Understanding Pre-existing Conditions: What You Need to Know

As you plan your next trip, it’s important to know what your travel insurance covers and what it doesn’t. This way, you can make informed decisions and avoid unpleasant surprises when it comes to claiming. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it’s essential to know whether your travel insurance covers it and under what circumstances. To help you better understand Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance and pre-existing conditions, we’ve answered some of the most common questions below.
 

What is a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing medical condition is a medical condition, illness, or injury that already exists before you travel and before your Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance coverage takes effect.
For Emergency Medical coverage, this is the date of departure on a trip, and for Cancellation or Interruption coverage, this is the date of purchase of your trip or that of your insurance (the most recent of these two dates). 

This condition may be healed, or it may still be present and require medical follow-up, medication, or treatment. 

A pre-existing condition may be mild, moderate, or severe, for instance, a sprain, the flu, or even a heart condition. To find out if a pre-existing condition affects your travel insurance coverage, it’s important to make sure it’s stable.
 

How do I know if my pre-existing condition is “stable” and can be covered   by travel insurance? 

To be covered by travel insurance, a pre-existing condition must be stable for a period defined in the contract that varies according to age. 

Several criteria must be met for a pre-existing medical condition to be considered stable. For example, during the period defined in the contract, the insured person must not have received a new prescription for a drug or treatment, consumed a new drug, had a change in dosage in their existing medication, or be awaiting treatment, surgery, or examination results. 

Other criteria should also be considered to ensure that your pre-existing medical condition is stable. These criteria will be provided to you during the online quote and purchase process to allow you to properly assess the stability of your health.

If your pre-existing medical condition is not stable, it will not be covered by travel insurance. 

However, you will still be able to benefit from your travel insurance coverage for all services and care that are not related to your pre-existing non-stable condition. 

For more information, please refer to the question, “Why purchase travel insurance if my pre-existing condition is excluded from coverage?”.
 

What is the required duration of stability for my pre-existing condition?

The required duration of stability for your pre-existing condition depends on your age and the type of coverage you have.

- For Emergency Medical Care coverage:

• For those aged 0–54, regardless of the length of the trip, your pre-existing condition must be stable for 3 months before departure.
• For those aged 55 and over, regardless of the length of the trip, your pre-existing condition must be stable for 6 months before departure.
   

- For Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage: 

• For all ages, your pre-existing condition must be stable for 3 months before the purchase of the insurance or 3 months before the first payment made on your trip (whichever is later).

*Emergency Medical Care and Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage is offered by Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance. You can explore all the available coverage options and choose the ones that meet your needs by getting a quote on our website.
 

If my condition changes before I leave, does it affect my coverage?  

If your health conditions change before you leave, it may affect your insurance coverage.
By referring to the stability criteria of pre-existing conditions, you will be able to check if your new health condition can be covered by travel insurance.

If you filled out a health declaration when you purchased your travel insurance and some information needs to be changed, contact us before you leave so that your file can be updated.
 

Why purchase travel insurance if my pre-existing condition is excluded from coverage?

Even if you have a pre-existing condition that unfortunately cannot be covered by travel insurance because it is not stable, you can still take advantage of the coverage of this insurance for unforeseen events that are not related to this pre-existing condition.

By choosing Emergency Medical Care coverage, you will be able to benefit from our extensive global network of partners and obtain coverage for medical expenses that are not related to your pre-existing condition excluded from your coverage.

For example, diabetes is a pre-existing condition that can be covered if it is stable. Otherwise, it will not be covered by Emergency Medical Care coverage. However, in this case, you could still benefit from this coverage in the event of an accident, injury or medical consultation that is not related to your diabetes.

In addition, Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage may also cover you in the event of cancellation, interruption or modification of the trip due to unforeseen circumstances not related to your preexisting excluded condition. 

Baggage coverage may also insure you in the event of delay, loss, theft or damage. 

With Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance, you can also benefit from the support of our 24/7 Travel Assistance and Flight Delay Service. 

To learn about our different travel insurance options and to find out if your medical conditions are covered, visit our website for a quote. You will be asked several questions that will help you find the best solution for your trip.