Did You Know | Are pre-existing diseases covered in a travel insurance policy?

A large part of a standard travel insurance policy, which you pick up when travelling abroad, is health insurance and personal accident covers. A typical overseas travel policy would cover emergency hospitalization and pay compensation against accidental injuries.

But like any regular health policy, it does not cover you for any pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions in this case are ailments that you have at the time of buying the cover.

Why are pre-existing diseases excluded?

The primary reason for excluding pre-existing conditions is the cost trade-off. The premium that you pay for a travel insurance policy is much less than the cover that the policy offers. For example, for a medical cover of $50,000 or around Rs 27.5 lakh, an overseas travel insurance would cost you around Rs 1,124. In order to contain their risk, insurance companies do not include any pre-existing ailments.

Please note that a pre-existing condition would also include ailments for which you may be covered under a regular health insurance plan.

Travel insurance policy and health insurance policy are separate covers and so for the purpose of a travel insurance policy, any ailment that exists at the time of buying a travel policy is excluded.

Is it negotiable?

Most insurers include a pre-existing ailment which needed no hospitalization or treatment for the last five years. Some insurers also include pre-existing ailment in case of life threatening situation.

Other exclusions

Your travel insurance policy will not cover you if you are going for treatment abroad, or are going without the consent of a physician. Other exclusions include suicide, injuries during a war or due to any act of terrorism. The insurer will also not entertain your claim if it is due to any illegal activities or has been caused because of a dangerous sport.

Other covers

For leisure travellers, a travel policy also packs in insurance against baggage loss, trip delays and a third party insurance cover. Students get add-on benefits such as study interruption cover that pays for your advance tuition fees in case your studies get interrupted due to a medical exigency. Then there is a sponsor protection cover that pays your remaining fees in case of death or permanent disablement of your sponsor. The compassionate visit cover pays for the return ticket and boarding of a family member if you are hospitalized for more than a week.