Travel insurance with a heart condition

If you’ve been treated for a heart condition (e.g. surgery or medication), diagnosed with a heart condition or even just exhibited symptoms (such as chest pain), your travel insurance provider will likely consider you as having a pre-existing heart condition.

Common types of heart conditions may include:

• Angina (chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to your heart)
• Atrial fibrillation (a common type of irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia)
• Cardiomyopathy (a chronic disease that affects the heart muscle)
• Coronary heart disease (a disease where your blood vessels can’t deliver enough blood and oxygen to the heart)
• High blood pressure or high cholesterol.

You should also notify your insurer if you have a pacemaker, stent or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). If you’ve previously had a heart attack, heart failure or any other type of heart surgery such as a bypass or angioplasty, it’s also important to inform your insurer before taking out cover.

While travel insurance for heart conditions isn’t a specific product, it may be possible to get travel insurance cover depending on the type and severity of the condition and if you have clearance to travel. When you apply for travel insurance your insurer will assess your pre-existing health conditions and judge if, and what, cover is available to you.

Typically, your insurer will determine one of the following:

• Your conditions are minor and your insurer can cover it automatically.
• Your medical conditions can be covered, but you will have to pay an additional premium.
• Your conditions cannot be covered, but you can still get travel insurance for other insured events not related to you pre-existing conditions.
• Your conditions are too severe and prevent you from taking out travel insurance cover with that insurer.

If you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. It’s also important to contact your insurer as soon as is feasible. Some destinations may require you to pay upfront to receive medical care, so you’ll usually have to submit your claim and be reimbursed by your insurer later. In some cases, your insurer may be able to speak directly to the hospital and may organise to pay upfront on your behalf.

While it’s possible to live with a heart condition and still go on exciting travel adventure, there are some further considerations you might want to take compared to the average traveller.

• Be aware of high altitudes. Locations that are at high altitudes may put you at a higher risk of a medical emergency, depending on your condition.
• Pack your medications in your hand luggage. You should keep any important medication or scripts in your hand luggage in case your checked-in luggage is lost or delayed. Consider getting a note from your doctor on what medications you’re currently taking to take with you.
• Hold on to relevant medical information. For example, if you have a pacemaker, keep details of its make, model and serial number in case of an emergency.

Keep in mind this is general advice and you should discuss your conditions with your doctor or other medical professional before travelling.

Most travel insurance policies will include unlimited cover for medical expenses, although specific benefits and sub-limits may apply. A comprehensive policy may cover:

• 24/7 emergency assistance
• Hospital stays
• Surgeries or other medical treatment
• Prescribed medication, as long as your expenses are the result of a claimable event
• Emergency evacuation or repatriation back to Australia
• Cash allowance while in hospital
• Emergency dental expenses
• Funeral expenses.

In addition to medical costs, your travel insurance policy may also include:

• Cancellation cover
• Baggage cover for lost, stolen or damaged belongings
• Legal liability cover
• Natural disaster cover.

Optional extras for snow sports, adventure cover and rental vehicle excess cover may also be available depending on your insurer and level of cover.

It’s important to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the full details on what’s covered and what’s offered for each level of cover. Check the Target Market Determination to see if the policy is suitable to your needs.

Not everything can be covered by a travel insurance company. And when it comes to your health expenses, it’s crucial you understand the circumstances where your insurer may not cover you. Common exclusions relating to medical claims include:

• If your injury occurred while you were participating in a non-insured activity (e.g. you were injured skiing but didn’t have snow sports cover).
• Your sickness or injury is the result of your pre-existing medical condition and your insurer wasn’t able to offer cover for the condition when you took out the policy, or you decided not to pay the additional premium.
• If it was a planned medical or cosmetic procedure, or a complication arising from those procedures.
• Costs related to ongoing medical procedures or medications that begun prior to you leaving for your trip (e.g. if you need to refill your regular medication).
• If all expenses were already covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
• If your medical treatment extends past a maximum amount of time your insurer is able to pay (e.g. 12 months from the date you were injured or fell ill).

Read the PDS before choosing a policy to check that the policy matches the needs of your pre-existing condition.