Understanding travel insurance for heart conditions.
For those with heart issues, travel insurance can offer necessary coverage for medical emergencies, trip interruptions, and heart health-related cancellals. Many people with pre-existing heart diseases can still travel and enjoy vacations; nonetheless, suitable travel insurance is essential for financial protection and peace of mind. For those with more severe problems or recent cardiac events mainly, the American Heart Association advises talking about travel plans with your cardiologist before your trip.
Defining pre-existing heart conditions.
Usually speaking, pre-existing conditions are medical problems that surfaced before travel insurance purchase. This covers diagnosed cardiac diseases, including arrhythmias, heart failure, past heart attacks, or heart surgery. Considered pre-existing are even conditions controlled with medicine. Applying for travel insurance requires being frank about all heart-related medical problems. Ignoring a condition can void your policy and make you liable for significant medical expenses should an emergency strike occur.
Coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Not every travel insurance policy automatically covers past medical issues. Specific policies provide a "pre-existing condition waiver," meaning that coverage for these problems is extended should you be qualified. Usually, you have to buy the policy within a specific window—usually 10–21 days—of your initial trip deposit and insure the whole, non-refundable trip cost to qualify for the waiver. A doctor can also verify that you are medically fit to travel at the purchase date.
7 Affordable options for travelers with heart conditions.
Many businesses provide travel insurance programs designed for those with pre-existing conditions. When comparing, search for exact language on pre-existing condition coverage, emergency medical charges, medical evacuation, and repatriation.
Allianz Global Assistance.
Renowned for their thorough policies, Allianz provides coverage for pre-existing conditions with their waiver, subject to specific conditions and medical stability criteria. They also offer substantial medical expenditure and evacuation coverage.
Travel Insured International.
They provide several plans, with choices covering pre-existing ailments, should they be declared stable, within a specified period before travel.
Travelex Insurance Services.
Purchased within 21 days of the original trip deposit, their "Ultimate" plan provides pre-existing medical condition coverage with their waiver.
AIG Travel Guard.
AIG offers plans with pre-existing condition waivers if you get the insurance soon after your initial trip payment. Their policies usually provide for medical cost coverage, evacuation, and repatriation.
Seven Corners.
Provides travel medical policies with acute onset coverage for pre-existing conditions, covering unexpected and sudden flare-ups.
IMG (International Medical Group).
They have programs like "Patriot America Plus," which cover the acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
InsureMyTrip.
I am not an insurer personally, but I am a comparison service that lets you filter and locate policies from several providers that expressly provide coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Factors affecting cost.
For those with cardiac diseases, several elements affect the cost of travel insurance.
The severity of the condition: Higher premiums may result from more severe conditions or a history of recent hospitalizations.
Age: Older travelers often pay more due to statistically higher medical risks.
Destination: Countries with expensive healthcare systems can increase premiums.
Trip Length: Longer trips usually mean higher costs.
Coverage Amount: Higher medical expense coverage limits will increase the price.
Benefits beyond medical.
Travel insurance does not only pay for medical bills. It also has advantages such as:
Trip cancellation/interruption: If your heart condition flares up and prevents travel, you could be reimbursed for non-refundable trip costs.
Medical evacuation/repatriation: Coverage for emergency transportation to a suitable medical facility or back home. This can be life-saving and financially crucial, especially abroad.
Baggage loss/delay: Protection against lost, stolen, or delayed baggage.
Travel delay: Reimbursement for expenses due to covered delays.
24/7 assistance services: Access to multilingual support, emergency medical referrals, and other travel assistance.
GHIC card and international travel.
Should one be heading to Europe, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can grant access to state-run healthcare at a discounted or occasionally free rate. It doesn't, however, substitute travel insurance. Medical evacuation, repatriation, or private healthcare—which might be the only choice left in some cases—are not covered under a GHIC. It also excludes lost bags or travel cancellations. For people with heart disease, combining a GHIC with a thorough travel insurance policy provides further security.
| Plan Name | Provider | Coverage Type | Pre-existing Conditions Coverage | Medical Maximum | Look-back Period | Acute Onset Coverage Limit | Other Benefits | Age Limit | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafeTrip Travel Medical Plus | UnitedHealthcare Global | Travel Medical + Trip Protection | Yes, with waiver if purchased shortly after initial trip deposit | Up to $150,000 | 180 days | Not specified | Trip cancellation, interruption, delay, baggage, medical & security assistance, optional extreme sports and rental car coverage. | 85 | No deductibles. |
| SafeTrip Travel Medical | UnitedHealthcare Global | Travel Medical | Yes, with waiver if purchased shortly after initial trip deposit | Up to $1,000,000 | 180 days | Not specified | Medical evacuation, medical assistance, optional extreme sports coverage. | 85 | No deductibles. |
| Atlas International | WorldTrips | Travel Medical | Limited coverage for acute onset | Up to $2,000,000 | 2 years (Atlas International) | Varies by age, up to policy maximum | Emergency medical coverage, evacuation | 80+ (some limitations) | Available to US and non-US citizens. |
| Patriot America Platinum | IMG | Visitors Insurance | Acute onset | Up to $8,000,000 | 3 years (Patriot plans) | Up to $1,000,000 (under 65 with primary health plan) | Evacuation, repatriation, COVID-19 coverage, urgent care and walk-in clinic copays. | 99 | Direct billing through UnitedHealthcare PPO network. |
| Safe Travels USA Comprehensive | Trawick International | Visitors Insurance | Acute onset | Up to $1,000,000 | 3 years (Safe Travels) | $20,000 (under 65), $10,000 (65-69), Cardiac: $25,000 | Evacuation, repatriation, COVID-19 coverage, urgent care and walk-in clinic copays, pregnancy complications. | 89 | Direct billing through UnitedHealthcare PPO network. |
| Beacon America | Lloyd's | Visitors Insurance | Acute onset (under 70) | Up to $1,000,000+ | 2 years (Beacon America) | $150,000 (for plans $550,000+), $50,000 (for plans $60,000-$200,000) | Evacuation, repatriation, COVID-19 coverage (up to $100,000 or policy maximum), urgent care copay, pregnancy complications. | 80+ (some limitations) | Direct billing through UnitedHealthcare PPO network. |
| INF Elite | INF | Visitors Insurance | Full coverage up to age 99 (some limitations may apply) | Up to $300,000 | 12 months (INF Elite) | Varies, see provider website. | Emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, accidental death & dismemberment, telehealth. | 99 | Minimum purchase of 90 days. |
