A diagnosis of a serious medical condition is likely to cause
anxiety and confusion, especially in those used to travelling while
enjoying good health.
The
good news is that having a medical condition does not necessarily mean
your travelling days are over. However, it is important to have some
basic understanding of travel insurance and health issues. Many
insurance policies automatically cover hundreds of medical conditions.
The bad news is that for more serious conditions or combinations of
conditions you may have to pay an extra fee. In some circumstances you
may need to seek out a specialist insurer.
It is essential that
you are totally honest and declare any pre-existing health condition(s)
when purchasing travel insurance. Believing that you can hide your
condition and no one will find out is a very bad idea. If you are lucky
your trip will go smoothly without any problems, unplanned medical
expenses, or need to contact the insurance claims or emergency
assistance department; but what if you are not so lucky?
If an
undeclared medical condition should flare up or cause you to become ill
(or, worse yet, not survive) while overseas, someone has to pay the
costs for hospital care and repatriation. Many travellers mistakenly
believe that if they are injured or become ill abroad their consulate or
embassy will take care of things for them and pay the hospital bills.
If you do not have insurance you or your family have to pay the bills
for your medical and hospital treatment. Medical bills are often
astronomically high, depending on the condition and the country.