Travel insurance with pre-existing conditions may be easier to find and more flexible than regular health insurance. The definition of a pre-existing condition, plan limits, and booking timing should be considered. Limited coverage may exclude pre-existing conditions, but waivers may be available if purchased at the same time as travel deposits. Unlimited plans tend to be more expensive but are recommended to avoid being stranded without coverage.
Finding travel insurance with pre-existing conditions can actually be less of a headache than it sounds. Thanks to the relatively flexible terms and short-term nature of most travel insurance, it may actually be easier to find affordable travel insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage than regular health insurance in a home country. There are several factors that should be considered when choosing this type of travel medical insurance, including the exact definition of a pre-existing condition, plan limits, and booking timing.
Travel insurance plans often have a more flexible definition of a pre-existing condition than regular health care plans. Usually, any condition that hasn’t changed recently or is controlled with medication is not considered a pre-existing condition. This means that people with lifelong problems, such as asthma or chronic injuries, may not need to seek out special travel insurance with pre-existing conditions cover if they can show that their condition has been under control for some time. time.
In most cases, a serious illness or injury in recent years that can recur, a change in diagnosis or medication, or symptoms of an impending medical condition may require a person to find a specialized insurance package. Some programs also consider a person to have a pre-existing condition if they have recently had medical treatment, testing or consultations, even if no health problem currently exists. With some plans, the time limits can be much shorter, meaning a person who hasn’t had a medical problem in the past six months can be considered free of pre-existing conditions.
Many insurance companies offer travel insurance plans that offer limited or unlimited coverage. Limited coverage may not include any help with medical expenses resulting from a pre-existing condition, such as a recent injury flare-up. In some cases, the exclusion of pre-existing conditions is canceled for emergency situations, such as medical evacuation or the return of remains in the event of a death. Unlimited plans usually include coverage for pre-existing conditions, but should be carefully reviewed for any exclusions.
One loophole that many insurance policies build into pre-existing coverage exclusions is a waiver that can be enforced by purchasing insurance within days or weeks of booking a trip. To qualify for this type of waiver, the insurance package must be purchased at approximately the same time a travel deposit is paid or the first travel payment is made. Different companies have different time limits for a pre-existing condition waiver, so be sure to check the specific time limits.
The downside to unlimited travel insurance with pre-existing conditions is that it tends to be more expensive, as the risk of illness or injury may be higher. On the other hand, traveler’s insurance is often inexpensive overall, as it usually only covers a few days or weeks of travel. Many travel experts recommend purchasing traveler health coverage even for those with pre-existing conditions, in order to avoid the potentially tragic possibility of being stranded without coverage in a foreign area.
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