At a glance
What is a pre-existing condition? Can it be excluded from travel insurance? How can you travel safely without taking risks?
Pre-existing conditions: a risk that varies from person to person
Generally, travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions from their cover, unless they have been stable for "a certain time", such that a relapse or worsening is not expected to occur during the stay abroad.
For many people suffering, or who have suffered, from a condition, this exclusion nonetheless raises a lot of questions.
For assistance companies, it is unfortunately not always easy to communicate clearly on this subject by setting a general rule that applies to everyone, given that each illness has its own specifics and every medical case differs depending on the patient (or "former patient"), their illness, their treatment and their circumstances.
Below, we try to give a few points of explanation.
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition or pre-existing pathological condition refers to a state of health that was known when the travel insurance or cancellation insurance was taken out or came into effect.
When is the risk covered?
When a pathological condition is considered "stable", i.e. the patient's condition shows no new symptoms and/or does not require new treatment or new medication for a certain period of time (this period may vary depending on the type of condition, but is usually around 2 to 6 months), the insurer will generally agree to cover the person during their trips abroad, provided the condition does not present any new occurrence or foreseeable worsening.
A pre-existing condition can therefore refer to:
- conditions for which you showed symptoms (shortly) before your departure (whether or not you are receiving medical follow-up for them). Think, for example, of high blood pressure or a cardiovascular condition.
- any medical consultation for illness and the treatments that follow (including, where applicable, a future hospitalisation or referral to a specialist), as well as any recurrence or complication that appears shortly before the trip and could jeopardise it.
Note that mental illnesses and depressive states fall into a special category and will only be covered on their first occurrence.
Why does this exclusion exist?
It goes without saying that for an insurer, the likelihood of having to intervene during the trip of someone who is ill (and therefore not stable) or undergoing treatment, and who is at risk of a relapse or worsening of their condition, is particularly high.
But this exclusion is also intended to protect people undergoing treatment and to draw their attention to the fact that travelling while suffering from an unstable condition carries a real risk.
This risk can be increased by
- the travel destination (e.g. a far-off country where medical infrastructure is not always sufficient),
- travel conditions (stress, fatigue or jet lag, changes in modes of transport…),
- weather conditions or climate (travelling to a hot country),
- the type of trip (e.g. switching from a sedentary lifestyle to a hyperactive holiday),
- interrupting or changing treatment (e.g. changing medication or dosage, interference with vaccinations…),
- and sometimes the patient's psychological state.
Consult your doctor before you leave
If you have the characteristics of a pre-existing condition and wish to travel abroad, we recommend consulting your doctor before you leave. Explain your travel plans (duration, destination, type of trip, mode of transport, support and/or accompaniment, etc.) to get their opinion. The same applies if you wish to take out trip cancellation insurance.
Based on your medical file and this information, your doctor will be able to prescribe the most suitable treatment if needed and give you some recommendations.
It goes without saying that you'll need to bring the medication necessary for your treatment for the entire duration of your trip. If you're travelling by plane, ask your doctor for a statement in English detailing the medication prescribed.
Do you have a medical problem during your trip?
What should you do if you have a medical problem during your trip abroad?
If the problem is not urgent: see a doctor on site or go to a hospital. Contact your assistance company directly afterwards.
If the problem is urgent: contact the local emergency services (112) or go immediately to the nearest hospital and contact your assistance company directly afterwards.
Based on the diagnosis and your medical file, the assistance company's doctor will decide whether it is useful or essential to repatriate you and will determine the medical follow-up for your file. These decisions are always made in the patient's medical interest.
It goes without saying that if you contact your assistance provider for a medical problem other than one caused by a pre-existing condition, you will be fully covered (e.g. if you slip and break your leg abroad).
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