, you will be covered for any sections of the policy related to medical expenses/repatriation or trip cancellation/lost deposits.

Conditions where you have been given a terminal or palliative prognosis with a shortened life expectancy
If you require oxygen therapy or home oxygen for the journey
Aids defining illness
If you have had or are having an organ transplant in the future

If you suffer from any of the conditions listed below, you will need to declare these to your insurance company. The company will then assess the condition and determine if they can provide cover for that condition and/or journey.

Cardiac or heart conditions
Respiratory or lung conditions
Metastatic or secondary cancer
Dementia or memory loss
If you require the accompaniment of a full-time minder

Deep Vein Thrombosis
Heart problems (e.g. coronary angiography, pacemakers, etc)
Any conditions requiring surgery in the last two years
Certain kinds of diabetes
Epilepsy

Whether your insurer covers your condition will depend on its severity, how recent it is and the extent to which it is being controlled by medication.

Compare your travel insurance quotes

Finally, some good news! Domestic travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again 🦘
Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance.
International travel insurance is limited and sometimes unavailable at this point.

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How to find the best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions

If you’re looking for travel insurance to cover a pre-existing condition, we can’t tell you which policy is the best choice for you. This is because the right policy depends on your cover needs, your budget and your personal situation, so the best cover for one person may be insufficient for the next traveller.

However, there are a few simple tips you can keep in mind to help you find the right policy:

Consider your cover needs. First and foremost, think about what you want in a policy – what are the risks you want cover for and how much protection do you want? How much are you willing to pay for cover?
Compare suitable policies. Once you know the type of cover you want, you can compare a range of policies from different insurers. What benefits do they offer and how high are the cover limits? What exclusions and restrictions apply?
Treatment of pre-existing conditions. Check the PDS of each policy you’re considering to see how the insurer treats pre-existing condition. Is your condition automatically covered? If not, what do you have to do to apply to have it covered?
Compare quotes. Compare quotes across the best policies to see which one offers the best value for money. Does it cost extra to have your pre-existing condition covered?

The key when buying travel insurance for pre-existing conditions is to shop around. Don’t just settle for the first policy you find; compare benefits and limits across several policies to find the cover that best suits your needs.

How is pregnancy assessed as a pre-existing condition?

Most travel insurers will cover pregnancy, providing it satisfies the following criteria:

Your trip ends on or before your 26th week of pregnancy
Claims are for unexpected complications only (not expenses related to childbirth)
It does not involve IVF treatment
It will not be a multiple birth (i.e. twins)

Your trip is not for fertility treatment
You have not experienced pregnancy complications in the past
You are not travelling against your doctor’s advice

As pregnancy is classed by insurers as a pre-existing condition, you will need to declare it when applying for insurance, be medically assessed and pay a higher premium, due to the higher risk you represent to the insurer.

I’m diabetic... can I get covered?

The majority of travel insurers will automatically cover diabetes, but the devil is in the detail, as each may require certain conditions to be met. For instance;

Even though Type 2 diabetes is a less serious form, if you have also had hypertension in the last 12 months, some insurers may exclude you from cover altogether
Because Type 1 diabetes requires stricter management, some insurers apply stricter cover conditions such as age limits.

The golden rule with diabetes, as with any pre-existing medical condition, is if you are unsure whether you are covered, declare it to your insurer at the time of applying. You may have to answer a few more questions and pay a higher premium, but it’s a small price to pay compared with receiving overseas medical bills that aren’t covered by your insurance.

Head here to learn more about getting cover if you're diabetic.

Group travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions

It's quite common for people to take out group travel insurance policies to provide cover for up to 10 or more friends, co-workers or teammates. While there is only one certificate of insurance for group policies, cover is still provided to each member of the group as if they were to have their own policy.

When taking out cover, the applicant that is applying for the cover for the group will be asked if any member of the group has any pre-existing medical conditions. In the event that one member does have a pre-existing condition that is not automatically covered under the policy, they may be required to take out their own separate policy. It may be possible to still purchase group cover if the condition is not listed though an additional premium may be incurred.

Learn more about group travel insurance policies

Are other people on my travel insurance policy covered for pre-existing medical conditions?

Generally, the insurance company will not provide a benefit payment for claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions that are automatically covered other than for those that are named on the insurance policy. Cover for pre-existing conditions can be provided to your spouse and/or dependent children/grandchildren.

