<p>For many people,
the term Pre-existing Conditions makes you believe insurance won't cover any
medical condition you've ever had. That might be the case for health insurance,
but it's rarely the case for travel insurance.</p>
<p>If you have a
Pre-existing Medical Condition, don't worry. Your travel insurance can probably
cover it if you buy it early.</p>
<p>Look for travel
insurance plans that offer a Waiver of Pre-existing Condition Exclusion. A policy
with a Waiver lets you cancel or interrupt your trip, or receive medical
treatment if it's tied to a Pre-existing Condition.</p>
<p>In this article,
you will learn what travel insurers consider a Pre-existing Condition, how a
Pre-existing Medical Condition Waiver works, and what to do if you cannot get
one.</p>

![road-trip-1](//images.ctfassets.net/6dczv5fypa6q/7CP19fb0WhBifDQVWogzJG/b3c84fe741df10024589cb166a1fd2d8/road-trip-1.jpg)

<h3>Understanding
Pre-Existing Conditions</h3>

<p>All travel
insurance policies exclude coverage for Pre-existing Conditions. But,
Pre-existing Conditions are not nearly as ominous as they are in health
insurance. </p>
<p>Most insurers do
not care about your entire health history. Instead, they only want to know
about the 60* days immediately before you bought the policy. </p>
<p>They call it the Look
Back Period because that's how far they look back at your medical history to
determine if you have a Pre-existing Condition. </p>
<p>The Look Back
Period wants to know in the past 60* days if you had:</p>
<ul><li>New medical condition (injury
or illness)</li><li>Worsened medical condition</li><li>Medical treatment</li><li>Medical test</li><li>Taken new medication </li><li>Received medication change</li><li>Doctor recommended treatment or
test not yet performed</li></ul>

<p>If your condition
is older than 60* days, stable and unchanged, with no medication
changes/additions, then it will be covered without a Pre-existing Condition
Waiver. </p>
<p>However, if you
went to the doctor last week for kidney stones, you have a Pre-existing
Condition and want travel insurance with a Waiver.</p>
<p>*The most
generous policies have a 60 day Look Back, while others may have 90 or 180 day
Look Back Periods. The shorter the Look Back, the more generous the policy.</p>
<h3>Why Does It Matter if Pre-existing Conditions Are Covered?</h3>
<p>As discussed,
travel insurance excludes coverage for Pre-existing Conditions. You might
think, "I'm healthy, I don't have any Pre-existing Conditions," and
we hope that's true.</p>
<p>But Pre-existing
Condition coverage applies to the main elements of travel insurance: Trip
Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Medical Insurance, and Medical Evacuation.</p>
<p>If your colitis acts
up a week before you leave on the trip, and the doctor says you need to stay
home for treatment, you have a problem. The policy will not cover Cancellation
claims because it excludes Pre-existing Conditions. Now, you lose money on trip
cancellation penalties and a travel insurance policy that does not cover your
needs. </p>

<p>So, you need a
Pre-existing Medical Condition Waiver.</p>

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrqmGBCXUCc?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

<h3>How to Buy a
Pre-existing Medical Condition Waiver</h3>
<p>One of the most
important things to consider when buying travel medical insurance is the&nbsp;<a href="/blog/pre-existing-medical-condition-trip-insurance/">Pre-existing
Condition Waiver</a>. </p>
<p>A Waiver covers
medical problems that occur before your trip causing cancellation, or during
your trip requiring medical treatment.</p>
<p>For instance, if
you experience a recurrence of a condition that causes you to shorten your
trip, the Waiver also protects your Trip Interruption, so it is covered.</p>
<p>If you want a
Waiver included in your policy, be sure you meet the eligibility requirements
when purchasing travel insurance. </p>
<p>First, travel
insurers require that you buy the trip insurance within a week or two of paying
the deposit. Before you pay a deposit, research travel insurance. That way, you
know which trip insurance plan you want when it's time to book.</p>
<p>Second, waiver
eligibility requires that the traveler is medically fit to travel when you purchase
the policy. If you're already injured or ill before buying the plan, this
requirement prevents you from receiving fraudulent compensation for canceling a
trip.</p>
<p>Third, most trip
insurance Waiver programs require you to insure all prepaid, non-refundable
trip costs. The <a href="/blog/john-hancock-travel-insurance-review/">John
Hancock</a> travel insurance plans are the only exception. In most states, they
do not require you to cover 100% of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs to
activate the Waiver. </p>

<h3>Conclusion – Check Your Options</h3>
<p>There are many
factors to consider when dealing with Pre-existing Medical Conditions. Consider
your family's situation carefully when buying travel insurance. Always be
completely transparent about the health of anyone who might influence your trip
and read your policy carefully.</p>
<p>If you want your
travel insurance to cover Pre-existing Conditions, make sure you buy coverage
with a Waiver. Get the plan early and cover all of your trip costs.</p>
<p>Want to know more
about medical travel insurance? </p>
<p>We have dozens
of&nbsp;<a href="/travel-insurance-101/">helpful
articles</a>&nbsp;and a free travel insurance comparison tool at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aardy.com">AARDY</a>&nbsp;so you can
find the best travel insurance plan for your needs.</p>
<p><strong>Have
questions?</strong> Check with us before purchase. We are
always available by <a href="mailto:agent@aardy.com">email</a>, <a href="tel:+16504926298">phone</a>, or <a href="https://www.aardy.com">chat</a>.</p>
<p>Safe travels.</p>
<script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condiion?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Put simply, a pre-existing condition is a medical concern you or a loved one already has prior to purchasing your policy. This concern will only be considered pre-existing if it has not been stable for a certain period of time. The length of this period varies, but most providers put it between 60 and 180 days. A stable condition is one that hasn't gotten worse or required medicine or treatment etc.\n\nIf you have to file a medical claim, your provider will be able to look at your medical records. They will assess if it involves a pre-existing condition. If your claim is the result of such a condition, your provider may deny it unless your policy contains the waiver that applies to it. This is why it's important to be completely upfront with your provider when purchasing your policy."}}]}</script>

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Pre-Existing Conditions Waiver - 2023 Review

Helpful

Ana was very helpful explaining policy differences. Easy to work with.

Ana was very helpful explaining policy…

Friendly, honest, informative.  Makes the process of picking a travel insurance plan much easier,  Amanda was particularly helpful.  Highly recommended. Have used Aardy before and will use them again.