Pre-existing Conditions Covered In Travel Insurance? Not So Fast.
In their determination to stay competitive, many travel insurers’ advertising and promotional materials proclaim that they “cover pre-existing conditions.” And they do, to an extent. But don’t for a second believe that they cover them “unconditionally.” Try calling an insurer from a hospital bed after you have just had a heart attack and see what they say when you apply for coverage next week.
That may be an extreme example, but I use it illustrate that you should not take all promotional materials literally.
The issuance of travel insurance is based, primarily, on two things—age and health. The young and healthy will find more plan options and find them cheaper. Those not in perfect health, or in their middle or advancing years, will have to search out their options more deliberately and do some reading of fine print. Fortunately, more insurers are starting to use plain language in explaining what their policies cover and what they exclude. That’s a good thing—if you bother to read them. Too many don’t, and wind up regretting their oversight.
Generally, travel insurance policies that say they “cover pre-existing conditions,” do so if they have been stable and controlled for a given period of time (e.g. 30 days, 60, 90, one year, five, pick a number). What that usually means, again only generally, is that they will cover you if you have not had symptoms, required treatment or investigation by a health care professional, referral to a specialist, or a change in dosage or type of medication within the specified time period. Those limitations will vary from insurer to insurer so you need to look at each policy on its own merits. You also need to see how the policy defines terms such as “treatment, investigation, or stable.” And though your doctor may give you a clean bill of health or feel that your condition is stable, it’s the definitions in the policy that rule.
When you assess a policy, read what these terms mean in the definitions section and apply them to your specific situation. Be honest. If you need help, ask your doctor, or talk it over with an agent who specializes in travel insurance. The game doesn’t end when you have a policy in your pocket. If you generate a claim, the insurer will examine your medical history going back perhaps years. And if they find your condition or symptoms were in fact unstable they may deny your claim, and you don’t want that.
You may think that’s unfair, but 20 years ago most policies simply wouldn’t cover any pre-existing conditions—stable or not. How fair would that be for the millions of Canadians in perfect health
who now travel out of the country each year?
