Best Travel Insurance for Preexisting Conditions
Written by Antonio Cala.
Table of Contents
If you have an injury or medical condition that needs regular treatment or medication, you normally need to disclose it before purchasing travel insurance, however not all the insurance companies will cover you. In this article, we will explore what’s the best travel insurance for preexisting conditions, what to look for when searching for one and our recommended policies offered in the current market.
For a full analysis of insurance choices tailored for adventure travelers, don’t forget to check out the Ultimate Guide to Adventure Travel Insurance.
Preexisting Conditions Overview
What is a Preexisting Condition
Pre-existing conditions in travel insurance are any health issues you had before getting the insurance. These could be injuries, illnesses, or medical conditions that you’ve already had symptoms for, sought treatment for, or taken medication for before buying the insurance.
Understanding pre-existing conditions is important because it affects what your insurance covers and how much protection you have. Insurance companies look at these conditions to figure out how risky it is to insure you. They use this information to decide on the coverage they can offer you.
Similar to what happens with insurance for seniors over 65, you need to be honest about any pre-existing conditions you have. Giving accurate information helps the insurance company assess the risks correctly and provide the right coverage. If you don’t disclose your pre-existing conditions properly, your insurance might not cover you when you need it.
If you have pre-existing conditions and you’re traveling, you should plan ahead for managing your health while you’re away. This might involve bringing enough medication, supplies, and medical records. You should also know where to find medical help if you need it during your trip.
Overall, being aware of pre-existing conditions and how they affect travel insurance is crucial for planning a safe trip. By being honest about your health history and preparing for any medical needs, you can travel with confidence knowing you’re covered if anything unexpected happens.
How Do You Get A Waiver for your Preexisting Condition?
You usually have a window of 14 to 21 days from the time you make your initial payment for a trip to obtain a waiver for pre-existing medical conditions. To qualify for this waiver, you typically need to insure the entire nonrefundable cost of your trip. That’s why it’s a good idea to purchase your travel insurance right after booking your trip and ensure that the policy includes this waiver. Usually, there’s no extra charge for adding the waiver to your policy.
As long as you meet the criteria for eligibility, such as being medically fit to travel when you buy the policy, the insurance company won’t ask for additional fees for the waiver. Additionally, most travel insurance policies don’t have an age restriction for obtaining this exclusion waiver.
Pre-existing conditions can lead to various types of claims, including emergency medical care, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and trip interruption.
Examples Where a Waiver Will Apply
What's Not Covered?
Best Travel Insurance for Preexisting Conditions in 2024
Our Pick For
Americans + No Age Limit
Nationalities: Only US citizens and residents are eligible.
Pre-existing conditions: Pre-existing conditions can be covered for Trip Cancellations and Interruptions, as long as you purchase your plan within 14 days of your initial trip deposit, and are medically able to travel when you purchase your plan.
Seniors Over 65: There is no maximum age limit.
Trip Duration: All plans cover trips up to 180 days.
Groups: Insurance policies for solo travelers, couples and families are available.
Reasons To Buy
The prices are very competitive.
Plans are very customizable with plenty of extras available and the option of removing items you don’t need.
Pre-existing medical conditions accepted.
24/7 chat available with the Faye Mobile App
Reasons To Avoid
Only available to American residents.
Emergency Medical Expenses: Up to $250,000. If you experience sudden illness or injury in-trip, including COVID-19. We can cover prescription drugs, hospitalization and physician costs.
Emergency Evacuation: Up to $500,000. Coverage of transportation in the case of illness or injury that is acute, severe or life threatening when adequate medical treatment is not available in the immediate area.
Trip Cancellation: Up to 100%. If you need to cancel your trip for covered reasons, including if you get sick, contract COVID-19, or a travel provider goes bankrupt. We can cover flights, hotel bookings, tickets & activities, and quarantine accommodation.
Trip Interruption: Up to 150%. When you must unexpectedly cut your trip short or extend it for covered reasons, including if you contract COVID-19.
Trip Delay: Up to $4,500. Up to $300/day, for delays of more than 6 hours. When you’re stranded in transit due to reasons outside of your control such as flight delay or theft of passport.
Lost or damaged Belongings: Up to $2,000. Reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage, including clothing, personal items and professional equipment like a phone or laptop.
