Travel insurance with pre-existing conditions
At Admiral, we want to make things as easy as possible if you’re travelling with a pre-existing medical condition.
Our standard travel insurance covers a range of pre-existing conditions.
With a good policy in place and some preparation before you leave, travelling with a medical condition shouldn’t be stressful.
What medical costs do we cover?
If you're ill or injured abroad, we'll help cover costs for your medical treatment and if necessary, your transport home.
We offer single trip and annual travel insurance with three tiers of cover to choose from:
| Admiral | Admiral Gold |
Admiral Platinum |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess | £100 | £75 | £50 |
| Emergency medical treatment and repatriation (Limits up to) | £10M | £15M | £20M |
| Cancellation or cutting short your trip (Limits up to) | £1.5K | £3K | £5K |
| Personal belongings (Limits up to) | £1K | £2K | £2.5K |
| Money & documents (Limits up to) | £300 | £400 | £500 |
What's not covered
We won't cover all or some of your medical costs if you:
- didn’t declare all of your medical conditions to us
- travel against the advice of a medical professional, or don’t seek advice knowing you would have been advised against it
- travel for the purpose of receiving treatment abroad
- don’t take the necessary medication for your condition
- were being deliberately reckless (for instance, climbing from one balcony to another)
- were under the influence of drugs or alcohol
For full information about our travel insurance and what it does and doesn't cover, head to our travel insurance page or check your policy book.
What type of travel insurance is best for me?
Whether you're flying solo or travelling with your friends and family, we cover the UK, Europe and worldwide.
Single Trip Insurance
Cover for one trip lasting up to 365 days for travellers aged 18 up to 100 years, depending on the destination.
Annual Travel Insurance
Cover for 12 months on an unlimited number of trips lasting up to 31 days each. This is for travellers aged 18 up to 90, depending on region of cover.
If you need cover for trips longer than 31 days, you can select the required trip length when completing your quote (subject to eligibility).
What’s a pre-existing condition?
We define a pre-existing condition as an illness or injury that:
- has been identified by a doctor
- is under investigation by a doctor
- is known to you before your policy starts or when you book a trip (whichever is later)
Some of the most common pre-existing conditions we see are:
Asthma
High blood pressure
Diabetes
But we also see a range of other conditions, from digestive problems to mental health (for instance, anxiety or depression).
The MoneyHelper directory
If you need cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.
You can contact MoneyHelper by calling them on 0800 138 7777 or visiting their website. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)
What do I need to tell my insurer?
In general, we need to know about any medical condition you’ve had within the last two years. For instance, UTI's or chest infections.
You need to tell us:
- about any ongoing investigation into your health (such as scans or non-routine blood tests), or if you're waiting for a diagnosis
- about advice, treatment or prescriptions from a doctor or other medical professional, whether that's a one-off or regular
- if you're waiting to have inpatient or outpatient treatment for a diagnosed condition
With some conditions, we need to know if you’ve ever been diagnosed with them – these include:
- cancers
- heart conditions (like heart disease or angina)
- circulatory conditions (like high blood pressure or strokes)
- breathing conditions (like asthma or COPD)
- liver conditions
- gastro-intestinal or digestive conditions (like IBS or Crohn's disease)
- psychiatric or psychological conditions (like anxiety, depression or OCD)
Why do I have to tell my insurer about my condition?
You need to let us know about your condition so we can give you the right cover.
If you don’t tell us (or give us incorrect information) and need to make a claim while you're away, we could refuse all or part of any claim you try to make, even if it's not related to your undeclared medical condition.
Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:
- declared them all on your policy
- received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
- paid any additional premium in full
Everything you tell us is entirely confidential: it’s simply to protect you financially if anything goes wrong while you’re on holiday.
How much does travel insurance with a pre-existing condition cost?
The cost of your cover will always depend on a few things, such as:
- how many travellers are on your policy
- where you’re going
- how long you’re going for
- what you’re going to get up to
- the nature of your pre-existing condition
You might have to pay extra for a condition to be covered. Get a quote to find out how much this might cost.
I was diagnosed after I booked my insurance – am I still covered?
Yes, usually, if:
- your doctor says you’re fit for travel
- you've told us about these changes to your health and we've agreed to cover it
When you tell us about a new medical condition and we agree to cover it, you may have to pay a bit more or we may offer you new terms of cover.
If you don’t agree with any changes to the terms and conditions, you may get a full or partial refund. If we can’t cover you, you may be able to cancel your holiday if it hasn't started and you paid for it before your change in health.
Can I make a claim once I return home?
Ideally, you should make your claim while you’re on holiday when the event happens.
As soon as you need medical care abroad, contact your insurer’s emergency service as quickly as possible.
You can call our 24-hour Medical Travel Assistance Helpline on +44 (0) 292 010 7777.
But if the cost of your medical treatment is less than £500, you can pay those costs upfront and then claim it back when you get home from holiday (subject to policy terms).
For less serious medical issues, this is often easier than calling the medical emergency helpline while you’re on holiday, as this can take a few days to organise.
You just need to make sure you keep all your receipts and any documents from the doctor or hospital who treated you so that you can make a claim via our online claim form when you get home.
Getting the most out of your trip
Going anywhere nice?
Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.
Travel insurance that suits you
Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.
Travel Insurance upgrades
Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.
Your questions answered
Is asthma a pre existing condition for travel insurance?
Yes, asthma is a pre-existing condition and must be declared when buying your insurance.
Does travel insurance cover medical expenses?
You’ll be covered up to the limits shown on your policy for any reasonable, necessary costs relating to emergency medical, surgical and hospital treatment.
This doesn’t include treatment in a private facility, or anything carried out in your home country after returning home.
Can you get travel insurance with COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a pre-existing condition and must be declared when buying your insurance.
You should be able to get the right cover for you, if you declare it.
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