Travel insurance for high blood pressure

The only thing that should get your blood pumping about your upcoming holiday is the destination itself.

You don't have to worry about cover for your hypertension as long as you don't have another pre-existing condition, like cardiovascular disease or diabetes. But even if you do, you have options. Select the buttons below to see who will cover you.

Compare brands that consider 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.

Provider	Maximum blood pressure more info button	Conditions	Apply
Medibank	No limit stated	Covered as long as: You don't have a known heart or cardiovascular condition or diabetes Your Hypertension is stable and managed by your medical practitioner Your prescribed blood pressure medication hasn't changed in the last 12 months You aren't suffering symptoms of hypertension or having investigations related to blood pressure	Bonus Get quote
Freely	No limit stated	Covered as long as: You don't have a known heart or cardiovascular condition or diabetes Your Hypertension is stable and managed by your medical practitioner Your prescribed blood pressure medication hasn't changed in the last 12 months You aren't suffering symptoms of hypertension or having investigations related to blood pressure	Bonus Get quote
Stella	No limit stated	Covered as long as you don't don’t also suffer from a known cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes	Bonus Get quote
Fast Cover	No limit stated	Covered as long as you don't suffer from a known cardiovascular disease or diabetes	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
World2cover	No limit stated	Covered as long as you don't suffer from a known cardiovascular disease or diabetes	Get quote
Cover-More	No limit stated	Covered as long as: You don't have a known heart or cardiovascular condition or diabetes Your Hypertension is stable and managed by your medical practitioner Your prescribed blood pressure medication hasn't changed in the last 12 months You aren't suffering symptoms of hypertension or having investigations related to blood pressure	Bonus Get quote
Travel With Kit	No limit stated	Covered as long as you don't suffer from a known cardiovascular disease or diabetes	More info
Travel With Jane	No limit stated	Covered as long as you don't suffer from a known cardiovascular disease or diabetes	More info
Travel Insurance Saver	165/95	Covered as long as you have no known cardiovascular or coronary heart disease	Get quote
Easy	No limit stated	Covered as long as: You don't have a known heart or cardiovascular condition or diabetes Your Hypertension is stable and managed by your medical practitioner Your prescribed blood pressure medication hasn't changed in the last 12 months You aren't suffering symptoms of hypertension or having investigations related to blood pressure	Get quote
1cover	165/95	Covered as long as: You weren't hospitalised in the last 12 months You don't have any form of cardiovascular condition	More info

Note: This information was last updated August 2022

Ready to get a quote?

Now that you've compared brands that can cover high blood pressure, get a quote from a few travel insurance brands.

How does travel insurance for high blood pressure work?

Looking for travel insurance for high blood pressure? The good news is that most comprehensive policies will cover medical issues related to high blood pressure no questions asked - so you'll be covered for any emergency medical care and related complications. Plus, you can get cover for any travelling companions on your policy if you need to cancel or change your trip because of your high blood pressure.

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.

Is high blood pressure considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance?

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.

Can I get travel insurance if I have high blood pressure and will I need to pay a premium?

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.

• General conditions

  • Depending on the policy, you may have to meet one or more of these conditions:
    • Your hypertension must be stable and managed by your doctor
    • You must have no known heart or cardiovascular conditions
    • You must not also suffer from diabetes
    • You must have not had any changes to your medication within the past 12 months
    • You must not be suffering any symptoms of, or be undergoing investigations into, your high blood pressure
    • Your current blood pressure reading must be within acceptable ranges

Can I get cover if I'm on medication for high blood pressure?

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.

Am I covered if I've had a heart condition in the past?

If you have had a heart or cardiovascular related condition in the past, then you'll likely need to:

• Declare your heart condition
• Pay the additional premium if required
• Follow any new set conditions of your policy e.g. no cover for that specific heart condition (but cover is provided for high blood pressure)

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 to seek medical treatment or review
• 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

Do I need to tell my insurer if I have high blood pressure?

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.

How do I disclose my high blood pressure?

Insurers typically split pre-existing conditions into three categories:

1. Those that are automatically covered
2. Those that are never covered
3. Those that may be covered after the condition has been assessed

You may be asked to provide the following information

This will require you to provide details such as:

• When your high blood pressure was first diagnosed and why
• What your blood pressure reading was at that first diagnosis
• Details of any ECG, X-ray, cholesterol (lipids) blood test or other investigations you have had
• Details of the treatment you have received and the names and dosages of any medication taken
• Details of the treatment you have received since your initial diagnosis
• Your GP's name and how often you attend for follow-up consultations
• Your most recent blood pressure reading

Am I covered if I've been hospitalised in the past?

Most travel insurance policies will exclude cover for automatically covered pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure if you've been hospitalised in the past within a certain time period. For instance, within the last 24 months. If you have been hospitalised recently, you may be able to get covered by declaring your hospitalisation and paying the additional premium.

What happens if I'm hospitalised on my trip?

If you need to go to hospital as a result of high blood pressure, make sure that you or a travelling companion contacts your insurer's emergency assistance line as soon as possible.

Why should I contact my insurer straight away?

Your insurer's emergency assistance team can help you:

• Find the nearest appropriate medical facility if required
• Liaise with the hospital to ensure that all your medical expenses are covered.

Contacting your travel insurance as soon as possible will allow you to make a claim for other incidentals like trip interruption costs and additional expenses.

Can travel insurance on my credit card cover me?

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.

Consider standalone travel insurance

It makes much more financial sense to invest in a standalone travel insurance policy when it comes to medical conditions. This is the best way to guarantee that you can be covered for high blood pressure and that an adequate level of medical cover is in place.

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.

Compare travel insurance brands that cover high blood pressure