Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
If you have a mild medical condition, you might be wondering whether it could make your travel insurance more expensive. While insurers may consider health conditions when calculating cover costs, a mild condition doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pay a significantly higher premium.
In this article, we’ll look at how mild medical conditions can affect travel insurance costs, the factors insurers may consider, and what to keep in mind when comparing cover for your next trip.
What counts as a mild condition for travel insurance?
There isn’t a single definition of what counts as a ‘mild’ medical condition for travel insurance. A condition that feels minor or well managed to you may still be considered differently by an insurer, which will assess your health through its own medical screening process.
Conditions that people may think of as mild can include asthma, high blood pressure or diabetes that is managed through diet. However, every insurer has its own approach to medical conditions, so how these affect your cover and premium can vary.
It’s important to declare any medical conditions you’re asked about during the application process, even if they don’t significantly affect your day-to-day life. This allows the insurer to assess your circumstances accurately and confirm the cover available to you.
Why can a mild condition change the price?
Even if a medical condition feels mild or is well managed, it can still affect your travel insurance price. Insurers consider your individual circumstances when assessing the likelihood that you'll need medical treatment or make a claim while you’re away.
What insurers look at
During a medical screening, insurers may ask about factors such as the medication you take and whether it has changed recently, any hospital stays, tests or referrals you’re waiting for, and how long your condition has been stable. Your answers help the insurer assess your circumstances and determine the appropriate cover and price for you and your condition.
Other things that affect the price
Your medical history is only one factor that can influence the cost of travel insurance. Your age, where you’re travelling to, the length of your trip and the level of cover you choose can also affect the price. For example, cover for destinations such as the USA can cost more because medical treatment may be more expensive.
Do you need to declare a mild condition?
In most cases, you should declare a medical condition if you’re asked about it during the insurer’s medical screening process. Even if your condition feels mild, is well controlled or doesn’t affect your everyday life, it’s important to answer all medical questions accurately.
If you don’t declare a condition when asked, it could affect your cover. For example, a claim related to that condition could be declined or, depending on the insurer and circumstances, your policy could be affected.
The exact requirements vary between insurers, so always check the medical declaration questions and policy wording carefully when arranging your cover.
How do common mild conditions affect a quote?
The effect a medical condition has on your travel insurance quote will depend on the condition itself and your individual circumstances. Rather than simply looking at the name of a condition, insurers may ask additional questions during medical screening to understand your health and determine the cover they can offer.
For conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure or diabetes, the questions you’re asked may relate to areas such as your medication, recent treatment or changes in your health. Your answers, alongside other factors such as your age, destination and trip length, can then be used to calculate your quote.
Because screening questions and assessment criteria vary between insurers, there isn’t a set amount that a particular mild condition will add to the cost of travel insurance.
How can you keep the cost down?
Having a medical condition doesn’t necessarily mean travel insurance has to be expensive. There are a few ways you can look for suitable cover while keeping an eye on the cost:
- Compare different insurers. Shopping around, including insurers that specialise in pre-existing medical conditions, can help you find cover that suits your needs and budget.
- Be accurate during medical screening. Have details of your condition and medication to hand so you can answer the screening questions accurately and receive a quote based on your circumstances.
- Compare your cover options. Look at different levels of cover and excesses, rather than focusing on price alone. Make sure any policy you choose still provides the protection you need.
- Consider single-trip versus annual cover. If you’re planning more than one holiday, compare the cost and suitability of an annual policy with buying separate single-trip policies.
Some policies may offer different options around cover for pre-existing conditions. If a condition is excluded, however, claims relating to that condition would not be covered, so it’s important to understand exactly what you’re giving up in return for any saving.
How Medical Travel Compared can help
Medical Travel Compared can help you explore your medical travel insurance options, making it easier to find cover that suits your individual circumstances. By comparing options, you can review the cover available and choose a policy that fits your trip and needs.
Ready to explore your options? Compare travel insurance costs for pre-existing medical conditions today.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, declaring a mild medical condition won’t necessarily make your travel insurance more expensive. The impact on your quote will depend on the condition, your individual circumstances and how the insurer assesses the information you provide during medical screening.
Even if you consider your condition minor or well managed, it’s important to answer all medical questions accurately so your insurer can offer appropriate cover.
You may still need to declare a medical condition even if you no longer take medication for it. This will depend on the questions asked during the insurer’s medical screening, which may cover previous diagnoses or treatment as well as your current health.
Always answer the screening questions accurately and check the policy wording if you’re unsure whether a past condition needs to be declared.
Hay fever may be considered a pre-existing medical condition, depending on how an insurer defines this in its policy and medical screening questions. Even if your symptoms are mild or easily managed, it’s important to answer any questions about allergies, conditions or medication accurately. The insurer can then determine whether your hay fever needs to be declared and whether it affects your cover.
If you don’t declare a medical condition when you’re asked about it during medical screening, it could affect your travel insurance cover. For example, a claim connected to that condition could be declined, or your policy could be affected.
Even if you consider a condition mild or well managed, it’s important to answer all medical questions accurately and honestly.
Some travel insurance policies may offer cover that excludes a pre-existing medical condition, depending on the insurer and your circumstances. However, this means claims arising from or related to the excluded condition would not be covered, which could leave you responsible for potentially high medical costs while abroad.