A pre-existing condition is usually a medical condition you had, or had symptoms or treatment for, before you bought the policy; each policy sets its own definition and look-back period. Some plans exclude these conditions, some cover them once declared and accepted, and some cover only a sudden, unexpected worsening. Read the definition and the declaration questions, and answer them fully.
Three ways plans treat them
- Excluded: nothing linked to the condition is paid.
- Covered once declared: you answer the questions, the insurer agrees in writing, sometimes for an extra price.
- Sudden worsening only: some plans cover an acute, unexpected flare-up but not routine care.
What to read in the policy
- The definition, and the look-back period (for example, the months before you bought).
- The declaration questions, and what happens if an answer is wrong or missing.
- Whether a stable, controlled condition is treated differently.
- Whether conditions of family members or travel companions affect cancellation cover.
This page explains the words. It says nothing about any person’s health, or about what a plan would accept: only the insurer can say that.
Read the policy wording before you buy: what’s covered, the limits, the excess and the exclusions.
Each insurer’s own page for this
EKTA and SafetyWing have no page for this.
We earn a commission if you buy after following these links. It never changes what this page says, and we don’t give advice. Who each insurer is.
Questions
What counts as a pre-existing condition?
Each policy defines it, usually by a look-back period before you bought. Read the definition in the wording.
Can I get travel insurance with a pre-existing condition?
Some plans cover declared conditions; others exclude them. The insurer decides after your answers.
What if I don’t declare a condition?
A policy can refuse claims linked to an undeclared condition. Answer the questions fully.
Keep reading
Updated 2026-10-24.