Let’s face it, we aren’t getting any younger. With medical issues hitting us, having the right kind of travel insurance is critical.
We have a newsletter explaining how you may be able to get trip insurance free by paying for your trip with a travel credit card that provides trip cancellation coverage. We explained that if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should pay attention to the benefits offered.
We also have a newsletter with information on individual and annual trip insurance policies.
In this newsletter, we attempt to make sense of the differing rules for pre-existing conditions between credit cards, individual travel policies and annual travel policies.
Credit Cards
We reviewed the Chase Sapphire and United MileagePlus cards. They define a Pre-existing Condition as an “illness, disease or accidental injury for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received within the sixty (60) day period immediately prior to the initial deposit or booking date (whichever occurs first) of a Trip.”
Under the credit card policies Pre-existing Conditions are excluded.
So, for example, if you see your cardiologist within 60 days of signing up for a tour, you may not be covered for heart-related issues on the tour.
Because credit card insurance often excludes pre-existing conditions, travelers with chronic illnesses or recent, unstable conditions may need to purchase separate, specialized travel insurance that offers a “pre-existing condition waiver”.
Single Trip Travel Insurance Policies
We reviewed the requirements for Allianz single trip policies.
Under the Allianz single trip policies a pre-existing medical condition generally includes any injury, illness, or medical condition that, within the 120 days before (and including) the date you purchased your travel insurance, any of the following occurred:
- You sought medical examination, diagnosis, care or treatment from a doctor;
- You had symptoms of the condition; or
- You took medication prescribed by a doctor for the condition (unless the condition/symptoms are controlled by that prescription and the prescription hasn’t changed).
Unlike the credit card coverage, you may still be covered even if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
Under the Allianz travel policies, your pre-existing medical condition is covered if (1) you are a US citizen, (2) you insure the full non-refundable cost of your trip within 14 days of your first deposit or payment, and (3) you are medically able to travel when you bought the plan.
So in the example above, if you saw your cardiologist a month before you signed up for the tour, but were medically able to travel when you bought the policy and purchased your policy within 14 days of signing up for the tour, your pre-existing condition would be covered.
Note that the third requirement above – that you are medically able to travel when you buy the plan – could be a problem for some. For example, if you have a knee replacement and are doing really well, but are not able to ride when you sign up for the tour, you may not be covered.
Annual Travel Insurance Policy
But…the Allianz Annual Policy that we mentioned in last week’s email has a more expansive pre-existing condition waiver. The policy will cover you even if you are not medically able to travel when you sign up for the trip.
Clear as mud, right?!!! All we can say is that if you have a pre-existing condition, you should contact your credit card or insurer to make sure that you are covered.
We promise that our next email will be more fun!
-Caren and Mike Bianco