High blood pressure is considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance.
Most travel insurance brands will still cover you with high blood pressure at no extra cost.
Even so, not declaring your condition could mean you are not covered for some expenses.
Compare travel insurance with high blood pressure cover
When you take out travel insurance, you'll need to declare any and all pre-existing conditions. Sometimes this will make your cover a bit more expensive, but sometimes the price won't change at all. for example, I went to Japan recently and declared my partner's asthma and the meds I was on, and the price didn't change at all. But if I had diabetes or a heart condition, it probably would have cost more.
The good news is that high blood pressure typically doesn't cost anything extra. But you do still need to declare it, which you'll do just before you pay for your cover. If that's all you need to know, use the tool below to compare live quotes from Aussie travel insurance providers. There's a filter on the results page for pre-existing conditions.
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How different brands cover high blood pressure
We've looked into the brands on our travel insurance comparison tool and checked which ones will cover you when you have high blood pressure, whether there's a maximum blood pressure that's covered by their policies and if there are any conditions attached.
You don't have any form of cardiovascular condition
Note: This information was last updated March 2024
How do insurers define high blood pressure?
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, high blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.
However, different travel insurance companies may consider different readings as part of your policy wording.
Exclusions: When won't you be covered by travel insurance if you have high blood pressure?
Travel insurance will typically not provide cover if:
You are travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner
Your claim is for deep vein thrombosis, if you have been diagnosed with blood clots in the past and if you do not take preventative measures for your trip
Your claim is for any condition for which surgery or treatment is planned
Your claim is for any condition for which you have been hospitalised within a certain time period such as 24 months
Tips for travelling with high blood pressure
Don't let it hold you back. As long as your high blood pressure is well controlled, travelling the world is entirely possible. In fact, it could be argued that travel could be good for your health. With this in mind, don't let high blood pressure put you off pursuing your travel dreams.
Talk to your doctor. Before you book any travel plans, book in a visit to your doctor to discuss your high blood pressure. Your doctor will be able to tell you what is and isn't possible with your condition. Your doctor can also give you information about any extra medication or vaccinations you may need.
Have a pre-trip check-up. Just before you're due to depart, visit your doctor for another check-up to make sure your condition is still under control and it's safe for you to travel.
Pack enough medicine. It's vital that you make sure you have more than enough medication to last you not only for your trip but also for a little longer. If your return home is delayed by circumstances beyond your control, you don't want to run out of medication. Make sure to research which medications are safe to travel with.
Reduce stress. Checking in for your flight at an airport can be a very stressful time. There are queues to stand in, security checkpoints to clear, and you'll need to manage your fears that you haven't packed everything you need. To make the check-in process as stress-free as possible, make sure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare.
Pack extra medication. Include extra medication in your hand luggage in case your checked luggage goes missing.
Sit in the emergency exit row. Request an emergency exit seat so that you have a little extra leg room. Make sure to keep flexing your feet, and stretch your muscles during the flight to keep the blood circulating and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Take your own snacks. Salty airline snacks like peanuts and crackers won't help your blood pressure, so bring your own healthy snacks from home. Alcohol and sleeping pills should also be avoided, as they're more likely to see you staying in the same position for too long.
Avoid adventure activities. Activities like scuba diving and parachuting can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure, so don't participate in any activities you shouldn't.
Relax. Travel is meant to be fun and enjoyable, so don't let yourself get stressed out. Take a deep breath and relax.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, however high blood pressure is a pre-existing condition that is automatically covered by most policies at no additional charge unless it's caused by another condition, like cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Yes. The providers on the table above will consider you if you have hypertension, granted you also meet their conditions. Keep in mind, you will need to:
Declare your condition. You'll generally need to do this if it's not automatically covered.
Follow the conditions of the policy. This varies between policies e.g. some policies state no cover if you have any cardiovascular conditions or diabetes on some policies.
Pay any extra premium, if required. If you need cover for your hypertension that's due to a pre-existing condition like heart surgery or diabetes you may need to pay an additional premium.
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Yes, it is possible to get travel insurance cover if you're taking medication to control high blood pressure, but conditions apply in some cases. For example, some insurers specify that you must be taking no more than two medications. Another common condition is that you must have had no change in medication or dosage for a certain period of time such as three months.
While many travel insurance policies do state to automatically cover high blood pressure, it's best to declare as your condition may differ from the insurer's definition of blood pressure. For example, you may have been hospitalised in the past due to a condition related to your high blood pressure.
Failing to let them know about your high blood pressure, should a problem arise while you're away, could lead to your policy being cancelled or any future claims you make being rejected. So when you come to the section of your travel insurance application that asks you about your medical history, make sure to be upfront and honest about your high blood pressure.
Keep in mind that not all cases of high blood pressure will result in a premium being paid on top of your policy, so don't be afraid of the cost of declaring.
One of the major downsides of many credit card travel insurance policies is that they automatically exclude all pre-existing medical conditions from cover. This means no cover is available in most cases if you suffer from high blood pressure. However, even if your condition is covered, credit card travel insurance policies typically limit the cover they offer for overseas medical and hospital expenses, so the benefits provided simply may not be sufficient to cover your costs.
Tim Bennett is a Finder insurance expert. For over 10 years he's reported on news, politics, finance and other topics as a journalist and radio presenter. Tim's roles have included radio news reader and breakfast at the ABC, news producer for SBS and producer for Fairfax Media. Tim regularly appears as a health insurance expert on programs like Sunrise and SBS news, as well as in the Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more.
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