Some final questions you might have

- Yes, hospitalisation includes visits to day surgery and the hospital emergency department.
- An online self-assessment can take as little as 10 minutes.
- If the questionnaire is completed online, you’ll know immediately. If you do it offline, it may take between 24 and 48 hours.
- Yes, travel insurance for cruises is the same as regular travel insurance, it just includes an extension for cover while you’re in the open seas. Getting sick on a cruise can be exceptionally expensive if you need to be evacuated, so if you are heading on a cruise and have an existing condition make sure to get the all clear from your insurer.
- It depends on your insurer, your condition and how much of a risk you represent.
- As it developed after you bought your insurance, it is not considered a pre-existing condition and would therefore be covered according to the terms and conditions of your policy.
- No, you must apply while you are in Australia.
- No, it simply means you won’t be covered for any expenses related to your condition.
- It depends on your insurer. You may be able to claim if cancellation is due to unexpected complications with your pregnancy.
- Again it depends on your insurer, but normally if you inform them of the change in circumstances you may still be able to get cover for pregnancy.
- Only when you are more than 70 years of age.
- No, it just means you won’t be covered if you develop any complications related to that condition.
- Yes, there are a handful of insurers who will provide cover for some cancers for a higher premium, providing certain conditions are met, such as being in remission for a certain period of time (i.e. 6 to 12 months).
- No. You generally cannot apply for pre-existing medical condition cover once you have started your journey.
- You generally cannot do this. Once you have purchased a policy, you can no longer declare any pre-existing conditions and the insurer will not pay any claims that arise due to your pre-existing condition.
- Visit your doctor for a full check-up. He or she will be able to assess your overall health and advise you whether you are suffering from any conditions.
- If you don’t disclose your pre-existing condition to the insurer when you apply for cover, any claim that arises due to that condition could be reduced or rejected. This could leave you facing extremely expensive overseas medical bills. In some cases, your entire travel insurance policy could become void.
- With this in mind, it’s essential that you declare any pre-existing conditions when you apply for cover.
- If you develop a condition after purchasing travel insurance but before you leave on your trip, you’ll be covered for cancellation and trip adjustment costs if you need to call off or amend your trip – provided you weren’t aware of any symptoms of the condition or hadn’t sought treatment for the condition before purchasing cover.
- You should also inform your insurer of your changed medical circumstances in case your policy needs to be adjusted in any way.

Picture: GettyImages

Thank you for your feedback!

Richard Laycock

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Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. When he’s not doing deep dives on data, he is testing the quality of cocktails in his newfound home of New York. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.

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36 Responses

SueMarch 10, 2019

By the time I travel, I’ll have had my new knees for over 10 years. Can I still be covered for these?

finder Customer Care

JhezMarch 12, 2019Staff

Hello Sue,

Thank you for your comment.

Please note that there’s a possibility you might not be covered for hip & knee replacement, but they will tell you this after you have disclosed your condition and they have made an assessment.

Travel insurance provides coverage for a wide range of scenarios. While travel insurance might not always be able to cover your hip & knee replacement, they could still offer cover for other unforeseen injuries or illnesses, such as luggage & personal effects, cancellation fees & lost deposits, and family emergency.

If you don’t take out travel insurance you will be liable to pay all expenses that you incur when the unforeseen happens.

It’s best that you discuss your options to the travel insurance company first before taking out one. Know your benefits.

Regards,
Jhezelyn

ChristineMarch 7, 2019

Hi I have just found out my father in law is dying from cancer can I get cancellation insurance in case something happens before we go on our cruise

NikkiMarch 8, 2019

Hi Christine,

Thanks for getting in touch! Sorry to hear about your father, this is a very difficult time. You can get a cruise travel insurance that includes cancellation.

As it says on the page, like any insurance, cruise travel insurance will take care of you if you need to cancel because of a serious, unexpected event including if:

You suffer a serious illness or injury.
A relative, business partner or travelling companion dies unexpectedly or suffers a serious illness or injury.
You’re made redundant at work.
Your flight is cancelled due to severe weather and you miss your cruise departure.
You’re called for jury duty.
Your home is destroyed by a natural disaster.

Even if your cruise insurance doesn’t cover your cancelled trip, you may be able to scrape back some of the cost of the cruise itself. Many cruise companies will allow you to cancel ahead of time and only pay a cancellation fee rather than the full cost of the cruise. This fee varies based on how far out you cancel.

