Illness before a trip can be a cause for concern. Travel insurance may help, but it depends on the type of illness and when it happens. This guide explains when you're covered if you fall ill before travelling. It also looks at the difference between unexpected illness and pre-existing conditions, and what you need to make a successful claim.
Key takeaways:
Travel insurance can cover illness before a trip if the sickness is unexpected, but usually not if it’s a pre-existing condition you didn’t tell your insurer about.
To make a claim, the illness must be genuinely unforeseen and serious enough to force you to cancel your plans. For example, if you’ve already bought your policy and then suddenly come down with the flu, your doctor might advise you not to travel, and you could be covered.
You may also be covered for pre-existing conditions, as long as you told your insurer about them when you bought the policy. For example, if a long-term condition flares up and stops you from travelling, you may be able to claim, as long as the condition was properly disclosed.
Many illnesses are covered by travel insurance if they’re unexpected, happen after you bought your policy, and stop you from travelling.
Examples of illnesses that may be covered:
If you need to cancel your trip because of illness, your insurer may ask for medical evidence, such as a doctor’s note confirming you’re unfit to travel. Without this, your claim may be rejected.
Travel insurance can cover sickness bugs, depending on the provider and the type of illness. If you suddenly get sick while you’re away and need medical treatment, or have to cancel part of your trip, you may be covered.
Insurers usually won’t cover pre-existing illnesses you didn’t tell them about. For example, if you had the flu before buying your policy and didn’t declare it, you won’t be able to claim if you travel before you recover.
Some providers may not cover illnesses linked to poor hygiene or ignoring basic health advice. So, it’s worth taking simple precautions like washing your hands regularly and avoiding unsafe food.
Illnesses that started before you bought your travel insurance may not be covered if you didn’t tell your insurer about them. Pre-existing conditions aren’t normally included in standard policies, but some insurers offer extra cover if you declare them upfront.
If you’re managing a mental health condition like anxiety or stress, it’s worth knowing that some providers may ask for formal medical documentation, and not all policies include mental health cover as standard. For conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, you might need specialist cover to ensure you’re fully protected.
Before making a claim, always check your policy to see if your illness is covered – this might help avoid your claim being rejected.
Many travel insurance policies will cover your non-refundable costs if you need to cancel your trip because of the illness or death of a family member. However, the illness or death must be unexpected.
If your family member already had a medical condition when you bought your policy, and that condition causes the cancellation, your provider may not cover you.
Insurers might have different rules about who counts as a close family member. Always check your policy documents to see who your insurer considers a close or immediate relative.
It can be difficult to get travel insurance while you’re waiting for a diagnosis, and the condition you’re being tested for might not be covered. If the condition isn’t covered, and you need medical treatment for it while you're away, you might not be able to make a claim.
Some insurers cover undiagnosed conditions. They’ll look at your symptoms and may agree to cover you if they’re linked to certain conditions which the insurer accepts. It’s important to be honest – tell your insurer exactly what symptoms you have and where you are in the process (for example, if you’ve had tests or are waiting for results).
You might also be able to add waiting list cover to your policy. This protects you if you need to cancel your trip because you get a medical appointment after being on a waiting list or under investigation for a diagnosed condition.
If you need to cancel your trip due to illness, you’ll usually need to fill in a claim form. Most insurers let you make a claim online or over the phone.
You’ll need a letter from your doctor confirming that you’re too ill to travel. Some insurers may ask your doctor to complete part of the claim form directly.
If you’re claiming because a family member is ill, you’ll need a doctor’s note for them. If the claim is due to a death, you’ll need to provide a death certificate.
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