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You can get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, but whether that condition is covered depends on the insurer, the condition and how you answer the medical questions. Some conditions are covered automatically, some are covered after an assessment and usually an extra premium, and some are excluded. An excluded condition does not stop you buying the policy; it means claims arising from that condition will not be paid.
Pre-existing conditions are one of the most common reasons travel claims are refused, and nearly always for the same reason: the traveller did not realise something counted. The definition is set by each policy, and it is usually wider than people expect.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
Each Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) has its own definition, but they share a shape. A pre-existing condition is typically any illness, injury or medical condition you already know about before the policy starts, and in particular one that you have had symptoms of, been investigated for, received treatment or advice for, or taken medication for within a set look-back period.
On top of that window, most policies also treat certain conditions as pre-existing whenever they were diagnosed: chronic or ongoing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung conditions and cancer commonly fall into this group. Pregnancy is often handled under its own rules rather than the general definition.
The look-back period is set by the policy and differs between insurers, and some policies use more than one period depending on the type of condition. Read the exact wording of the definition in the PDS rather than relying on a summary, because the length of the window decides whether a condition you think is behind you still has to be declared. If you are unsure whether something counts, declare it; the medical questions exist so the insurer can make that call.
When you declare a condition, it usually lands in one of three places. Which one depends on the insurer, so the same condition can be covered by one policy and excluded by the next.
| Outcome | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Covered automatically | The PDS lists conditions covered at no extra cost if they meet stated criteria, such as being stable and not recently hospitalised | Every criterion, not just the condition name. Failing one moves you into assessment |
| Covered after assessment | You answer a medical questionnaire; the insurer accepts the condition, usually for an extra premium | That the acceptance is confirmed in writing on your certificate of insurance |
| Not covered | The insurer declines the condition. You can still buy the policy, but claims arising from it are excluded | What else is excluded as a result, such as cancellation caused by the condition |
| Not declared | The insurer does not know about it | This is the outcome to avoid. A related claim can be reduced or refused |
For consumer insurance issued, renewed or varied since 5 October 2021, the old duty of disclosure has been replaced by a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation. In practice that means answering the insurer's questions honestly and carefully. The insurer carries the onus of showing you did not.
If a traveller does not take reasonable care and it matters, the insurer can reduce a claim to the position it would have been in, which for a condition it would have excluded can mean paying nothing for anything connected to it. A fraudulent misrepresentation can let the insurer cancel the policy outright. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) publishes how it approaches these disputes.
The condition that cancels a trip is often not your own. Cancellation cover usually responds when a close relative falls seriously ill, but many policies exclude cancellation caused by a relative's pre-existing condition, particularly if they are older or already unwell when you book. If an elderly parent's health is the likeliest reason you might not travel, read that clause before anything else.
Some categories are frequently excluded or restricted across the market: terminal illness, conditions for which you are travelling to get treatment, conditions awaiting investigation or a diagnosis, and mental health conditions, which some policies exclude entirely and others cover only for limited benefits. If one of these applies, compare how several insurers handle it rather than assuming one refusal is the market answer.
Run the medical assessment with each insurer you are considering, because the outcome and the price change between them. Compare the result on three points: whether the condition is accepted, what the extra premium is, and whether the acceptance comes with a lower benefit limit or higher excess. Then keep the assessment outcome with your policy documents.
Usually any condition you know about before the policy starts, especially one you have had symptoms, investigations, treatment, advice or medication for within the policy's look-back period, plus certain chronic conditions whenever they were diagnosed. The exact definition is in each insurer's PDS.
It depends on the policy. Each PDS sets its own look-back period, and some use different periods for different types of condition. Chronic conditions are often pre-existing regardless of when they were diagnosed.
Yes. If a condition is not accepted, you can usually still buy the policy and be covered for everything else. Claims arising from the excluded condition, including related cancellation, will not be paid.
It varies by insurer. Conditions commonly excluded or restricted include terminal illness, conditions awaiting diagnosis or investigation, travelling to get treatment, and some mental health conditions. The same condition can be accepted by one insurer and declined by another.
You are required to take reasonable care not to misrepresent your health when answering the insurer's questions. If you do not and it matters, the insurer can reduce or refuse a claim connected to the condition, and it can cancel the policy if the misrepresentation was fraudulent.
Some complimentary card policies cover a short list of conditions automatically and exclude the rest, and assessment options are often more limited than on a standalone policy. Read the card's own policy terms before relying on it.
Ask the insurer for its reasons in writing and use its internal complaints process first. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can take the complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (afca.org.au), which is free for consumers.
