Travel insurance for pre-existing conditions

What is medical travel insurance?

If you’re living with a pre-existing medical condition, ordinary travel insurance might not cover the moments that matter most – like getting emergency treatment abroad or coming home early if your health takes a turn.

Medical travel insurance is different. It’s designed to reflect your health, with cover that takes your condition seriously and help that’s there when you need it.

At Avanti, our policies come with up to unlimited medical expenses and a 24/7 emergency helpline – and there’s no upper age limit. Because when something doesn’t go to plan, you should feel supported, not stuck.

What medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance? 

To make sure your policy gives you the right level of cover, we’ll ask about any pre-existing medical conditions you’ve had in the last two years – even if they’ve been treated or feel under control now. 

A pre-existing medical condition includes anything you’ve: 

• had symptoms of 

• spoken to a doctor about 

• received medication, treatment or surgery for (including anything planned but not yet started) 

• had medical tests, investigations or consultations for 

• needed follow-up appointments or non-routine check-ups for 

We’ll also ask if you’ve ever had a condition affecting your heart or circulation – like high blood pressure, a stroke or heart disease – even if it’s well managed now. 

What conditions does travel insurance with medical conditions cover? 

Once we know about your health, we can help you find cover that fits. The good news is, we’re able to cover a wide range of conditions including: 

• heart conditions 

• cancer 

• digestive conditions (stomach or bowel) 

• breathing conditions 

• neurodegenerative diseases 

• eye conditions 

• neurological conditions 

• mental health conditions 

• autoimmune disorders 

• kidney conditions 

• back pain 

• chronic pain 

• allergies 

And the list doesn’t stop there. Find out if your condition is covered, by getting a quote today. 

Is pregnancy a condition for medical travel insurance?

You don’t need to declare that you’re pregnant when getting a quote – as long as everything is progressing as expected and you’re not travelling against medical advice. 

How far back do you have to declare medical conditions for travel insurance?

When you get a quote for travel insurance, we’ll ask about any medical conditions you’ve had, investigated, or treated in the last two years – even if they’ve been stable or haven’t caused any problems recently. 

You’ll also need to tell us if you’re: 

• recovering from surgery 

• waiting for test results or a diagnosis 

• on a medical waiting list 

• starting or changing treatment 

Some conditions – especially those linked to your heart, blood pressure or circulation – need to be declared even if they were diagnosed more than two years ago. Because of the long-term risks they can carry, they’re treated a little differently to most. 

Not sure if something needs to be included? Just mention it when you get your quote. We’ll ask the right follow-up questions to help make sure your cover reflects your health. 

What’s included in Avanti travel insurance? 

Your policy includes more than just medical cover. Depending on the level you choose, it can also protect your trip, your belongings, and help get you home if something goes wrong.  

We usually cover: 

• ✓Cancellation – up to £7,500 per person if you need to cancel before you go, or cut your trip short.
• ✓Emergency medical expenses – up to unlimited cover, depending on your policy.
• ✓Repatriation – support to get you home safely if you fall seriously ill abroad.
• ✓Lost or stolen baggage – up to £3,000 towards replacing your things.
• ✓Passports and travel documents – cover if the essentials go missing.
• ✓Money and valuables – help if your holiday cash or personal items are stolen.
• ✓Personal liability – in case you accidentally injure someone or cause damage.
• ✓Delayed departures or missed connections – support if your travel plans hit a bump.

You can add optional extras like cruise or winter sports cover too!

What isn’t covered? 

When getting your quote, you’ll be asked to tell us about any medical conditions you may have. We’ll ask you a few simple questions about your condition so that we can find the right policy to suit your needs.

Some of the questions we might ask will be about your:

• ✗Travelling against medical advice – if your doctor says “not this time,” your cover won’t apply.
• ✗Not declaring a medical condition – even if it seems minor, leaving it off your quote could affect your cover.
• ✗Going abroad for treatment – our cover doesn’t include trips planned around medical care.
• ✗Accidents involving alcohol or drugs – if something happens while under the influence, your policy won’t step in.
• ✗Routine care overseas – we don’t cover check-ups or treatment you could have had at home.

