Medical conditions and screening
A few health questions help us offer the right cover for you. Learn what to declare, how screening works, and how medical conditions are covered.
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GHIC & EHIC
Having a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is useful if you’re travelling around Europe (excluding Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
In fact, it’s a condition of our travel insurance that you take a GHIC or valid EHIC with you if you’re travelling to European countries.
But an EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for good holiday insurance. It won’t be able to cover cancellations, loss of baggage or other medical-related claims such as emergency transport home.
If you’ve had to use your GHIC or EHIC when travelling and need to claim, we’ll waive the excess that you’d normally have to pay on medical claims.
Travellers should also be aware that the GHIC is not accepted in the following places:
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
- The Channel Islands, including Guernsey, Alderney and Sark
- The Isle of Man
- Monaco
- San Marino
- The Vatican
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
To make sure you have a policy fit for your needs, we’ll need to ask you a few questions about your health. This helps us to understand what level of coverage you need as not telling us about medical conditions may mean you may not be covered if you require medical treatment abroad, for example.
We suggest reading through these questions and making a note of anything you need to tell us about before you start your travel insurance quote.
Some questions you may be asked include:
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Have you suffered from any medical or psychological conditions for which you’ve received treatment, been prescribed medication, or attended any consultations, investigations or check-ups in the last two years?
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Have you ever suffered from or received treatment, investigations or tests for:
- Heart attack, angina, chest pain(s) or any other heart condition
- High blood pressure, blood clots, raised cholesterol, aneurysm or any circulatory disease
- Any form of stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or brain haemorrhage.
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Do you have any undiagnosed symptoms?
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Are you awaiting any tests or test results (including COVID-19)?
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Are you awaiting surgery, or waiting to be discharged from post-operative checks?
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Have you received a terminal prognosis?
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A pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance refers to any medical condition that you have had or currently have, and that meets certain criteria within the last two years. This criteria can include:
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prescribed medication
- Medical consultation
- Investigation or follow-up
If you have had a cardiovascular or circulatory condition at any time in your life before buying your cover or before any trip, (e.g. a heart condition, hypertension, blood clots, raised cholesterol stroke, aneurysm, brain haemorrhage), you must tell us about it.
Please be aware that if you have undergone any surgical procedures, medical tests, or if you have any undiagnosed medical conditions or a terminal prognosis, it is important to inform us.
If you need to make changes to your medical then don't worry, We have a simple step-by-step guide on how to do this, Simply click HERE
A pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance refers to any medical condition that you have had or currently have, and that meets certain criteria within the last two years. This criteria can include:
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prescribed medication
- Medical consultation
- Investigation or follow-up
If you have had a cardiovascular or circulatory condition at any time in your life before buying your cover or before any trip, (e.g. a heart condition, hypertension, blood clots, raised cholesterol stroke, aneurysm, brain haemorrhage), you must tell us about it.
Please be aware that if you have undergone any surgical procedures, medical tests, or if you have any undiagnosed medical conditions or a terminal prognosis, it is important to inform us.
If you need to make changes to your medical then don't worry, We have a simple step-by-step guide on how to do this, Simply click HERE
If we can't provide you with insurance or a quote, exclude your medical conditions, or you're not satisfied with the coverage, you can contact BIBA.
Visit them at Find Insurance - BIBA or call 0370 950 1790.
BIBA has a list of travel insurance providers that specialize in pre-existing medical conditions and may be able to assist you.
Medical Claims
If you’ve had any type of surgery in the last two years, including cosmetic surgery, it’s important that you tell us about it.
Are you waiting for cosmetic surgery? Take a look at our awaiting surgery page to see what we can cover with travel insurance.
If you’re seeking medical treatment or surgery abroad, we wouldn’t be able to cover you with travel insurance.
Repatriation is part of your medical travel insurance and is there to help if you need to be brought home from your holiday destination after a medical emergency.
All of our travel insurance policy options include repatriation cover. Our Basic Travel Insurance policy offers cover for up to £5 million, while our Comprehensive Travel Insurance & Signature policies offer up to unlimited cover for repatriation.
