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Existing Medical Conditions

Medical cover and emergency assistance services are the most important aspects of travel insurance. If you become sick while travelling, medical costs can quickly escalate so it's important to have the right cover.  We automatically cover a selection of pre-existing medical conditions for no additional charge. We also provide cover for other health concerns for an additional premium so that you can create unforgettable travel memories without compromising your health.

When you request a quote for travel insurance, you’ll be asked to declare your conditions to us. It is important that you let us know about the health and medical conditions of all travellers on your policy.  This information is essential to arrange and price your travel insurance accurately and to avoid issues with potential future claims.

Whether we can cover the medical conditions that you have will depend on your personal circumstances including your medical history.

Pre-Existing medical conditions can fall into three categories:

  1. Conditions we automatically include - you have to meet specified criteria (detailed below). 
  2. Conditions we need to assess - you declare your conditions online during the purchase process.
  3. Conditions which cannot be covered - we don't cover all conditions and cannot cover unstable or undiagnosed conditions currently under investigation.

If we can provide you with cover for your medical conditions, you will need to pay an additional premium, and the medical conditions will be listed as covered on your certificate of insurance.  You may have the option not to pay extra if there are certain conditions you didn't want to cover.

If your condition is not approved, you may still be able to get travel insurance for things that are not related to your medical condition.​​​​​​

What is a pre-Existing Medical Condition?

We want to help you understand what a pre-existing medical condition is and what you need to do if you have any.  Below is a summary of what we consider a pre-existing medical condition to be.  This applies for you, your travelling companion, a relative or another person:

  • Any medical (including mental illness), that you have seen a doctor or dentist for in the 12 months prior to purchasing your policy, regardless of how minor it may seem.
  • Any condition for which you have undergone surgery in the past 12 months.
  • Pregnancy that is not automatically covered by the Pregnancy section of the PDS.


There are certain conditions that we want to know about no matter how long ago they were diagnosed.  If you have had any of the following conditions at any time in your life, you should declare them:

  • Heart conditions, including any cardiovascular or coronary heart disease or any condition related to Your blood or heart vessels;
  • Any condition relating to Your respiratory system, e.g. infections, and Chronic diseases;
  • Kidney conditions and kidney disease;
  • Any physical or mental disability;
  • Any recurring illness;
  • Conditions involving the neck or back;
  • Any type of Cancer;
  • Reduced or deficient immune system; and/or
  • A terminal illness.
     

If you fall into any of the above categories, and your condition is not automatically covered, you will need to disclose your medical condition before you purchase your policy.

A condition that hasn’t been officially diagnosed, but is being investigated should not be declared as this cannot be covered under the policy.

If you already have a Frequent Traveller policy and have developed a new medical condition, see our FAQs for more information.
 

*Please note, that this definition is a summary.
Please
read the PDS for a full explanation of what a pre-existing medical condition is.

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Medical Conditions automatically covered 

 

 If your condition ISN'T in the table below, you will need to disclose it.
 

The pre-existing medical conditions listed in the table below are automatically covered by our policies, but you MUST meet all three criteria:

  • the condition has been stable for more than 12 months; and
  • there is no planned surgery, treatment or specialist review; and
  • you have not attended hospital for treatment for the condition in the past 12 months.
     

If your condition is listed below and you meet all the criteria, then you don’t need to disclose your medical condition when you’re purchasing your policy.  

Automatically Covered Pre-Existing Condition

1. Acne

2. Allergies
Only the following conditions are covered: rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, eczema, food intolerance, hay fever. Please disclose your condition if your condition is not one of these, or you are anaphylactic and you carry an Epipen.

3. Asthma
Provided you are less than 60 years of age at the issue date of your policy, and you don't have any other lung condition or disease. Please disclose your Ashtma if you don’t meet one of these criteria. Find out more here.

4. Bell's palsy

5. Benign positional vertigo

6. Bunions

7. Carpal tunnel syndrome

8. Cataracts

9. Coeliac disease (gluten intolerance)

10. Congenital blindness

11. Congenital deafness

12. Dry eye syndrome

13. Diabetes mellitus (Type I & Type II)
Providing you are under 50 at the issue date of your policy, you were diagnosed over 12 months ago, have no eye, kidney, nerve or vascular complications, and you don’t also suffer from a cardiovascular disease. Please disclose your diabetes if you do not meet these conditions.

14. Epilepsy
Providing you have not had any seizures in the past 12 months, and you are less than one anticonvulsant medication. Please disclose your epilepsy if you do not meet these conditions.

