Unexpected, negative events happen to people whether they are at home or not which is why many companies now offer types of travel insurance for things like Canceled services, missed flights or medical expenses incurred while they are on vacation. There is more than one type of travel insurance such as policies for general trips, ones for more dangerous activities such as snowboarding and skiing and even these have differing policy coverage. If medical coverage is something that is important to you as a traveller there are some important things to consider before buying travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.
The company you choose to insure you may not have coverage for pre-existing conditions. Travel insurance policies in general have taken a reputation beating because of other companies that are not so reputable. Policy language can be confusing and customers can easily overlook clauses in a contract that state persons with pre-existing conditions are not covered under the policy terms. Items like heart conditions, bone dysphasia’s, diabetes and other medical issues that were present before signing the policy can bar some customers from obtaining medical coverage at all while away on holiday. The best strategy customers have is to read any policy that has been offered or that they have applied for to be sure they will be covered despite a pre-existing condition. If they aren’t they should shop around for a company that will insure them.
Many companies automatically exclude persons with pre-existing conditions from obtaining medical coverage however, there are some companies that will allow it. There are usually many rules and requirements associated with a company extending coverage to a person with a pre-existing condition. For example, a person must be medically stable as evidenced by some proof from a doctor and having their trip prepaid in order to waive the pre-existing condition exclusion. Companies take on more risk when someone who is more prone to needing medical care leaves on vacation insured by them.
Consumers can still get coverage on the same policy if they are traveling with someone that has the medical condition. Many companies such as http://medicaltreatmentinindia.org provide coverage for two or more people and separate language in the policy for the member of a group that has a medical condition. For example if a married couple purchases insurance and one of them has a pre-existing medical condition, the other spouse will not be excluded from coverage based on the other person’s condition.
Some companies act as intermediaries between consumers and insurers. This has benefits and drawbacks such as being able to compare travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions or lack of dealing with a company directly. Insurers like the one mentioned above often are partnered with several other actual insurance providers that pay out claims and write policies. The benefit here is that you are actually talking to many companies all at once because the intermediary will find the best price possible based upon your circumstances. The only trouble is that information can sometimes be hard to obtain or non-existent on the intermediaries’ site or through their customer service lines. One particular company may not be offering cheap travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions when another that the intermediary is dealing with does.
Most insurers operate based on the honor system rather than denying people outright. When you go to fill out a policy application or sign a contract, there will usually be questions related to your health and pre-existing conditions. You may know very well that you have a condition and fear that you won’t be covered if you tell the truth about it. This will get you past the first stages however, it is when you go to make a claim that insurance companies really start doing their homework. It is very unwise to lie to an insurance company as they can check health records, medical bills, and a variety of other sources to determine if you are telling the truth. If you have been found to lie you will not only lose any type of coverage you may have had, you could also face criminal insurance fraud charges.
When it comes down to it, obtaining travel insurance for persons with pre-existing conditions can be incredibly difficult if not expensive. There are some companies that will do it if individuals comply with a few rules however, it is important to never lie about your condition. Reading your policy can go a long way to helping you in the future. Many companies offer insurance to travelers who may already be planning a trip and these offers may or may not be reputable. Insurers sometimes offer a grace period before signing any contract which you should take full advantage of by reading and understanding what it is exactly you are being provided coverage for. Another way to find a reputable company is by checking out A.M. Best’s list of rated underwriters to see if the company you plan on purchasing insurance from is rated. These can act like travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions reviews allowing consumers to see if companies have good or poor ratings or none at all. If you can’t find travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, it may be best not to purchase any policy at all.
