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Know more »Customer queries and answers about Pre-existing conditions for traveling to the US.
Know more »Travel health insurance is a type of health insurance designed for individuals who are traveling to another country for a temporary period. Travel medical insurance provides coverage for medical expenses and other unforeseen emergencies during the visit.
When it comes to visitors insurance coverage for high blood pressure, it can vary depending on the specific insurance provider and the policy you choose. Some US insurance companies may consider high blood pressure as a pre-existing condition, while others may not. If high blood pressure is considered a pre-existing condition, it means that coverage for any related medical expenses may be limited or excluded. Hence it is essential to compare different travel health insurance plans on American visitor insurance and carefully review the policy terms and conditions to understand the specific coverage and any limitations or exclusions that may apply.
When purchasing visitors insurance, it is crucial to provide accurate and complete information about your medical history, including any pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure while buying the travel health insurance for pre-existing conditions. This allows the insurance provider to assess the risk and determine the coverage available to you.
In a healthy individual, blood pressure is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) or lower. High blood pressure occurs when the systolic pressure consistently exceeds 130 mmHg and/or the diastolic pressure is consistently above 80 mmHg. It is important to note that a single high reading does not necessarily indicate hypertension, as blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day due to various factors.
Hypertension can be categorized into two types: primary (essential) and secondary. Primary hypertension is the most common form and develops gradually over time without a specific identifiable cause. Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, is caused by an underlying health condition such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, or the use of certain medications.
Numerous risk factors contribute to the development of high blood pressure, including advancing age, a family history of hypertension, obesity, lack of physical activity, excessive salt intake, low potassium intake, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and certain medical conditions like diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
Most of the US visitors insurance plans provide coverage for "Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions**". This is insurance coverage when an existing medical ailment becoming life threatening and needs emergency medical care. This coverage will have exclusions for coverage of gradual or slow worsening of the existing ailment which are not life threatening.
INF is one of the few US travel insurance companies offering visitor travel insurance to the US, Canada or Mexico with full coverage for pre-existing ailments. INF offers the best US travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions with full Pre-existing conditions coverage. INF visitors insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage insures any in-patient, out-patient, urgent care, specialist, doctor visits and anything related to pre-existing conditions.
Since the INF plans treat pre-existing conditions like any new sicknesses, prescription medications are also covered when prescribed for a recent medical incident caused by a pre-existing condition. However, maintenance medications like Lipitor are not covered under this plan. This also means INF will not have exclusions that are typical in 'acute onset of pre-existing conditions**'. Some common pre-existing condition exclusions are:
This additional coverage explains why 'Full pre-existing conditions coverage' is more expensive than coverage only for 'acute onset of pre-existing conditions'. However, please note the INF does not support medical tourism, where patients buy this insurance simply to get medical treatment for an existing ailment
The Full pre-existing conditions coverage plans treat any issue related to a pre-existing condition like a new Accident and Sickness, subject to the policy maximum and deductible limits. This guaranteed coverage explains why 'Full pre-existing conditions visitor insurance coverage' plans are more expensive than coverage only for 'acute onset of pre-existing conditions**'
Even though it is hard to believe, the answer is Yes. INF insurance does cover any pre-existing conditions ranging from Diabetes, Blood pressure, Arthritis and diseases due to Kidney complications. All of these issues are all covered by the INF Premier, INF Elite, Elite Plus and INF Elite 90 best travel insurance for pre existing conditions
Compare the best travel insurance for full pre-existing conditions plans INF Premier & INF Elite best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Prescription Medications are covered when prescribe for a recent incident caused by a pre-existing condition. Maintenance medications, such as Lipitor, are not covered under this plan. In short the answer is Yes. INF insurance will cover any pre-existing conditions ranging from blood pressure, diabetes, to kidney complications and arthritis. All of these issues are all covered by the INF Premier, INF Elite, Elite Plus and INF Elite 90 plans.
Here are some travel insurance tips for travelers with pre-existing conditions
There are many health insurance for us visitors options for international travel. However, many usa travel insurance for visitors plans exclude pre-existing conditions. Hence the traveler insurance will not cover the costs of treating a pre-existing medical condition. However at American Visitor Insurance, we offer some travel medical insurance plans that have coverage for pre-existing conditions and the policy clearly states what is covered for a pre-existing conditions, as well as specifying a limit to this coverage.
