What is a preexisting medical condition?
A pre-existing condition is an illness or injury that you already know you have, whether or not its been diagnosed by a doctor. That means if you are showing symptoms of an illness before travelling and require medical attention at your destination, your travel insurance company will consider those expenses part of a pre-existing condition. Depending on your travel insurance company’s policy on pre-existing medical conditions, those expenses may or may not be covered by your travel insurance. Note that many policies consider pregnancy to be a pre-existing condition.
Is your preexisting medical condition covered by travel insurance?
This depends on your travel insurance policy as well as other factors relating to your condition, such as the amount of time since your diagnosis, the specific details of the condition itself, and whether or not your condition is stable. The definition of ‘stable’ varies from policy to policy, but generally it means that there have been no changes in treatment or medication, and that your condition is not getting worse.
How do I know if my condition is stable?
This ultimately depends on both your medical condition and your travel insurance policy. There are several conditions that simply won’t be covered by travel insurance, even if they’re relatively stable. Talk to your insurance advisor and compare plans to be sure you fully understand what is included in your coverage. Often, your condition won’t be considered stable until you’ve completed medical testing and are receiving any recommended treatment.
Where can I get travel insurance for a pre-existing medical condition?
Canada Protection Plan offers a wide range of travel insurance plans at very competitive rates – including coverage for pre-existing health conditions. In addition, many travellers purchase trip cancellation insurance and baggage loss protection to ensure they have sufficient coverage for any unexpected emergency they could potentially encounter while travelling. Call us toll free, at 1-877-851-9090 to learn more.