15. Folate deficiency

16. Gastric reflux (heartburn, indigestion)

17. Goitre

18. Glaucoma (increased ocular pressure) 

19. Graves' disease

20. Hiatus hernia

21. Hypercholesterolaemia /high cholesterol

22. Hyperlipidaemia (high blood lipids) Only if you don’t also suffer from a known cardiovascular disease.

23. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) Including Hashimoto’s disease.

24. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) 
Provided you do not also suffer from a known cardiovascular disease and your most recent reading is less than 165/95. If you don’t meet these conditions, please disclose your hypertension.

25. Impaired glucose tolerance (glucose intolerance, pre-diabetes).
Providing you are under 50 years of age at the issue date of your policy. If you are not under 50 years of age, you’ll need to disclose your condition.

26. Incontinence

27. Insulin resistance

28. Menopause
Provided you do not also have osteoporosis. Find out more about osteoporosis.

29. Nocturnal cramps

30. Pernicious anaemia

31. Raynaud’s disease

32. Sleep Apnoea Find out more here.

33. Trigeminal neuralgia

34. Trigger finger

35. Vitamin B12 deficiency

If your condition is listed in the table, but you do not meet the three conditions for automatic coverage (listed above the table), you can still apply for travel insurance, but you will need to disclose your condition.

Please note that travel insurance won’t cover any routine treatment or management of your approved pre-existing medical conditions (eg. blood test and prescription renewals).

 

Disclosing Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Medicine

Why Disclose?

If we don’t have a full picture of your health before you travel, then any claims that you make can be reduced or rejected, or your insurance policy might become void. Additionally, if something happens to you and it’s a result of a medical condition that you didn't tell us about, you won't be covered.

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How do i disclose Pre-Existing Conditions?

The process is simple and quick. You don’t need to provide a doctor’s certificates or other documents. You’ll be asked if you have pre-existing conditions when you purchase your policy online, and if you select ‘yes’, you’ll need to fill out a simple questionnaire.

what happens are you disclose

What happens after I disclose?

Once you have completed your medical assessment online, you’ll find out whether:

  • You can obtain travel insurance and have the option to pay to cover your pre-existing condition.
  • You can obtain travel insurance but it will be mandatory to purchase coverage for your pre-existing condition
  • Your condition won’t be covered at all, but you can still purchase travel insurance that can cover you for events not related to your condition
  • We are unable to offer you travel insurance.

If we are able to cover your condition, we can only cover unexpected events that were unforeseen at the time we agreed to insure you. 

If we can't cover your condition, it means that anyone under your policy would not be able to claim for any costs arising from, related to, or associated with your pre-existing medical condition/s.

 

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Guidance on What To Disclose

Even with well-managed health, it's essential to disclose pre-existing conditions and understand policy exclusions. For instance, cosmetic or elective surgeries aren't covered, nor are unstable conditions you're aware of, symptomatic for, or seeking medical advice for at the time of purchase. If you're unsure about what to declare or are awaiting a diagnosis, refer to our guide below.

 
Conditions You Need To Tell Us About
Diagnosed Condition:  If you’ve had any medical, dental, physical or mental condition, defect, virus, disease or illness that has been diagnosed in the last 12 months and you’re currently not awaiting surgery, treatment, investigation or procedures for this/these condition(s).

Prescribed Medication:  If you’re taking or have been prescribed any medication for a diagnosed condition, in the last 12 months and you’re currently not awaiting surgery, treatment, investigation or procedures for this/these condition(s).

Consultation:  If you’ve consulted or seen a medical adviser for a diagnosed condition in the last 12 months and you’re currently not awaiting surgery, treatment, investigation or procedures for this/these condition(s).

Treatment:  If you’ve received, medical treatment, surgery or attended a hospital or clinic (as an outpatient or inpatient) for a diagnosed condition in the last 12 months and you’re currently not awaiting surgery, treatment, investigation or procedures for this/these condition(s)
Pregnancy Complications:  If you’re pregnant and have had complications during this pregnancy, you must complete the online medical assessment. Learn more about our cover for pregnancy.
Conditions Diagnosed At Any Time In Your Life:  You should tell us if you've ever been diagnosed with one of the following medical conditions at any time in your life. You should only declare these if you're not awaiting surgery, treatment, investigation or procedures:
 
  • Heart conditions, including any cardiovascular or coronary heart disease or any condition related to your blood or heart vessels;
  • Any condition relating to your respiratory system, e.g. infections, and Chronic diseases;
  • Kidney conditions and kidney disease;
  • Any physical or mental disability;
  • Any recurring illness;
  • Conditions involving the neck or back;
  • Any type of cancer;
  • Reduced or deficient immune system; and/or
  • A terminal illness.
Conditions We Do Not Need To Know About

Undiagnosed Conditions:  If you or anyone travelling on the policy are aware of (or a person in your circumstances reasonably should have been aware of) change, signs or symptoms for a medical condition yet to be diagnosed, please do not declare these. Our policies do not provide cover for undiagnosed conditions that you are awaiting consultation, treatment, investigation or specialist opinion.