Our policies do not provide cover for treatment that can be delayed and carried out after your repatriation home or for any private medical expenses where medically suitable state treatment is available.
It is, therefore, a condition of this insurance policy that in the first instance you make use of any reciprocal health agreement between the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man and the country you have travelled to, should you require medical treatment whilst travelling.
When you’re on holiday in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man, you won’t be covered by the NHS or the EHIC.
But there is a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement in place between the UK, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
This means that if you need emergency medical treatment while you’re on holiday, you won’t have to pay healthcare costs as treatment is similar to that provided by the NHS.
Find out more about the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) & European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) here.
Medication
During your travel insurance quote we'll ask you a few questions about your health. This helps us to understand what level of cover you need as not telling us about medical conditions may mean you may not be covered if you require medical treatment abroad, for example.
We will not ask you for the names of any medication you take, but we will need to understand what you take medicine(s) for. You’ll be asked to tell us the name of your medical condition during the medical screening process. However if your medication changes be sure to let us know by contacting our friendly customer service team.
We suggest reading through these medical screening questions and making a note of anything you need to tell us about before you start your travel insurance quote.
Some questions you may be asked include:
- Have you suffered from any medical or psychological conditions for which you’ve received treatment, been prescribed medication, attended any consultations, investigations or check-ups for in the last two years?
- Have you ever suffered from or received treatment, investigations or tests for:
- Heart attack, angina, chest pain(s) or any other heart condition
- High blood pressure, blood clots, raised cholesterol, aneurysm or any circulatory disease
- Any form of stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or brain haemorrhage.
- Do you have any undiagnosed symptoms?
- Are you awaiting any tests or test results (including COVID-19)?
- Are you awaiting surgery, or waiting to be discharged from post-operative checks?
- Have you received a terminal prognosis?
- Have you suffered from any medical or psychological conditions for which you’ve received treatment, been prescribed medication, attended any consultations, investigations or check-ups for in the last two years?
Yes, We will not ask you for the names of any medications you take, but we will need to understand what you take medicine(s) for.
You’ll be asked to tell us the name of your medical condition during the medical screening process. However, if your medication changes be sure to let us know. You can do this by logging into your MyStaysure account. To access your MyStaysure account, please click here
You'll need to log on to your My Staysure account and click on 'Policies' then 'Amend My Policy'.
This will then generate a pop-up "Have any travellers had a change in health since the policy was purchased?", You'll then need to select "Yes".
Next, you'll need to continue through the different screens until you reach "medical declaration", Where you will need to ensure that your records are up to date with the condition that your medication is for.
Alternatively, you can call our friendly customer service team or by messaging us.
No, As long as nothing has changed.
If your prescription has changed, you must make us aware. Click the link below if you need to let us know of any changes.
Fit To Fly
Ear pain during flying occurs because of the change in air pressure in the cabin. A perforation actually allows air to move more freely than if it wasn’t perforated, so you’re unlikely to experience any problems.
You should always check with your GP whether you are fit to fly or not.
It is a good idea to consult with your doctor before taking a flight to assess the current status of your medical condition. This precautionary measure ensures that you are aware of any potential risks or concerns related to your health during the travel. By discussing your condition with your doctor, you can receive personalised advice and recommendations on how to manage your health while flying.
If you require oxygen during your flight, it is important to inform the airline in advance and complete a medical information form. This form will require both your input and that of your doctor. By notifying the airline and completing the necessary paperwork, you can ensure that the necessary arrangements are made to accommodate your oxygen needs during the flight.
It is crucial to provide this information in advance to avoid any potential complications or delays on the day of your travel.
Having a new cast can affect your circulation, so many airlines restrict flying during the first 24 or 48 hours after a cast has been fitted.
If you need to fly before then, the airline will usually ask for the cast to be split to avoid swelling during the flight. You can ask the fracture clinic team at the hospital to do this for you.