Cancel for Any Reason: Up to 75% of Trip Cost. The ability to nix your trip for reasons other than those covered in your plan’s trip cancellation coverage, including fear of contracting COVID-19, as long as you purchase this coverage within 14 days of your initial trip deposit and cancel at least 48 hours in advance of your scheduled departure date.
Pet Care: Up to $2,500 in veterinary expenses & $250 for kenneling. Coverage of veterinary expenses if you take your furry friend along (including pet sickness or injury), or kenneling costs if you arrive back home later than expected.
Adventure & Extreme Sports: Up to $250K (international trips) or $50K (domestic trips) for accidental & sickness expenses. Medical and transportation coverage if you become injured while participating in an adventure or extreme sport, like skydiving, bungee jumping, motocross or free diving.
Faye insurance provides American residents one of the biggest medical coverages on the market at a very competitive price.
There’s no age limit and pre-existing conditions can be covered (conditions apply).
We recommend Faye for Americans with pre-existing conditions who want the highest medical coverage.
Our Pick For
Any Nationality + 65-84 Years Old + Medical Only
Nationalities: all nationalities are covered.
Pre-existing conditions: Yes.
Seniors Over 65: People aged 65-75 are included in the Individual Plan. Extended Plan memberships are available to those age 75-84 and include all services but are contingent upon completion of a medical form and a physician’s medical verification.
Trip Duration: Short term policies (7, 14 or 30-days) and long term policies (1 to 5 years) available.
Groups: Individual, family and student plans available.
Situations covered: It covers civil unrest, natural disasters, government evacuation orders and other security emergencies (when purchasing the Security package).
Reasons To Buy
Remote locations coverage. Coverage available for 65-84. Pre-existing conditions accepted. All nationalities accepted.
Reasons To Avoid
The price is a bit higher than other insurance policies. However, no other company provides the same coverage as Global Rescue. It doesn’t cover trip cancellations or delays. It doesn’t cover equipment.
Worldwide field rescue (up to $500,000) in remote or dangerous environments. Global Rescue’s deployable teams are standing by to rescue their members from the point of illness or injury for any serious medical emergency.
Medical Evacuation. Global Rescue’s fully deployable medical teams have unparalleled capabilities to transport our members back to their home hospital of choice from anywhere in the world. This includes global COVID-19 transport.
Medical & Security Advisory Services. Global Rescue’s operations centers are staffed by experienced nurses, paramedics and military special operations veterans. Global Rescue also has partnerships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations, Elite Medical Group and Partners HealthCare, the Harvard Medical School affiliate.
Security Membership. Global Rescue’s teams of military special operations veterans are available to provide advisory, consultation and evacuation services for events like natural disasters, terror attacks and civil unrest when you are in danger.
Destination Reports & Event Alerts. Destination reports for 215 countries and principalities worldwide include entry requirements, COVID-19 travel status and restrictions, detailed health and security assessments and required immunizations. Keep up to date on health and security events worldwide.
My Global Rescue Mobile App. Access Global Rescue services in one location. Browse destination reports and alerts, activate emergency assistance, real-time virtual health visits and keep track of the people you care about with GPS tracking and messaging.
Security Package. Physical extraction when you are in danger of bodily harm. It includes civil unrest, natural disasters, government evacuation orders and other security emergencies.
High Altitude Evacuation.. This is for individuals traveling above 15,000 ft (4,600 m) during any part of their trip (excluding airplane travel). It also includes emergency physical transport due to injury or illness.
Global Rescue is the most comprehensive travel protection available worldwide. It has the least restrictions and biggest coverage than any other medical insurance.
It’s a medical-only protection designed for adventure travelers planning to go remote in an independent or organized adventure trip. All nationalities are covered and options for people over 75 are available.
Global Rescue is our preferred option for non-Americans with pre-existing conditions looking for a medical-only coverage for their trip.
Our Pick For
Americans + Budget + Low Medical Coverage
Nationalities: All nationalities are covered, as long as they are US residents.
Pre-existing conditions: Yes.
Seniors Over 65: Senior travel insurance package is offered to seniors over 65.
Trip Duration: Travel Select and Travel Basic plans cover trips up to 364 days. Travel America plan covers trips up to 14 days.