Some travel health insurance plans like Atlas America, Patriot America Plus offer coverage for an acute onset of a pre-existing conditions, ie, when there is a sudden medical emergency without any prior symptom that needs to be treated immediately. This typically includes emergency medical treatment, hospitalization and evacuation expenses related to the acute onset of the pre-existing condition. INF insurance however has the INF Elite insurance which covers pre-existing conditions going beyond the acute onset coverage. It is important to compare visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions on American Visitor Insurance both for the price as well as pre-existing conditions coverage before making a decision.
The travel health insurance plans which cover pre-existing conditions have clear definitions of what is a pre-existing condition, the look back period for pre-existing condition, whether the travel insurance coverage is limited to acute onset of pre-existing conditions, and if it provides full coverage for pre-existing conditions the coverage limit within the policy for pre-existing conditons. Any travel health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions will depend on all these.
The following are important factors for buying travel insurance for pre-existing conditions
Traveling anywhere outside worldwide is supposed to be an eye opening, special and a relaxed trip experience. Traveling with a health condition brings in more challenges in order to get covered for the unexpected medical expense in case of odd surprises during the trip. This calls out for an insurance plan that covers the pre-existing conditions that will relieve the unnecessary stress of taking extra care of yourself during your most memorable travel experience.
The plans also will be expensive considering the risks involved to cover pre-existing conditions. Many of the travel insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions. At American Visitor Insurance we offer plans that cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions as well as some cover full pre-existing conditions.
Unfortunately, this simple question has a fairly complicated answer. The answer is: it depends. Firstly, it depends on whether you are a US resident traveling outside the US or a visitor to the US. US residents can purchase trip cancellation insurance that can cover pre-existing conditions and even plans that are travel medical only without cancellation often are more generous in their coverage of pre-existing conditions. These plans may have specific requirements in order to waive the usual exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions (like purchase them within a certain number of days of your initial trip deposit or that you have a primary domestic insurance plan in the US), so you should check these details carefully if this is important to you.
Non-US residents or US residents traveling into the US have much more limited options to insure their pre-existing conditions are covered. Some plans offer coverage for "acute onset" of pre-existing conditions. However, this is misleading, since a careful look at their definition excludes chronic or congenital disorders from such coverage. Chronic illnesses are those that worsen over time and congenital disorders are issues one is born with. They exclude emergencies due to chronic illness because they will say that is not "acute" it is simply a worsening of your condition. There are only two policies we know of that offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. They are INF Premier and INF Elite plans.
Firstly, they define pre-existing conditions in the following way: A pre-existing condition is a condition for which the insured received treatment or took medication for in the previous 12 months before the start of the policy. If the medication dosage has not changed and is taken as a maintenance medication, this would NOT count as a flare up or treatment of the condition. In that case, very stable conditions that have no flare ups in the past 12 months are not even excluded as pre-existing conditions. Conditions that have had flare ups or doctor recommended treatment or change in medication, are still covered by the plans but with a higher deductible and a lower maximum.
INF Elite (also INF Elite 90) are comprehensive plans offering fairly complete coverage. INF Premier is a fixed plan. Find details on these plans here.
The above plans must be purchased for at least 90 days and can be quite pricey for seniors, but they offer the only real coverage for chronic conditions.
The other option, of course, is to take a plans with little ($1K) or no coverage for pre-existing conditions and take a risk that that condition will not flare up during the trip.
INF plans boast they offer "full" coverage for pre-existing conditions. This can be a little misleading. Firstly, any regular treatment or medication that is required by the condition is never covered. The main advantage to the INF Elite and INF Premier is that they cover sudden illness/injury regardless of whether it is pre-existing or not. The only difference is that a pre-existing condition will be covered with a higher deductible at at a lower maximum than any other "new" illness or injury. However, coverage is not limited to an emergency or life-threatening situation.
The "Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition" is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing medical condition which occurs without any advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms and requires immediate care (within 24 hours of first symptoms). A Pre-Existing Condition that is a chronic or congenital condition or that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered acute onset.
The acute onset coverage benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatment existent or necessary prior to the effective date of coverage. An example of this might be someone who has a food allergy or bee allergy and is unknowingly exposed to their allergen and requires immediate medical attention.
Acute onset of a pre-existing condition can be defined as the sudden & unexpected occurrence of a pre-existing condition which requires in-patient, emergency hospitalization within 24 hours of exhibiting first symptoms. The main difference between acute onset & full pre-existing is that with Full Pre-Existing coverage, is that one is covered for all pre-existing conditions and associated medical costs and this includes follow up visits, hospitalizations and doctor’s visits, etc. The acute onset coverage will only cover the in-patient hospitalization expense.