We won’t need access to your medical records, but if you’re not sure about anything, it’s a good idea to speak to your GP before you give us a call.

How to buy travel insurance for pre-existing conditions 

Sorting travel insurance with medical conditions might feel like a hassle – but with us, it doesn’t have to be. 

1. Get in touch

 Tell us about your trip so we can get things moving. 

We’ll ask: 

• where are you going? 

• when are you travelling? 

• do you need cover for a single trip or multiple trips? 

2. Simple medical screening

This part’s important. We’ll guide you through a short medical screening to understand your health needs. You’ll need to tell us about: 

• any conditions you’ve had symptoms, treatment or tests for in the last 2 years 

• any heart or circulatory conditions, past or present 

You can do this online, or over the phone if you’d rather speak to someone. 

3. Get your quote

Once we know a bit more about you and your trip, we’ll walk you through your quote. 

Choose from our three levels of cover and add any extras like cruise and winter sports cover if they suit your plans. 

If we can cover your medical conditions, they’ll be included in your quote – so you’ll know exactly where you stand before you go. 

What is a medical screening?

When getting your quote, you’ll be asked to tell us about any medical conditions you might have. We’ll ask you a few simple questions about your condition so that we can find the right policy to suit your needs. 

Some of the questions we might ask will be about your: 

• diagnosis 

• treatment or surgery 

• medical appointments 

• recent hospital admissions 

We won’t need access to your medical records, but if you’re not sure about anything, it’s a good idea to speak to your GP before you give us a call. 

Having trouble finding travel insurance with medical conditions?

If you’re finding it difficult to get medical travel insurance, you’re not alone. That’s why the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) created a medical directory of specialist providers – including us. 

If we’re ever unable to offer you cover, BIBA can help you find another insurer who can. 

Call BIBA on 0370 950 1790 or search the BIBA medical directory online. 

How much does travel insurance with medical conditions cost?

Travel insurance with medical conditions can vary in price – because it’s built around you. Your age, destination, trip length, and the conditions you’d like to cover all play a part. 

The type of policy you choose and how stable your health is can also affect the price. Some destinations, like the USA, may cost more to insure than others. 

When you get a quote, we’ll ask a few clear questions to understand your health needs and offer cover that fits. 

Many people assume it will be too expensive or hard to find, but lots of our customers are pleasantly surprised, especially ifthey’ve struggled elsewhere. 

Get a price now 

How much medical cover do I need for travel insurance?

If you’re travelling with a medical condition, it’s worth knowing how much medical cover your policy includes. Emergency treatment abroad can be expensive – especially if you end up needing hospital care, specialist treatment, or help getting home early. 

Which? suggests looking for travel insurance with at least £5 million of medical cover. At Avanti, some of our policies go even further, offering up to unlimited medical expenses, depending on the level you choose. 

When to buy travel insurance with medical conditions

Buying your policy early can give you extra protection while you count down to your trip, especially if your health means there’s a chance your plans might change. 

For single trip policies, cancellation cover kicks in the moment you buy your policy. So if something happens before you travel, you’re already covered. 

For annual multi-trip policies, cancellation cover starts from the policy’s start date (not the day you buy it). If you want that protection straight away, make sure your start date reflects that.

What happens if you have a new medical condition after taking out travel insurance?

If something changes with your health before you set off – like a new diagnosis, a change in medication, or you’re waiting on test results – just give us a call. 

We’ll ask you a few questions about the new condition, just like we would during your original quote. Based on that, we’ll let you know: 

• whether we can continue to offer cover 

• if there’s any extra cost to update your policy 

• whether the new condition will be covered or excluded 

For everything else, head to your My Avanti account. There, you can: 

• view or download your policy documents 

• change traveller details or trip dates (within certain limits) 

• renew your policy