For example (but not limited to):

Signs or Symptoms: undiagnosed flu symptoms, chest pain, stomach problems, headaches, pains in the muscles or joints.

Investigations: Such as waiting for blood test results or an X-ray.

Conditions Awaiting Surgery, Treatment, Investigation or Procedures:   We do not provide cover for unstable conditions or those awaiting specialist opinion.  You should not declare conditions where you or anyone travelling on your policy are awaiting, surgery, treatment, investigation or procedures, as these are not covered under the policy.


For example (but not limited to):

Surgeries: An upcoming operation for a broken bone or cataract (booked or not or on a waiting list).

​​Treatments: Awaiting your medical team to tell you what medication you need or how to manage your condition, such as starting a new medication or therapy.

Investigations: Such as waiting for blood test results or an X-ray (except for routine checkups where no symptoms are present).

Procedures: Needing a biopsy or another procedure, whether it's already booked or you know you’ll need it soon.

Automatically Covered Conditions: We automatically cover you for 35 pre-existing medical conditions without assessment or additional charge provided that:

  • Your condition meets the additional criteria noted next to each condition.
  • The condition has been stable for more than 12 months; and
  • You do not intend to have surgery, treatment or medical, dental or any other practitioner or specialist review;
  • You have not attended hospital for treatment for the condition in the past 12 months

Pregnancy:  You don't have to disclose pregnancy to us provided that you haven't had any pregnancy complications.  It is important to note that our policies only provide cover for travel up to a certain gestation:

  • Upto and inclusive of 24th week gestation for single foetus pregnancies.
  • Upto and inclusive of 19th week gestation for multiple foetus pregnancies.

Travelling to To Seek Treatment:  Please do not declare conditions where you are travelling to ​​​​​​seek medical advice, treatment, review or where you are travelling to participate in a clinical trial. Our policies do not provide cover for any complications or other claims arising from such treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us.

Cosmetic Treatments or Elective Surgeries:  Our policies do not provide cover for cosmetic treatments or elective surgeries, or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us.

Conditions Involving Drug or Alcohol Dependency:  Our policies do not provide cover for conditions or events arising due to drug or alcohol dependency.

 

 

 

Common Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Below are common pre-existing medical conditions. Click on the name of each condition to find out everything you need to know.

 
Common Pre-existing Conditions
Asthma    You’ll need to disclose your asthma if you’re over 60.
Arthritis   You’ll need to declare your specific type of arthritis, eg. osteo, rheumatoid, psoriatic. 
Cancer    You have to disclose this, even if you had it many years ago and you are in remission.
Diabetes    Generally you will need to disclose this unless you you are under 50 and don’t have any other complications.
Heart Disease    Any history of any type of heart condition needs to be disclosed (including past heart attacks).
Hypertension/High Blood Pressure    Generally this will be covered, if you meet all the necessary pre-conditions.
Hip & Knee Replacement    You’ll need to disclose this unless you meet all the necessary pre-conditions.
Mental Health    Including depression and anxiety, even if you aren’t taking medication.
Osteoporosis    All grades need to be disclosed, even if you’re not taking medication.
Sleep Apnoea    Generally, this condition is automatically covered.

 

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Pre-existing medical conditions FAQs

  • I've bought a frequent traveller policy, and now i've developed a medical condition. What do i do? 
  • If, when you purchased your policy you were not aware of your condition (you had no signs, symptoms or investigations), your policy would automatically provide cover for unforeseen complications or issues that may arise from your newly diagnosed condition provided that your doctor has deemed you fit to travel.

    In this case, your Frequent Traveller cover will apply to trips you had already booked or part-paid for prior to your diagnosis. For any trips newly arranged after your diagnosis you will not have a provision to claim for any incidents that arise from or related to your condition - unless it’s an automatically covered condition - as this would be classed as a pre-existing condition when you arranged the trip.

  • can i still get cover if my condition isn't approved?
  • If we can’t cover you at all because of your condition, you will find out during the medical assessment.

    If your condition isn’t approved, we may still offer you the option to purchase travel insurance, but you won’t be covered for claims that are the result of your pre-existing condition. This is called a pre-existing condition waiver.