Groups: Individual and family plans available.
Destinations covered: Covers worldwide, except Ukraine, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Belarus, and Russian Federation.
Reasons To Buy
The price is competitive.
Pre–existing conditions accepted.
Covers worldwide, except Ukraine, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Belarus, and Russian Federation.
Reasons To Avoid
Only available to US residents.
They receive mixed reviews online.
Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expense: Up to $50,000. It comes with a dental coverage sublimit of $500
Emergency Evacuation: Up to $500,000. It comes with an escort coverage limit of $25,000.
Trip Cancellation: 100% of insured trip cost. It comes with a limit of $50,000.
Trip Interruption: 150% of insured trip cost. It comes with a limit of $75,000.
Trip Delay: Up to $2,000. The policy comes with a daily sublimit of $200 and a minimum delay of 5 hours
Baggage & Personal Effects: Up to $1,000. Items sublimits apply.
Additional Medical Coverage. Increase your medical expenses coverage by $50,000 and up your medical evacuation coverage by $500,000.
Adventure Sports. Get protection for participating in professional athletic events, ziplining, skydiving, mountain climbing, and traveling on any air-supported devices.
Cancel for Any Reason. Protect yourself against the unexpected – whatever it maybe – and cancel your trip for any reason up to 48 hours before your scheduled departure date.
The Travelex Select Plan is a good option for American residents going on adventure cruises (or other adventure trips that cost over $10k) and don’t need more than $50k of medical coverage.
They accept preexisting conditions (conditions apply).
Travelex is particularly appealing for high-ticket adventure trips, such as adventure cruises, where medical coverage is often included, and the priority is safeguarding your trip investment against potential cancellations.
Comparison Table
Company |
Plan |
Medical Expenses |
Emmergency Evacuation |
Trip Cancellation |
Trip Delays |
Equipment Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Adv Sports |
$250,000 |
$500,000 |
100% |
150% |
$2,000 |
|
|
Travel |
$100,000 |
$500,000 |
None |
None |
None |
|
|
Select |
$50,000 |
$500,000 |
$50,000 |
150% |
$1,000 |
Conclusion
When it comes to finding insurance to cover preexisting conditions, everything boils down to your place of residence.
If you are a US resident, Faye is a great option. It offers high medical coverage, accepts pre-existing conditions, and has no age limit. People love it online, and it’s priced competitively.
Other Travel Insurance Reviews
If you would like to read more about insurance options for other type of adventure trips, you can check out our other reviews below:
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Hiking Trips
- Mountaineering & High Altitude Trekking
- Mountain Biking, Bike-touring & Bike-packing
- Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing & Bouldering
- Kayaking, White Water Rafting & Paddle Boarding
- Fishing & Spearfishing
- Diving Liveaboards & Freediving
- Sailing, Kite Surfing & Surfing
- Adventure Cruises
- Adventure Motorcycling
Preexisting Conditions & Travel Insurance Online
When doing your research, you might want to read what other publications have to say about the best ski trip insurances out there.
Here are some of the most popular articles I found interesting.
Can I Get Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions? – NerdWallet.com
How To Get Pre-Existing Conditions Covered By Travel Insurance – Forbes.com
About the Author
Antonio was born and raised in Southern Spain, and quit his job in 2013 to travel the world full-time with his wife Amanda for 10 years straight. Their passion for adventure took them to visit 150+ countries.
They cycled 25,000km + from California to Patagonia, sailed over 10,000NM around the Caribbean & Sea of Cortez, rode their motorbikes 30,000 kms+ across West Africa (Spain to South Africa) and visited Antarctica, among many other adventure expeditions. Today, they’re still traveling, currently around the USA with an RV.
Traveling to so many places, remote destinations and by different means taught them a lot about travel insurance, which policies to hold depending on the area and the type of adventure they were doing. Antonio now publishes regular content to help other travelers choose the best travel insurance for adventure trips.
Together, they also run the travel community Summit, the RV site Hitched Up, the boutique accommodation blog Unique Places and the popular newsletter Adventure Fix, where they share their knowledge about the places they’ve visited and the ones still remaining on their list.
Antonio Cala
Co-Founder of Adventure Fix