When heading off on holiday travel insurance is a valuable resource for anyone. It provides valuable cover for the cost of medical treatment, repatriation back to the UK, theft or loss of belongings and, crucially, the need to cancel because of illness, bereavement or other serious reason for not travelling.
In the calculation for the cost of the insurance, companies take your health into account. You will be asked if you have any ‘pre-existing medical condition’. It is important that you tell the insurance company any medical condition as your insurance may be invalid.
You may be charged more if you have a heart condition as the risk to you claiming on the policy would be higher. If your condition is sufficiently serious, you may need to seek out a specialist insurance provider because standard insurers are not willing to cover you. If your condition is less serious – for example, if you have angina – you will see an increase in your premium but you may still consider it affordable.
If you withhold information when applying for travel insurance, you could invalidate your policy. If you do not mention your heart condition but then need medical treatment for it while you are away, you probably would not be able to claim back the cost if the insurer checks your medical history and finds out the true situation. There would be a routine inspection of the medical notes from the doctors and the hospitals that treated you while you were away, and these would no doubt highlight any pre-existing issues you had been suffering. Should an emergency relating to your heart condition arise, you could face tens of thousands of pounds in medical bills and costs to get you back home.
Heart conditions can include anything from angina (pain to the chest caused by reduced blood flow to the heart), to arrhythmia (an irregularity in heartbeat), to a heart attack or heart failure. You would need to declare if you had undergone a heart transplant.
When booking you will be taken through a medical screening process which involves questions about your medical condition such as :
- taking treatment for any heart or circulatory conditions – this includes problems with blood flow, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or strokes
- have you ever been a smoker
- have you attended a medical facility within the last two years
- are you on a waiting list for treatment or investigation
- have you had any procedures and how long ago
- do you use a device such as a pacemaker or have stents
- have a terminal illness
If you fail to make a declaration of any health issues than your insurance could be invalidated.
An insurer won’t cover you if, for example, you’re travelling against the advice of your doctor.
While you are away if you need treatment, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible on the emergency number you are provided with. If there is time, he insurer should be able to pre-authorise any treatment and co-ordinate the payment of the bills, so you will not have to make any payments.
Where you’re unable to contact your insurer immediately, such as in a medical emergency, you may need to pay for the treatment upfront and claim the costs back when you return to the UK. Your insurer will need to see receipts for any medication and treatment you have had.
Most people can travel with a heart condition, but you may wish to check with your GP before booking a trip.
If you are taking medication with you then check if your holiday destination has any restrictions on medications. Ensure you take enough medication to cover your whole trip and with extra tablets should there be a delay in your return. The medication should be marked up with the doses you take.
If you have a terminal illness some companies will provide insurance but will make certain stipulations.
When travelling in European Union countries you should take a GHIC card as it will give you access to medical care on the same terms as a local which means that treatment could be free or at a reduced cost.
In addition to medical costs, your travel insurance policy should also cover trip cancellation and loss or theft of your possessions as standard. Some companies also offer optional extras such as cover for travel delays or missed flights – if the cause was out of your control. Sports equipment may also be covered but should be mentioned at the outset of booking your insurance.