Full Pre-existing means we will cover any issue regarding a pre-existing condition, however, if one is traveling to the United States solely for medical treatment, that will not be covered. INF plans do not cover any medical tourism related claims. Pre-existing conditions under the INF plans are covered with a higher deductible and a lower maximum than other illnesses or injuries. These are chosen or specified when you purchase you plan.
Yes, the INF policies will cover any pre-existing issue that the traveler may have during their stay in the United States. This includes blood pressure, diabetes, kidney related issues and arthritis, all of which are covered by the INF Premier, INF Premier Plus, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90 Plans.
The insurance company takes on an enormous risk by insuring individuals and including coverage for pre-existing conditions without any prior medical examination. Under the INF plans, you are paying more, but you are getting the full value for the money you pay given the very high cost of US healthcare. With the INF Premier, INF Premier Plus, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90 Plans, even though it is expensive, you can have the comfort of knowing that you are covered for any emergency or contingency. This peace of mind given the expensive US healthcare expense is what makes INF plans worth it despite being expensive.
The list of covered services under Visitors insurance full pre-existing conditions coverage can be found on the American Visitor Insurance website of the INF Premier, INF Premier Plus, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90 Plan pages. INF plans are open to green card holders
The best US visitors insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage is listed here:
1. The INF Elite Insurance plans are designed for travelers who need coverage for full pre-existing medical conditions up to age 99 years. INF Elite plans are comprehensive plans available for people traveling to the US and provide flexible coverage. Minimum Purchase of 90 days is required on the plans.
2. Safe Travels USA Comprehensive Insurance offers coverage for acute on set of pre-existing conditions up to 89 years. For persons under 70 covers medical treatment to policy maximum (cardiac-related treatment up to $25,000). For persons above 70 Acute Onset benefits is reduced to a maximum of $35,000 (cardiac-related treatment up to $15,000).
3. Atlas America Insurance is a comprehensive visitor insurance for acute on set of pre-existing conditions that covers Non-US citizens and Non-US residents while visiting the US up to age 79 years.
The plan provides acute onset of non-chronic pre-existing conditions coverage..
4. Patriot America plus Insurance is Comprehensive travel insurance covers acute on set of pre-existing conditions up to chosen maximum limit aged up to 70 years. This plan is available for Non US citizens travelling to the USA and US citizens and Non US citizens living abroad can buy this plan for visiting the US for short while. Plan is suitable for Green Card holders as long as they reside outside the US.
5. Visitors Protect Insurance is Comprehensive visitor medical insurance offers pre-existing conditions up to age 99 years. Minimum Purchase of 90 days is required on the plan. It is an affordable plan for visitors visiting the US.
6. Safe Travels USA Insurance is a cheap travel medical insurance plan that covers sudden, unexpected recurrence of a Pre-existing Condition for Non-US Citizens and Non-US Residents while visiting the USA up to 89 years.
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US travel insurance cost in 2024 for visitors with pre-existing conditions has increasingly reduced the disposal income with a major portion of the income going to health care deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance. The cost of a routine physician's visit is significantly higher in the U.S. where it might be $176. An echocardiogram can cost around $1,000 in Massachusetts and around $3000 in New Jersey depending on the provider. The cost of common ailments like Diabetes Mellitus with Hyperglycemia admitted to an emergency room would cost around $2,500 -$5000. Stroke resulting in ICU for about 10 days would cost $120,000, Heart attack treatment with medical bills for ambulance, hospital emergency room, ICU, EKG and MRI heart scans and continuing care from cardiologists would cost about $20,000, The average treatment cost of acute kidney failure in the USA was over $22,000.
While there's no simple explanation for the high costs, an important contributing factor is the significant administrative expenses in healthcare and given the litigious nature of US society, the cost of medical-malpractice legal expenses. Employing numerous billing clerks by both hospitals and physicians, as well as by private insurance companies is a requirement in the US insurance system. In addition to that, the system's reliance on advanced technology, costly labor and the steep price of malpractice insurance in the US also contributes to the overall expenses.
While there are several reasons for high healthcare costs, the fact remains that one cannot afford to be uninsured while visiting the US. In US hospitals the cost for any treatment is much lower if you have insurance and the hospital is part of the PPO network when compared to getting the same treatment without any insurance. This is beyond the actual insurance coverage itself, so simply having visitors insurance reduces the bill substantially. This high price without insurance is unimaginable for visitors to pay out of their pocket. It is important for visitors to realize the importance of health insurance while visiting the US.
The visitor health insurance usa cost ranges from $16 to $150 a month. The price varies based on several factors such as the age of the visitor, medical maximum coverage, deductible for the plan, coverage type (Fixed vs comprehensive coverage), and the coverage for pre-existing conditions. For an average traveler, there are cheap travel insurance plans at less than a dollar a day.
“Pre-existing Condition” means an illness, disease, or other condition of the Covered Person that in the 12-month period before the Covered Person’s coverage became effective under the Policy:
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| Price range | $768 - $860 |
| Coverage range | $150,000 - $300,000 |
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| Price range | $768 - $860 |
| Coverage range | $150,000 - $300,000 |
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| Price range | $752 - $841 |
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| Price range | $278 - $448 |
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| Price range | 1038 |
| Coverage range | $300,000 |
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Should you experience a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition, this coverage provides necessary emergency care for any medical emergency that is life threatening or requires immediate medical treatment. Coverage is available for travelers under age 70, and maximum limits vary by plan and age.
An Illness, disease, or other condition of the Insured Person that in the twelve (12) month period before the Insured Person’s coverage became effective under this insurance: a) first manifested itself, worsened, became acute, or exhibited symptoms that would have caused a person to seek diagnosis, care, or Treatment; or b) required taking prescribed drugs or medicines, unless the condition for which the prescribed drug or medicine is taken remains controlled without any change in the required prescription; or c) was Treated by a Physician or Treatment had been recommended by a Physician.
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| Price range | $90 - $170 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $1,000,000 |
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| Price range | $485 - $728 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $250,000 |
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Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Condition(s): The occurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition that meets all the following criteria:
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| Price range | $160 - $290 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $1,000,000 |
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| Estimate Plan Cost | |
| Price range | $110 - $180 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $1,000,000 |
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Acute onset of a pre-existing condition is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence that is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. A pre-existing condition that is chronic or congenital, or that gradually becomes worse over time, is not acute onset of a pre-existing condition.
The Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition benefit will only apply if all of the following conditions are met:| Estimate Plan Cost | |
| Price range | $110 - $230 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $2,000,000 |
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| Price range | $40 - $80 |
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ACUTE ONSET OF PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS for an Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition up to the maximum as stated in the Schedule of Benefits provided the condition or event: 1. occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of Physician recommendations or symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent and immediate medical care; 2. occurs a minimum of 48 hours after the Effective Date of the Coverage; and 3. Treatment is obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence.
Any repeat/reoccurrence within the same Period of Insurance will no longer be considered Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition and will not be eligible for additional coverage. This benefit covers only one (1) Acute Onset episode of a Pre-Existing Condition. Sudden and Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition Coverage expires upon medical advice that the condition and onset is no longer acute, or the Covered Person is discharged from a medical Facility.
To be eligible for the foregoing limited coverage and benefits for an Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition, the Covered Person must be in compliance with all Terms of this insurance. The Company will provide such coverage and benefits only when all of the following conditions and restrictions have been met.
At the time of the Acute Onset of the Pre-existing Condition:Benefits are payable for an Unexpected Recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition up to the maximum as stated in the Schedule of Benefits provided the condition or event: 1. occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of Physician recommendations or symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent and immediate medical care; 2. occurs a minimum of 48 hours after the Effective Date of the Coverage; and 3. Treatment is obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and Unexpected outbreak or recurrence. Any repeat/reoccurrence within the same Period of Insurance will no longer be considered Unexpected Recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition and will not be eligible for additional coverage. This benefit covers only one (1) Unexpected Recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition per Period of Insurance. Sudden and Unexpected Recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition Coverage expires upon medical advice that the condition and onset is no longer acute, or the Covered Person is discharged from a medical Facility.
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| Price range | $90 - $160 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $1,000,000 |
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| Price range | $90 - $160 |
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sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a Pre-existing Condition(s) which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of Physician recommendations or symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. The Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition(s) must occur after the effective date of the policy. Treatment must be obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence. A Pre-existing Condition that is a chronic or congenital condition or that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered Acute Onset. This benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or Treatments existent or necessary prior to the Effective Date of coverage.
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| Price range | $130 - $220 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $1,000,000 |
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Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition means a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a preexisting condition(s) which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. The Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition(s) must occur after the certificate effective date. Treatment must be obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence. A pre-existing condition that is a chronic or congenital condition, or a complication or consequence of a chronic or congenital condition, or a condition that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered Acute Onset. This benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatments existent or necessary prior to the certificate effective date.
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| Price range | $50 - $190 |
| Coverage range | $50,000 - $250,000 |
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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition characterized by elevated levels of pressure in the arteries. It is typically measured by two numbers: systolic pressure (when the heart contracts) and diastolic pressure (when the heart is at rest).
In most cases, high blood pressure has no noticeable symptoms, which is why it is often called the "silent killer." It is usually diagnosed through routine blood pressure measurements.
The exact causes of high blood pressure are often unknown, but several factors contribute to its development. These include age, family history, obesity, lack of physical activity, excessive sodium intake, low potassium intake, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain medical conditions.
Untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications, including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and vision problems. It can also contribute to the development of other conditions such as heart failure and vascular dementia.
High blood pressure is diagnosed by measuring blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer, which provides readings in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). It is typically measured in both arms while the person is seated and at rest.
Lifestyle modifications play a crucial role in managing high blood pressure. These include adopting a healthy diet (such as the DASH diet), reducing sodium intake, increasing potassium intake, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking.
In many cases, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough to control high blood pressure. Healthcare providers may prescribe medications, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or calcium channel blockers, to help lower and manage blood pressure.
For individuals with high blood pressure, regular monitoring is important. The frequency of blood pressure checks may vary depending on the severity of hypertension and the healthcare provider's recommendations. It is often advised to monitor blood pressure at home as well.
High blood pressure is a chronic condition, and there is no known cure. However, with proper management, including lifestyle changes and medication if necessary, it can be effectively controlled.
While some risk factors for high blood pressure, such as age and family history, cannot be changed, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent or delay its onset. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, being physically active, managing stress, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.
Visitors medical insurance for high blood pressure will depend on specific insurance providers and the visitors health insurance policy you choose. Some US insurance companies consider high blood pressure as a pre-existing ailment, while others may not. If high blood pressure is considered a pre-existing condition, it means that travel health insurance coverage for any related medical expenses may be limited or excluded. It is therefore important to compare different US travel health insurance plans on American visitor insurance and review the policy conditions to understand specific coverage and any limitations or exclusions that may apply for high blood pressure.
Travel insurance is coverage only for unexpected medical expenses while you are on a trip away from home. Some companies offer coverage for what they call "acute onset" of a pre-existing condition (excluding chronic or congenital disorders). This would be a life or life-style threatening situation that cannot wait to be taken care of when the trip is over.
It must be "acute" meaning that it came on suddenly and needs to be taken care of quickly (defined as within 24 hours of symptom onset). A "pre-existing condition" does not necessarily have to have been previously diagnosed. If it is reasonable to assume that this condition started in the patient before the start date of the insurance, then it will be considered pre-existing to the policy. Note that the exclusion for chronic (conditions that worsen over time) and congenital (conditions a person is born with) limit greatly the application of this exception.
If asthma is not considered chronic, then an emergency due to asthma could be covered by a policy which covers at least "acute onset" of pre-existing conditions. If a person requires regular medication and/or doctor visits for their asthma, this will NOT be covered and will have to be paid by the insured completely out of pocket.
Note that in the US, the same medications can differ widely in costs depending on the pharmacy you use and some medications (generally generics) for common illnesses can be purchased for $40 per month at the Walmart pharmacy (although there may be long wait times). Also, some drug companies have special "coupons" available online for some of their drugs. There are often "discount cards" available at pharmacies and other stores for prescriptions that are free to use.
These are all resources your visitor can use to avoid paying full price for costly required medications should they run out while they are in the US. Other countries may not require a prescription and may not be as costly to obtain. Having a prescription with you, however, may be a good idea to ease getting the medication and show authorities you are allowed to have it (in the case of regulated substances which can vary country to country).
No. When you purchase any of our travel insurance plans, they offer guaranteed coverage with no medical questions. However, be aware that they all exclude pre-existing medical conditions. So, please take any medications you use regularly or for flare ups of your conditions since these will not be covered by travel insurance.
As far as I know, arthritis cannot lead to a life-threatening situation, so will be excluded from coverage by short-term travel policies. If you are a frequent traveler and want major medical coverage in any country to which you travel, you can opt for global medical policies which will (after the first year, generally) cover all aspects of health costs.