If you have your cast split before travelling, you may have to have the cast replaced once you reach your destination so it’s helpful to carry a letter confirming your medical details.
Always check with your airline to check their requirements!
The airline you fly with needs to know that it is medically safe for you to fly. It isn’t mandatory to state this when booking a flight, but if you’re aware of any problems it’s best to let the airline know in advance – staff have the right to refuse boarding if you appear to be unwell at the time.
In general they may not let you fly if you have a condition that could get worse during a flight, or a contagious illness that can infect other passengers. In some cases you may be asked to provide a fit to fly certificate from your doctor.
While it may seem like extra paperwork, it’s important to remember these restrictions exist to keep everyone safe from a medical perspective.
Restrictions can vary between airlines, so it’s best to check if you have any specific concerns. Most will have a medical advisory service that you can find on the airline’s website.
Most airports around the world offer assistance services if you have physical or hidden disabilities. You’ll need to arrange these in advance, so give yourself plenty of time to get in touch with the airline and airport.
If you need additional assistance during the flight be sure to mention this too. They will be able to make the necessary arrangements for any wheelchairs or medical equipment you may need.
You will need to check with your Surgeon/GP whether you are fit to fly or not.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, if you have a stable medical condition (e.g. asthma which is well controlled with medications) you don’t need a medical certificate.
If you have an unstable condition (e.g. asthma that isn’t well controlled and causes breathlessness on exertion) a note from your treating doctor outlining the medical condition will help with the decision on fitness to fly.
If you’re unsure if you need a fit-to-fly medical certificate for travel, speak to your GP or doctor if you answer yes to any of the below:
- Are you recovering from a recent operation?
- Are you more than 28 weeks pregnant?
- Have you been recently discharged from the hospital?
- Are you currently feeling unwell or recovering from an infectious disease, such as chicken pox?
The list can be quite long but in general, if you have a stable condition, you should be fine to fly.
Pregnancy
If you’re well and your pregnancy has been straightforward and ‘low risk’, air travel is generally considered safe. But you should still check with your midwife or obstetrician before booking any flights.
Airlines request a medical certificate if travelling after 28 weeks of pregnancy. Most airlines won’t allow air travel after 36 weeks for a single pregnancy and 32 weeks for multiple pregnancies.
You also need travel insurance to cover both yourself and your unborn baby in the event you need to give birth unexpectedly during your trip.
We don’t consider pregnancy to be a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance. You won’t need to declare your pregnancy on your policy unless you have an underlying medical condition or complication related to your pregnancy.
For more information, see our pregnancy travel insurance page.
No, your policy won’t cover you for pregnancy/childbirth.
Your policy can cover the following complications of pregnancy, as long as the due date is more than eight weeks (16 weeks for multiple births) after the end date of your trip.
Below is a full list of conditions:
- Toxaemia
- Gestational hypertension
- Pre-eclampsia
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Hydatidiform mole (molar pregnancy)
- Post-partum haemorrhage
- Retained placenta membrane
- Placental abruption
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Placenta praevia
- Stillbirths, and miscarriage
- Any premature births more than 8 weeks (or 16 weeks in the case of known multiple pregnancies) prior to the expected delivery date including; medically necessary emergency caesarean sections, or medically necessary terminations.
Dental
Emergency Dental cover is covered as per Section 3a Emergency Medical & Repatriation Expenses:
- Up to £250 for basic policies
- Up to £400 for comprehensive policies
- Up to £500 for signature policies
For emergency dental treatment as long as it is for the immediate relief of pain only, or for emergency repairs to dentures, or orthodontic appliances carried out solely to alleviate distress in eating.
If you wish to see further detail on the level of cover for your policy then you'll need to check the relevant policy wording.
Yes, We cover emergency dental treatment as long as it is for the immediate relief of pain only, or for emergency repairs to dentures, or orthodontic appliances carried out solely to alleviate distress in eating.
