What Are Pre-Existing Conditions?
A pre-existing condition refers to any health issue or medical diagnosis that you had before a specific point in time, typically the start of an insurance policy or healthcare coverage plan.
These conditions can include:
Chronic illnesses like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease
Past injuries or surgeries
Mental health disorders
Anything else that was present, diagnosed, or treated prior to the coverage period
Post Office Travel Insurance for any age
For weekend breaks to one year trips Cruise cover provided as standard!
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Travelsupermarket insurance will give you a broad view of the whole of the travel insurance options for your longer stay trip. Compare 120 holiday insurance policies from over 50 travel insurance providers including SAGA, Staysure and Allclear.
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5 Star reviews on Trustpilot than any other travel insurance provider.
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Avanti Insurance for the Over 65s
Single Trip Travel Insurance covers anyone up to the age of 120! Cancellation cover starts as soon as you take out the policy and ends when you’re back home again. Ideal if you are planning on a long stay in the winter sun of Spain or Portugal, or further afield like Mexico or Thailand.
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Good to Go for the over 80s
Goodtogoinsurance.com provides travel insurance cover to travellers of any age, with or without pre-existing medical conditions. They can also cover your travelling companions on the same policy.
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Globelink Insurance for seniors up to 89
Single trip policies are available for up to 89 year olds, Over 50 pre-existing medical conditions covered for free
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Columbus Insurance up to the age of 85
Columbus offer a range of flexible single-trip policies from just £2.69 and annual policies from £22(1) covering both Europe and Worldwide destinations. All policies include cover for over 150 sports and activities. For those with a more adventurous streak, many more daring activities can be covered for a small extra premium.
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In short, if you had a health problem before applying for or starting an insurance policy, it’s considered pre-existing.
Why Do Pre-Existing Conditions Matter?
Pre-existing conditions are important because they can influence how insurance companies handle your coverage. Insurers are all about managing risk—the chance they’ll have to pay for your medical care. If you have a pre-existing condition, you might be more likely to need treatment, which increases the insurer’s potential costs. Because of this, pre-existing conditions can affect:
Eligibility: Whether an insurer agrees to cover you.
Premiums: How much you pay for the insurance.
Coverage Terms: What the policy will or won’t pay for.
However, the way pre-existing conditions are handled depends on the type of insurance and the rules in your country.
Pre-Existing Conditions in Different Types of Insurance
Health Insurance
In health insurance, pre-existing conditions historically posed challenges. Before laws changed, insurers could:
Deny coverage altogether
Charge higher premiums if you had a condition like cancer or hypertension
In the United States, for example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changed this. Since the ACA was passed, health insurers cannot:
Deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions
Charge you more because of them
This ensures people with health issues can still get affordable insurance. But this rule doesn’t apply everywhere or to all types of insurance.
Travel Insurance
In travel insurance, pre-existing conditions work differently. Here, they’re any medical issues you had before buying the policy. If one of these conditions flares up while you’re traveling (e.g., an asthma attack), the insurer might not cover related costs unless:
You declared the condition when you bought the policy
The policy specifically includes coverage for it (often at an extra cost)
For example, if you have diabetes and need emergency care abroad, an insurer could deny your claim if you didn’t disclose it upfront. Some travel insurance plans offer waivers for pre-existing conditions, but you’ll likely pay a higher premium.
How Are Pre-Existing Conditions Defined?
The exact definition of “pre-existing” depends on the insurer and policy. Generally, a condition is pre-existing if:
You were diagnosed with it
You received treatment for it
You had symptoms of it
This applies within a specific time frame before the policy starts, called the look-back period. For instance:
Some insurers might look back 60 or 90 days
Others might consider anything you’ve ever had as pre-existing
Always check the policy’s fine print to understand what counts.
Why You Should Declare Pre-Existing Conditions
When applying for insurance—especially travel or private-everywhere insurance—always declare your pre-existing conditions. Here’s why:
Honesty avoids trouble: If you don’t report a condition and later file a claim related to it, the insurer can deny it.
Coverage clarity: Declaring conditions upfront lets you know exactly what’s covered and what isn’t.
Failing to disclose could leave you stuck with big medical bills, especially if something happens while traveling or under a new health plan.
Key Takeaways
Definition: Pre-existing conditions are health issues you had before starting an insurance policy.
Impact: They can affect whether you get coverage, how much you pay, and what’s covered.
Variation: Rules differ by insurance type (e.g., health vs. travel) and country (e.g., ACA in the US).
Action: Always review policy details and declare pre-existing conditions to ensure you’re protected.
Understanding pre-existing conditions helps you make smart choices about insurance and avoid surprises down the road!