Pre-existing coverage plans in travel insurance

Most Common Pre-Existing Conditions Covered by Travel Insurance Travel insurance plans that offer pre-existing condition coverage typically include protection for the following medical conditions, subject to policy terms and eligibility

• Diabetes
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Heart/Cardiac Conditions (such as coronary artery disease, history of heart attack, or heart surgery)
• Asthma and Chronic Respiratory Diseases
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Other Chronic Illnesses (such as those requiring ongoing medication or regular treatment)
• Recent Surgeries or Hospitalizations (if they occurred before the policy start date)
• Cholesterol-related Conditions

• Always declare your pre-existing conditions accurately when applying for travel insurance. Failure to disclose can lead to claim denial if a medical event is linked to an undeclared condition.
• Choose a Policy with Pre-Existing Condition Coverage: Not all policies cover pre-existing conditions. Look for plans that specifically mention coverage for such conditions, either as a standard feature or as an optional add-on.
• Understand Policy Terms and Exclusions: Carefully review the policy’s terms, especially the definition of pre-existing conditions, exclusions, and any stability or look-back period requirements (e.g., no changes in medication or treatment for a certain time before the trip). Some policies only cover acute, life-threatening emergencies related to pre-existing conditions, not routine care or ongoing treatment.
• Consult Your Doctor: Get a medical assessment to confirm you are fit to travel and that your condition meets the insurer's stability criteria.
• Compare Different Plans and Insurers: Coverage, limits, and terms vary widely. Compare options to find the plan that best fits your needs and covers your specific condition.
• Get Written Confirmation: Request written confirmation from the insurer that your specific pre-existing condition is covered under the policy you are purchasing. This can be ascertained if the declared condition is mentioned on the Travel Insurance Certificate/Policy document.
• Keep Documentation: Maintain records of your medical history, medications, and any correspondence with your insurer, as these may be needed if you file a claim

Yes, specific travel insurance plans for pre-existing conditions exist, though coverage terms and availability vary by insurer. Here's a breakdown.

• Acute onset: Emergency care for sudden flare-ups (e.g., asthma attacks) up to specified limits.
• Stability-based: Requires conditions to be stable (no treatment changes) for 60–180 days pre-trip.
• Life-threatening emergencies: Limited coverage for stabilization (e.g., $2,500 onwards with Tata AIG).
• Medical disclosure: Full transparency about PED condition, recent treatments, and health history.

• Routine care: Ongoing treatments or non-emergency follow-ups.
• Unstable conditions: Symptoms worsening pre-trip.
• Age limits: Reduced coverage for travelers over 70–80 years.

• Compare add-ons: Look for policies without per-condition caps if managing multiple PEDs.
• Check acute onset definitions: Ensure your condition qualifies under the insurer’s criteria.
• Review claim limits: Confirm coverage aligns with destination healthcare costs.

Most insurers do not allow adding PED coverage mid-term to an existing policy. You typically need to purchase a new policy with this coverage included or select it during initial enrollment. Some insurers may offer optional add-ons for pre-existing conditions at the time of purchase, but this must be done before the policy starts.

• Key requirements
  • Full disclosure: Declare all pre-existing conditions at the time of application to avoid claim denials.
  • Stability clauses: Conditions must often be stable (no recent treatment changes) for 60–180 days pre-trip.
• Alternatives if Your Policy Lacks PED Coverage
  • Specialized plans: Insurers like Bajaj Allianz and Reliance General offer dedicated PED-inclusive policies.
  • Add-on riders: Some providers allow PED coverage as an optional upgrade (check terms before purchasing).
  • Emergency-only coverage: A few plans (e.g., Tata AIG) cover life-threatening emergencies linked to PEDs up to a sub-limit (e.g., $1,500)1.
• Critical Considerations
  • Transparency: Undisclosed PEDs lead to automatic claim rejection.
  • Cost impact: PED coverage often increases premiums by 15–30%.
  • Policy comparison: Use platforms like eindiainsurance to find plans with no capping on multiple conditions.
• Steps to Secure Coverage
  • Declare PEDs upfront during application.
  • Compare specialized plans (e.g., Bajaj Allianz’s chronic illness coverage).
  • Understand the PED coverage limits under your policy before purchasing the same.
  • GO through the Policy T&Cs to ensure under what emergency situations will the travel insurance policy provide coverage.

A Life threatening condition is an unforeseen medical emergency, which puts the life of the insured at extreme risk. In such event, measures solely designed to relieve acute pain, provided to the Insured by the Physician for Disease/accident arising out of a pre-existing condition would be reimbursed upto a limit specified in the policy terms and conditions.
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If you have had the knee replacement or bypass surgery within 48 months prior to commencement of your travel/trip, then the same will be treated as a pre existing condition under the policy and any claim/treatment occurring as a result of the surgery, will not be covered under the policy.

If you are still under continuous medication for diabetes, the same will be treated as a pre-existing condition and excluded under the policy. Some insurance policies have a limited coverage for pre-existing conditions in life threatening conditions, this could provide some coverage subject to other terms and conditions of the policy, if the life threatening condition is a result of you being a diabetic.

Some insurance plans have a limited coverage of medical expenses in 'Life Threatening situations' subject to other terms and conditions of the policy. Medical expenses due to a Life threatening unforeseen emergency is defined as those solely designed to relieve acute pain, provided to the Insured by the Physician for Disease/accident arising out of a pre-existing condition that would be otherwise covered/reimbursed. The treatment for these emergency measures would be paid till the insured becomes medically stable or is relieved from acute pain. Kindly refer to the terms and conditions of the policy to under this in more detail.

A ‘Pre-Existing Illness/Condition’ is one with which the person is already having an ongoing medical illness/condition and is availing medical treatment when he/she buys the travel insurance policy. It could also be related to a major surgery that the insured has had in the recent past. Most travel insurance plans exclude Pre-existing conditions, which means that if there is any treatment that the insured traveller takes which is related to a pre-existing condition/illness, the same will not be covered under the policy. For example, if the insured has had a major surgery (Cardiac Open Heart surgery) within 48 months prior to commencement of their travel/trip, then the same will be treated as a pre-existing condition under the policy and any claim/treatment occurring as a result of the surgery, will not be covered under the policy. Also if 48 months has elapsed since the surgery, but the traveller is still under continuous medication for the bypass, the same will be treated as a pre-existing condition and excluded under the policy.