For more information on our terms & conditions as well as the table of benefits, please visit the policy wording booklet
Are you ready to make a claim? You can submit a claim by using our online claims form
Vaccinations
Some vaccines are free and can be booked through your GP, but you will need to pay for others (such as yellow fever inoculation, which usually costs between £60 and £85) at designated clinics.
The required travel vaccinations depend on which country you’re travelling to. You can speak to your GP or use an online tool like Fit for Travel for more information.
Make sure to provide as much travel information as possible to the person arranging your vaccinations. Vaccination requirements can be different for places as little as 100 miles apart, and also between rural and built-up areas.
Some childhood vaccines cover you for life. So if you had all of your childhood vaccinations, you should be protected against tetanus, for example.
Others need a booster. Check with your GP and they will be able to let you know which vaccinations you’ve had and whether they need a booster, so you can be sure you’re covered.
You should plan your vaccinations at least eight weeks in advance of your departure date because some injections need to be taken further apart.
Check with your GP or an online service like MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) to check which vaccines you need and when they need to be taken.
Visiting new places presents wonderful opportunities for enriching yourself with the local culture. But at the same time, travelling can increase your chance of coming into contact with unfamiliar diseases, such as typhoid and Japanese encephalitis.
Protecting yourself against these illnesses is important because they can develop into serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions, particularly when travelling further afield and when visiting tropical climates.
Receiving the relevant travel vaccines is so important that some countries won’t allow you in without a valid vaccination certificate. Kenya, for example, requires all tourists to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate to travel there.
Medical Conditions
Most people who have a stable heart condition (e.g. high blood pressure that’s well controlled with medication) can travel safely. If you need to travel with oxygen on board, you’ll need to let the airline know well in advance.
But, if your heart disease is severe, or your condition is deemed unstable, you may have to delay travelling until your condition has improved. The safest thing is to check with your GP or hospital specialist before you book your flight.
You must inform us about your medical condition, regardless of whether it occurred more than two years ago.
If you have experienced any of the following situations, it is important to declare it when purchasing your policy:
- A cardiovascular condition – including high blood pressure or cholesterol
- Any heart condition
- Circulatory Condition (For example Heart Attack)
You'll also need to inform us if you have experienced any of the following medical conditions within the past two years:
- Symptoms
- Treatment/ medication
- Investigation
- Medical appointments
- Follow-ups
- Check-ups
- Surgery
It’s important to let us know of any changes to your health or medical conditions, including a new diagnosis, so your policy covers you for everything you need it to before you set off. You can update your policy details on My Staysure, to avoid paying the admin fee of £15 you would be charged by calling us.
Adding a new medical condition to your policy may cost a bit extra, but means you’re covered if you had a medical emergency while you’re away, or before you go.
For more information on our terms & conditions as well as the table of benefits, please visit the policy wording booklet
You only need to make us aware if your medication or condition has been changed,
We will also need to know what has increased or if further tests are now required.
In some cases, we may not be able to provide cover for your pre-existing medical conditions. You can identify these conditions by the word "excluded" next to them on your Validation Certificate.
This means that if you have any pre-existing conditions or complications related to those conditions, the insurance policy will not cover the costs associated with them. As a result, you will have to bear the financial responsibility for any expenses incurred due to these conditions or their complications.
A terminal prognosis is when you’ve been given a life expectancy by your doctor or medical professional.
For travel insurance, you can choose to cover your pre-existing medical condition across all our policies. Some of the common medical conditions we cover include: (subject to medical screening)
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Breast cancer
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart conditions
- Hernia
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Gallstones
- Multiple Sclerosis
2-Year condition:
Any past or current medical condition that has given rise to symptoms, or for which any form of treatment, or prescribed medication, medical consultation, investigation, or follow-up/check-up, has been required, or received, during the 2 years prior to the commencement of cover under this policy and/or prior to any trip.
Ever condition:
An ever condition definition is; The heart and the circulatory system.
Some examples of ever conditions are;
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Angina
- Aneurysm
- Irregular Heart Beat
- Heart Murmur
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Heart Attack
As long as you are not traveling against the advice of a doctor or for a medical consultation or treatment, you may be able to get travel insurance.