You can Compare and buy Global health insurance policies. To apply for these policies, you will have to reveal your entire medical history and you are not guaranteed coverage. The application must go through underwriting and you can be approved, rejected, or approved with exclusions. In any case, you can opt out of the policy 10 days from your approval for no cost to you or simply reject the exclusions they require on the policy.
Note that these policies are best for people who want health insurance for a whole year, or better, longer. Once you are approved on the plan, you are guaranteed coverage year after year and the price is determined by your age group, not your individual medical history.
So, in the case of a global medical insurance application, you would have to declare your arthritis on the application and you may or may not be covered for that illness by the policy they offer you.
Absolutely, yes! Travel insurance is meant to cover you in the unlikely event of a sudden illness or accident while you are on your trip. Even if you have a pre-existing condition that complicates treatment, that is not relevant to the coverage for an unexpected illness or injury. Naturally, your pre-existing conditions themselves are excluded from coverage, so you should pack as much medication as you will comfortably need for your trip.
Yes. Any medical condition you have been diagnosed with or are being treated for will be considered pre-existing to a new travel policy. If you take regular medication for your condition, this will not be covered by the policy. However, should you, for example, have an accident and break a bone, this would be covered even if your condition may have made you a little more vulnerable to the break (unless you were being particularly reckless).
Accidents are generally always covered (car accidents are more complicated because if you were not at fault, the driver's insurance may cover part of your injuries) unless caused by intoxication.
So, even if you have osteoarthritis or some other pre-existing condition, you are still eligible for coverage by a travel insurance policy which will protect you from sudden illness or accident/injury while you are on your trip.
This is a tough question and unfortunately, the answer depends on where you are traveling to and from For people that are traveling to the US from abroad:
As a broker, I am not a medical professional, so I can only tell you this from the insurance side of the question. Generally speaking, the most common cause for heart attack as I understand it is due to plaque build up in the person's arteries. Since that build up happens slowly, over time, I think it's fair to say that it would NOT be covered by any travel health insurance.
This is because travel health insurance excludes pre-existing conditions from any coverage (even emergency coverage if they are chronic or congenital). So the answer for the common cause of heart attacks is NO. So, foreigners run a risk (hopefully a small one) when traveling here. Health insurance can still help with costs of accidents and other unexpected illnesses while on vacation.
However,the answer is be different for people who are US residents traveling abroad. US residents can purchase trip cancellation plans and some of those waive the pre-existing condition exclusion IF you purchase them within a short time of your initial trip deposit (that is the earliest date you pay for any portion of your trip). Check out trip cancellation plans. Notably, the GeoBlue student and travel plans also waive the pre-existing condition exclusion for people who had creditable prior insurance coverage, and these plans are only available to US residents with US domestic coverage.
And, for travel plans for US residents going abroad, some, like the Safe Travels Outbound plans, will cover pre-existing conditions IF they have been stable in the last 6 months (meaning there have been no changes, episodes, or changes to medication in that time frame). You can Compare Safe Travels Outbound Insurance plans.
Yes, INF is one company that offers travel insurance for pre-existing conditions. Some other US travel insurance providers offer travel insurance for acute onset of an pre-existing ailment. The INF Elite and INF Premier travel plans provides greater flexibility for coverage of pre-existing conditions.
The following travel insurance plans cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions:
A pre-existing condition is an existing condition/illness that exists at the time of application of the travel insurance, whether or not it has been treated and diagnosed or disclosed to the company, and any of or all of the subsequent complications or consequences related to or resulting from the ailment.
Mental and Nervous disorders, maternity and new born care, preventive care, chronic illness which cannot be cured, for instance, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, pre-existing conditions except for sudden recurrence of the pre-existing conditions are some of the medical conditions that the travel insurance completely excludes from coverage.
No. Travel health insurance is meant to cover a sudden illness or accident, such as you get a stomach flu or you twist or break your ankle. Since arthritis is not a life-threatening illness, it will not be covered by a short-term travel plan. Should you require regular medications or ointments, you should bring them or purchase ointments available in the visiting country for your condition.
Some countries may not require prescriptions to purchase medications.However, you should be cautious in using a new medication since there may be side-effects of concern. You may want to stick to what you know or consult with your own physician if you can.
Visitors with pre-existing ailments need to find plans that provide coverage for their medical ailments. The plans offered here provide such coverage. Click here to read more »
Travelers with pre-existing ailments need to know of travel medical insurance limitations & buy plans that offer coverage for pre-existing conditions. Click here to read more »
Get quotes of pre existing visitor medical insurance. Tips for diabetes patients. Click here to read more »