Cancellation policies vary between cruise lines. As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.

Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

Best,
Nikki

VanessaFebruary 26, 2019

Is there travel insurance for adrenal gland insufficiency, my husband had adrenal cancer 4 years ago but is on daily medication for cortisol (hormone replacement) and a tablet chemotherapy, but has no tumours.

NikkiFebruary 27, 2019

Hi Vanessa,

Thanks for getting in touch! Your husband may view and apply travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions and you can find this information above. To find out if a provider will insure your husband for adrenal gland insufficiency, you must get in touch with the insurer. You’ll also find the steps as stated above helpful in finding one.

Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

Best,
Nikki

joseJanuary 14, 2019

Is there an insurance that covers heart and double lungs transplant?

finder Customer Care

JhezJanuary 16, 2019Staff

Hello Jose,

Thank you for your comment.

Although we have no specific page for insurance providers that cover both heart and lung conditions, you can check our guide above for the brands covering pre-existing medical conditions. Basically, an organ transplant is not covered so best to discuss with your preferred brand about the cover for a lung transplant.

Meanwhile, you may also want to check our guide on travel insurance for heart conditions. You can get quotes from the insurers listed on the table or contact them if you like to discuss your options.

You can get a quote directly from the list of insurers that we have on the table by clicking the Get Quote button. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement PDS/T&C’s of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.

Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.

Regards,
Jhezelyn

rajgSeptember 25, 2018

Is there a travel insurance policy that covers pulmonary fibrosis for a person who is 74 years old?

finder Customer Care

JeniSeptember 25, 2018Staff

Hi Rajg,

Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

Currently we have a page that explains more on travel insurance for Cystic Fibrosis. Our page can help in finding an insurer to cover someone traveling with pulmonary fibrosis.

You can also enter your travel details from our senior travel insurance form since you mentioned that the person travelling is 74 years old. Basically, the traveller needs to answer the insurer’s online/phone medical questionnaire to know whether the pre-existing condition will be covered or not. Please note that getting cover will depend on person’s age, the type of travel insurance, and the nature and severity of their pre-existing medical condition.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

Thank you and have a wonderful day!

Cheers,
Jeni

Travel insurance with pre existing medical conditions

Protect yourself from huge medical bills abroad by getting travel insurance for pre existing conditions.

In this guide

Types

Brands

Guides

Destinations

Important:

What is considered a pre existing condition for travel insurance?

Get your quotes for travel insurance that considers all pre-existing conditions

Which pre-existing conditions are automatically covered by the travel insurance brands on Finder?

Is your condition not listed above? Check how you can get cover for these pre-existing conditions

How does travel insurance for pre-existing conditions work?

What else is on this page?

Steps for getting travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition

1. Be straight up with your insurer

2. Understand what is considered to be a pre-existing medical condition

3. Check to see if your condition is on the automatically covered list

4. Complete the online questionnaire

5. Approval of cover

6. Why get cover if your condition is not approved?

How do I know if my condition is covered?

Compare your travel insurance quotes

Type or Select your destination(s)

How to find the best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions

How is pregnancy assessed as a pre-existing condition?

I’m diabetic... can I get covered?

Group travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions

Are other people on my travel insurance policy covered for pre-existing medical conditions?

Some final questions you might have

I went to the emergency department about my medical condition. Is this considered hospitalisation?

How long does a medical assessment take?

How long does it take to process my assessment?

Does cruise travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

How much does it cost to cover my pre-existing condition?

What if I develop a new medical condition after I have purchased my policy?

Can I apply for cover for a pre-existing medical condition from overseas?

My insurer has refused to cover my pre-existing medical condition. Does this mean I can’t get travel insurance?

If there is a problem with my pregnancy and my doctor advises against travel, will I be covered for trip cancellation?

If I fall pregnant after I have bought my policy, will I still be covered?

Is asthma classed as chronic lung disease?

My insurer refused to cover my condition. Does this mean I can’t get travel insurance?

Can I get travel insurance if I have suffered from cancer?

Can I apply for pre-existing medical condition cover from overseas?

How do I seek cover for my pre-existing condition after purchasing my policy?

How do I know if I have a pre-existing condition?

What happens if I don’t declare my pre-existing condition?

What if something happens or changes before I depart?

Richard Laycock

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