Travel insurance
What is medical screening?
This is a series of questions about your medical health, which determines the cover we can offer you. These questions can be answered over the phone or online. All personal and medical details are held in strict confidence in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
I suffer from a medical condition. Can you provide cover?
At Saga we can cover many medical conditions under our travel insurance policy, we will ask a series of questions to assess if cover can be offered.
What is a pre-existing medical condition?
If you have taken any medication, or received treatment for any condition(s) by a doctor or at a hospital or nursing home.
I am having medical tests, is this classed as a pre-existing medical condition?
We cannot assess a condition until it has been diagnosed. We would advise that you wait until you have the results from your medical practitioner. Once a condition is diagnosed we can then assess it.
I am on a waiting list for treatment. Can I still get cover?
We offer some cover for a number of waiting list procedures, as long as it is declared to us and the underlying condition is accepted. To receive a quote please call us on 0800 015 8055. A list of the accepted waiting list procedures is displayed below.
- Adenoidectomy
- Arthroscopic ligament repair
- Arthroscopy of ankle
- Arthroscopy of knee
- Arthroscopy of hip
- Audiogram
- Blephoplasty (Ptosis repair)
- Bowel prolapse repair
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cataracts
- Circumcision
- Colposuspension
- Correction of hydrocele
- Dupuytren's repair
- Ectropion repair
- Entropion repair
- Excision of basal cell carcinoma of the skin
- Excision of epididymal cyst
- Excision of ganglion
- FESS (Functional endoscopic sinus surgery)
- Haemorrhoidectomy
- Hip replacement
- Ingrown toenail repair
- Inguinal Hernia repair
- Knee replacement
- Laproscopic repair of hiatus hernia
- Ligament repair (anywhere)
- Myringoplasty
- Osteotomy for hallux vagus (bunion)
- Reduction turbinates of nose
- Septoplasty
- Septo-rhinoplasty
- Strabismus correction
- Thyroidectomy for non-cancerous disease
- Tonsilectomy
- Trans urethral resection of prostate (T.U.R.P.)
- Urethral stent insertion for urethral stricture
- Varicose vein ligation
- Varicose vein stripping
Why does my pre-existing medical condition need covering?
When travelling abroad medical treatment can be very expensive and bills could run in to the thousands if comprehensive cover is not taken out before you leave.
Why can’t you exclude my pre-existing medical condition like other companies do?
At Saga we aim to provide comprehensive cover for all of our customers. If we excluded your medical condition and you became ill whilst abroad as a result of your condition, the policy would not cover any medical emergency or treatment costs or be able to assist with any repatriation requirements. All bills would have to be funded by you and these can become very expensive in overseas hospitals and clinics. The British Consulate or Foreign & Commonwealth Office is unable to help with medical costs if you are unable to pay yourself.
Will I need a medical certificate to take out insurance?
No, we do not ask for a certificate as long as your doctor has confirmed with you that you are fit to travel. We will rely on you answering the medical questions accurately. We will not cover claims for any existing medical conditions which you have not told us about.
What should I do if I develop a medical condition once I have bought my policy but have not travelled yet?
If you develop a medical condition once you have taken out our policy you should notify us immediately to enable us to tell you if we can continue with cover. Any conditions that arise before you go on holiday that are not declared may invalidate your policy.