Take a look at our awaiting surgery page to see what we can cover with travel insurance. Alternatively, speak to our team using the live chat system or over the phone on 0808 281 2434.
Yes. You can declare your conditions through our online medical screening process, which is a straightforward set of questions for us to understand how your medical conditions affect you. Or, you can complete the medical screening over the phone.
It’s important to let us know about any other pre-existing medical conditions you may have. Don’t worry, you can still be covered for cancellation and medical expenses if you develop coronavirus at home or abroad.
Covering your conditions will help you avoid large medical bills if you need treatment abroad - including treatment for COVID-19. Failure to declare any pre-existing medical conditions may affect the validity of your policy if you need to claim.
For us to assess your situation, we will need to ask you the following questions:
Does anyone travelling on this policy:
- Have any undiagnosed symptoms?
- Are awaiting surgery, or a procedure?
- Awaiting to be discharged from post-operative checks?
- Are awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test?
In the last 2 years, has anyone travelling on this policy;
- Received treatment for any medical or psychological condition?
- Been prescribed any medication?
- Attended any consultations, investigations, or check-ups?
Has anyone travelling on this policy EVER suffered from or received treatment, investigations or tests for: - Any heart attack, angina, chest pain(s) or any other heart condition?
- High blood pressure, blood clots, raised cholesterol, aneurysm or any circulatory disease?
- Any form of stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or brain haemorrhage?
To add a pre-existing medical condition to your policy, you’ll need to go through our simple medical screening process.
The medical screening is a few straightforward questions we’ll ask about your health and any medical conditions you have before you get your travel insurance quote.
For existing policies, you can make some changes online on your My Staysure account. or you can call our customer service team over the phone.
To make changes via 'MyStaysure', You'll need to log in and go to 'policies'.
- Once there you will need to select 'Amend My Policy'
- This will then ask 'Have any travellers had a change in health since the policy was purchased?'
- Select 'Yes' , then select 'I agree' & Then finally select 'I agree' again.
- You'll then need to scroll down and click 'Continue' until you reach the medical declaration page.
- Finally click 'I agree' and then this will load a new page that allows you to add any new medical conditions.
- This will open the page 'Pre-Existing Medical Screening Questionnaire' from here update your medical and click continue until you reach the end of the where an additional payment may be required.
No, Not as long as your medical details stay the same.
Whether it's medication or changes to your conditions, you need to keep us informed. You can do this by logging into your MyStaysure account. To access your MyStaysure account, please click here
- For more information on how to update your medical using Mystaysure, Click here
Alternatively, you can call our customer service team or send us an email at [email protected]
You’ll need to declare all pre-existing medical conditions when taking out travel insurance. Not telling us about your medical conditions means you are at risk of travelling without valid cover and any potential claim being declined.
While your medical condition may be managed and doesn’t cause you any trouble, it is still important to tell us about it.
If you’ve ever had any of the following, you’ll always need to declare it on your travel insurance:
- A cardiovascular condition – including high blood pressure or cholesterol
- Any heart condition
- A stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Circulatory Condition (For example: Heart Attack)
During the medical screening process you’ll need to let us know if you’ve had any of the following in the past two years, relating to your medical condition:
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- Symptoms
- Treatment/medication
- Investigation
- Medical appointments
- Follow-ups
- Check-ups
- Surgery
Some of the common medical conditions we cover include:
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Breast cancer
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart conditions
- Hernia
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Gallstones
- Multiple Sclerosis
Find out if we cover your medical condition by getting a quote online or over the phone where we’ll ask you a few questions about your conditions.
Mental Health Conditions
Yes, a mental health condition would be treated similarly to a physical condition.
If the mental health condition is considered pre-existing, it would be subject to our regular screening process. This means that we would evaluate the condition to determine its severity, impact on daily functioning, and any treatment or medication required.
This screening process helps us assess the risk and provide appropriate coverage for individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions.