Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Travel Insurers assess all applications for pre-existing medical conditions on a case by case basis. There is no book with set replies etc. In reaching a decision whether to provide cover for medical conditions they take into account, Age of the traveller, destination, time away and the status of the condition.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

Pre-existing Medical Condition means:

• An ongoing medical or dental condition of which you are aware, or related complication you have, or the symptoms of which you are aware;
• A medical or dental condition that is currently being, or has been investigated, or treated by a health professional (including dentist or chiropractor) within the last 60 days;
• Any condition for which you take prescribed medicine;
• Any condition for which you have had surgery;
• Any condition for which you see a medical specialist; or
• Pregnancy.

Not All Policies cover Pre-existing Medical Conditions.

Some completely exclude this, such as Backpacker, Budget, Cancellation and Non Resident/Visitor to Australia policies.

In order to make things easier, the insurers have listed conditions which they will automatically cover, those which they will NOT cover under any circumstances and those that you are required to complete an appraisal form. (Refer to the Medical/Aged assessment PDF)

Some insurers require completion of pre-existing forms for any relative who is NOT travelling with you but who has a condition and you wish to be covered in case something happens to them and you are required to disrupt your journey.

Clients over 81 are now required to complete the pre-existing/Age application form regardless of whether they wish to have a condition covered.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition and you wish to have it covered, we require that you complete the basic application form AS WELL AS the pre-existing medical form and once both are completed fax them to us. We send them for assessment and once we receive the insurers advice, we email you there decision and await your instructions before we do anything else.

To save unnecessary extra visits to the doctor, we would suggest that you select an insurer from both the under writers and apply to both underwriters. This will give you a choice once you see what each has to offer.

From receipt of the completed application form, the underwriters can take from 24-72 hours to decide.

They may opt to:

• decline coverage totally (ie require us not to sell you ANY policy)
• decline the pre-existing condition but cover the rest
• cover one or some of the pre-existing conditions but decline the others
• charge an additional premium
• charge an additional premium and impose a non removable excess
• charge an additional premium and make changes to various conditions and terms

If you do not agree with the decision, you have the right to appeal the decision.

All insurers now have forms for 81 and over and Under 81. Some have forms for Non travelling persons you wished to cover.

Pre-Existing Medical Condition Forms

Please click on the links below to open the pre-existing medical forms for our insurers.

Aussie Travel Cover (ATC) - Under 81 Years of Age
Aussie Travel Cover (ATC) - 81 Years and Over
Comprehensive Travel Insurance (CHI) - Under 81 Years of Age
Comprehensive Travel Insurance (CHI) - 81 Years and Over
QBE - All Ages
Suresave - All Ages
Toursafe - All Ages