How Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Your Travel Insurance Coverage

Planning a vacation should be exciting, not stressful, but if you’re one of the millions of Americans managing a health condition like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a previous injury, there’s an important factor to consider before you finalize your trip: how your condition could affect your travel insurance coverage.

Most travelers are surprised to learn that standard travel insurance policies often exclude pre-existing medical conditions unless you take specific steps when purchasing your plan. That exclusion can lead to denied claims if a condition flares up before or during your trip. 

In this blog, we’ll explain exactly how pre-existing conditions are defined, how travel insurance providers treat them, and what you can do to make sure you’re protected. We’ll also break down which Aegis plans offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, how to qualify, and why timing is key.

What Is Considered a Pre-Existing Condition?

A pre-existing condition is generally defined as any medical issue that existed prior to the effective date of your travel insurance policy, even if you were stable at the time of booking.

This can include:

• Chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
• Recent surgeries or hospitalizations
• Changes in medications or new symptoms
• Mental health conditions
• Pregnancy-related complications

Travel insurers evaluate your medical history based on a “look-back period,” typically 60 to 180 days before purchasing your travel insurance. It may be considered pre-existing if you received a diagnosis, treatment, new medication, or any changes to a known condition during this window​.

How Standard Travel Insurance Treats Pre-Existing Conditions

Most standard travel insurance policies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. That means any trip cancellations, interruptions, or emergency medical expenses related to those conditions may not be reimbursed unless you’ve qualified for a waiver.

For example, a traveler with controlled hypertension could suffer a heart-related event while on a cruise and need hospitalization. Without the proper coverage, the medical bill (potentially tens of thousands of dollars) may not be covered. Or a family might cancel a vacation because their child’s asthma worsens unexpectedly. If that condition was flagged as pre-existing and they didn’t purchase coverage with a waiver, their claim for reimbursement could be denied.

Consider a retired couple planning a river cruise through Europe. One of them has a history of atrial fibrillation. Days before their departure, the condition flares up, and they’re forced to cancel the trip. If their travel insurance policy doesn’t include a pre-existing condition waiver, their cancellation claim would likely be denied, even though they were medically cleared when booking.

Now, if that same couple had purchased the Go Ready Choice Plan and added the pre-existing condition waiver within 14 days of their initial trip payment, their cancellation would be covered. They would be eligible to recover their non-refundable trip costs, avoiding thousands in potential losses​.

These situations are common, and they can quickly become costly without the right coverage.

What Is a Pre-Existing Condition Waiver?

Many insurers offer a pre-existing condition waiver to help travelers avoid having claims denied due to known health issues. This waiver removes the standard exclusion for pre-existing conditions, provided the traveler meets specific eligibility criteria.

With Aegis, the Go Ready Choice Plan gives travelers the option to add this waiver, but only if they qualify. That means you won’t pay for coverage you can’t use. It’s a meaningful difference from other providers that may include the cost of the waiver by default, even for travelers who don’t meet the requirements or need the benefit​.

To qualify for a waiver, most policies—including those from Aegis—require that:

• You purchase the policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit
• You are medically able to travel when the policy is purchased
• You insure the full, non-refundable cost of your trip

Meeting these requirements means your pre-existing conditions will not be excluded from coverage.

Which Aegis Plans Offer Pre-Existing Condition Coverage?

Several Aegis plans offer options to protect travelers with pre-existing conditions:

Go Ready Choice Plan

• Comprehensive single-trip plan with optional pre-existing condition waiver
• Waiver must be added during purchase and within 14 days of your initial trip deposit
• Only pay for the waiver if you’re eligible, making it a cost-efficient choice

​Go Ready VIP Plan

• Aegis’s highest coverage limits: $250,000 medical, $1 million evacuation
• Designed for travelers with complex or fragile medical histories
• Includes pre-existing condition coverage if the waiver is added in time​

Go Ready Cruise Plan

• Built for cruise travelers, but also applies to land-based vacations
• High medical and evacuation limits
• Includes the most flexible period to add the pre-existing condition waiver.

Go Ready Trip Cancellation Plan

• Economical option for travelers focused solely on trip cancellation
• Includes Trip Cancellation; optional Trip Interruption and Pre-Existing Condition Waiver if purchased within 14 days
• Ideal for U.S. travel; does not include medical, evacuation, or rental property coverage

For a side-by-side look at these options, including available waivers and eligibility details, visit our Plan Comparison Page.

Final Tips for Travelers with Pre-Existing Conditions

Traveling with a medical history doesn’t mean you have to take risks; it just means you need the right insurance plan in place. Here’s what to keep in mind as you prepare for your trip:

• Purchase early: To be eligible for a pre-existing condition waiver, buy your policy within 14 days of your initial trip payment.
• Be honest about your health: Accurate disclosures matter. You don’t need to submit any medical records, but being truthful with a travel insurance specialist will help ensure you get the correct coverage.
• Understand the look-back period: This is typically 60 to 180 days before you purchase your plan. Treatment or symptoms during that window can mark a condition as “pre-existing” without a waiver.
• Carry your documents: Bring a summary of medications, allergies, and your doctor’s contact info, just in case you need emergency care.

Travel Confidently with the Right Coverage

If you’re managing a pre-existing medical condition, the right travel insurance isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. Without a waiver, your policy may not protect you when it matters most. With Aegis, you have flexible, customizable plans that allow you to add pre-existing condition coverage when you’re eligible, plus high medical limits and reliable support no matter where you travel.

Even with the right plan, emergencies can still be stressful, especially in a different country, far from home. That’s where Aegis’s Stress Less Benefits come in. Included with every Go Ready plan, this service allows travelers to avoid paying out of pocket or navigating complex claims alone. Whether it’s medical treatment, evacuation, flight changes, or hotel rebooking, Aegis steps in to coordinate and cover the costs upfront during a covered event​.

It’s support you can count on — before, during, and after your trip.

If you have a health history, don’t take chances. Travel with confidence, knowing your coverage is made to fit your real-life needs.

Ready to protect your next trip? Compare plans or get a quote to find the right fit.