    Even though you’re not able to take out cover for claims related to your existing condition, you’ll still be entitled to lodge claims for cancellation, lost luggage and even medical claims so long as they aren’t related to your condition.

  • is there any cover for mental illness?
  • There may be cover available for travellers who experience a serious mental health problem for the first time, before they travel.

    Cover for certain pre-existing mental health conditions may be available subject to our medical screening and the payment of an additional premium (where required). To find out if your mental health condition can be covered, simply get a quote and complete the medical screening at step four.

  • i am pregnant - do I have to disclose this?
  • Pregnancy is not considered a medical condition unless you have complications. We offer certain pregnancy-related cover as standard up to and including the 24th week for single pregnancy and up to and including the 19th week for a multiple pregnancies. Find out more about pregnancy and travel insurance.

  • will i need to provide any documents?
  • We won’t ask for any doctor’s certificates, medical reports or evaluations, but if you don’t know the answer to something, you might need to ask your doctor. The main thing we need from you is for you to complete our online medical screening so we can let you know if your condition can be covered.

  • Can I Apply For Pre-Existing Medical Condition Cover From Overseas?
  • No, you cannot apply for cover for a medical condition once you have left home. Terms and conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Please see PDS for full details.

  • What if I don’t declare my pre-existing medical condition?
  • Your policy may be invalid if you do not declare your pre-existing medical condition, or the claim amount you get back may be reduced.

  • Does my senior’s travel insurance cover my pre-existing conditions?
  • No, pre-existing conditions need to be declared separately, even if you have senior’s travel insurance.

  • How long does it take to process my online medical assessment?
  • Assessments are processed instantly. Completing your assessment, depending on your condition/s and time taken to answer, can take anywhere from 1 to 20 minutes to fill out.

  • Does cruise travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
  • Cruise travel insurance can cover pre-existing conditions, this would be determined with an online medical assessment. Get a Quote for the destinations your cruise is taking you to and select the Cruise Pack follow through to the next steps and you will be prompted to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions.   

  • What if i develop a new medical condition after I purchase my policy?
  • For single trip policies, a condition is classed as a pre-existing condition if you were aware of the condition prior to purchasing the policy (ie. you had signs, symptoms, investigations or a diagnosis).

    If you developed a medical condition and you didn’t have any signs, symptoms, investigation or diagnosis prior to buying your policy, your condition won’t be considered a pre-existing condition because it happened after the policy was issued.  

    If you buy your policy for travel, for example, six months in advance of travel, and then you develop a brand new medical condition between purchase and travel, you’d still have provisions to claim for unforeseen issues that arise due to or related to the condition as it was not a pre-existing condition when you purchased your policy.

    However, if we’ve insured you before your travel date, you need to obtain a letter from your doctor stating that you’re fit enough to travel.
    You would need to disclose the condition on any future policies.

  • Can I apply for cover for a pre-existing medical condition from overseas?
  • No, you are not able to disclose pre-existing medical conditions from overseas. If you have an Already Overseas policy, you’ll only be covered for automatically covered conditions if all the conditions related to automatically covered conditions are met.

  • Can I get travel insurance if i have had cancer?
    • In some instances we may be able to offer cover if you have had cancer, but you would need to disclose this as a pre-existing medical condition when you Get a Quote. We will provide you with instant feedback after your assessment.

  • I forgot to disclose my pre-existing medical condition when I purchased my policy. What do i do?
  • If your trip has not yet started, you can contact our Customer Service Team to carry out an assessment for your condition.

    Please be aware that depending on the outcome of the assessment you may need to pay an additional premium.

    All terms, conditions and limitations will apply in the same way as if you had declared the condition when you purchased the policy.  

  • I’m diabetic, can I get covered?
  • Providing you are under 50 at the issue date of your policy, you were diagnosed over 12 months ago, have no eye, kidney, nerve or vascular complications, you don’t also suffer from a cardiovascular disease.

    You can find out more about diabetes here.

READ ALL FAQS

 

Do you need to know More about...

Pregnancy

You or someone you’re travelling with is going to have a baby…so you’ll need to find out how travel insurance works for pregnant women.

Vaccinations

It’s important that you have all the right vaccinations before you travel.  From malaria to meningococcal, find out what you need to know about vaccinations and travel insurance.

Repatriation

Repatriation is the process of returning a person home after a medical emergency or at worst case death. Being covered for repatriation is important so read the ins and outs. 

 

Still Need Some Help? Contact Us!

If you have any other questions or queries, please visit our Contact Us page. 
If you are experiencing an emergency, please use the details on our Emergency Assistance page.