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.
Travel Smart with Pre-Existing Condition Coverage
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.
