Are pre-existing medical conditions covered?

These schemes are not medically underwritten and as a result most illnesses are covered as standard.  You are not required to declare any pre-existing medical conditions.  However, you should refer to the full certificate wording, available from your employer, for full details of the circumstances in which medical conditions would not be covered; for example if you are travelling against the advice of your medical practitioner.

The insurance specifically excludes claims arising from “the use of drugs not taken in accordance with the treatment prescribed and directed by a registered medical practitioner; the use of drugs to treat drug addition; anxiety or depression that was diagnosed before the trip was booked; suicide or wilfully self inflicted injury or illness.”. Conditions that fall into any of the above categories cannot be covered.

Customers with pre-existing medical conditions not covered by their existing insurance or who wish to secure alternative quotations for cover are being directed to a Money and Pension Service (MaPS) directory created following direction from the Financial Conduct Authority.

MaPS is a free and impartial money advice service, set up by the Government to provide information and guides to help improve individual finances. The MaPS travel insurance directory has been created for people who have potentially been refused cover, had cover excluded, or received a high additional premium in connection to their medical conditions, to allow them to shop around alternative providers.

MaPS can be contacted

• By Phone – call 0800 138 7777, they are open Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm
• Online – you can visit the online travel insurance MaPS directory for a full list of participating travel insurance brands by clicking here.
• By Email – traveldirectory@maps.org.uk