Traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, but for those with pre-existing medical conditions, it can also be a source of concern. The fear of falling ill or having an accident while away from home can make travel planning stressful. Fortunately, many travel insurance policies offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. In this article, we will explore what pre-existing medical condition coverage is, how it works, and what you need to know when shopping for coverage.
What is Pre-Existing Medical Condition Coverage?
Pre-existing medical condition coverage provides protection against the potential risks associated with traveling when you have a health issue that existed before your trip. It covers unexpected expenses related to the treatment of your existing health condition while on your travels.
Most insurance providers consider any injury or illness that occurred within six months before departure as a pre-existing condition. However, some policies may extend the period up to 12 months before departure.
How Does Pre-Existing Medical Condition Coverage Work?
Pre-existing medical condition coverage works in two ways – waiver-based policies and inclusion-based policies:
Waiver-Based Policies
A waiver-based policy requires travelers to disclose all their pre-existing conditions during the application process. Once you provide this information, the insurer reviews it and decides whether they will cover costs related to any of these conditions should they arise during your trip. If approved by the underwriter, these specific conditions are then “waived” from exclusion in your policy.
If you are accepted for a waiver-based policy without being asked about previous illnesses or injuries or if you withhold information about them intentionally at the time of purchasing insurance – making false claims – insurers may deny any claim made regarding those undisclosed issues later on when traveling.
Inclusion-Based Policies
An inclusion-based policy includes some level of cover automatically for certain types of common pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., high blood pressure). When choosing this type of policy be sure to confirm which specific illnesses qualify under inclusion-based policies as there may be a limit to what is covered.
What You Need to Know When Shopping for Coverage
When shopping for pre-existing medical condition coverage, there are several factors you should consider:
1. Check Coverage Limits and Exclusions
Be sure to understand the limits of your policy when it comes to pre-existing conditions. Some insurers have separate limits or specific terms for covering pre-existing conditions while others cover them under general policy benefits. Always check the fine print and ensure that your policy covers any known or diagnosed issue(s) before buying.
2. Disclose All Your Medical Conditions
Always disclose all of your medical conditions during application even if you feel they’re minor or not important enough – this helps avoid claim denials later on down the line.
3. Compare Quotes from Different Insurers
Insurance providers offer different rates depending on their perceived risk levels associated with each individual traveler’s health profile, so it’s essential to shop around and compare quotes from various companies before deciding which one suits best.
4. Read Reviews & Ratings
As with any purchasing decision, reading reviews and ratings of insurance providers can help provide an idea of how reliable their customer service is in resolving claims related issues.
5. Get Specialist Advice
If you have a particularly complex set of diagnoses or ongoing health issues, seeking advice from healthcare professionals who specialize in travel insurance can help identify comprehensively suitable coverage options available for people like yourself.
Conclusion:
Traveling with pre-existing medical conditions doesn’t have to be stressful as long as you take appropriate measures beforehand such as ensuring that adequate travel insurance coverage is obtained specifically tailored towards such ailments ahead of time planning takes place – remember prevention is always better than cure! With some research and due diligence, finding appropriate and affordable travel insurance plans designed explicitly for those with existing medical concerns should not be difficult at all!