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This Web site contains a compilation of more than a thousand consumer finance  columns written by Tony Novak from the 1980s through 2006, updated and reformatted for maximum usefulness today.  New material was added after 2010.

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Pre-existing medical coverage for traveler

originally posted: 11/22/2006  reposted: 2/18/2011 This post has not been recently reviewed or revised by the author and may be out of date. If in doubt, please send a new question or ask for an update.

Q: I am looking for short-term medical coverage for my mother, a resident of the UK, who will be visiting me in California for a month later this year. I want a high-deductible, emergency-medical coverage only. She will be 83 years old and has a pre-existing condition: angina, for which she has been on a very stable medication regimen for the past 12 years. Travel polices contain an exclusion for pre-existing medical conditions. Is the 'Emergency Medical Evacuation' clause still available for those with pre-existing conditions?

A: The most likely coverage options are listed at http://FreedomBenefits.net/international-health-insurance.htm . Consider the “Liaison International” plan or "Round Trip" insurance. A full description of the coverage is available from the links on this page. Those with pre-existing medical conditions are eligible as long as the covered person has not been advised against travel by their physician. There is no age limitation. Please be aware that international medical plans provide limited benefits for pre-existing medical conditions. The limitation on pre-existing medical conditions applies to regular medical treatment (as opposed to medical evacuation). In your mother’s situation, for example, the event of a medical incident where heart treatment is required then the intent of the travel insurance is to provide emergency treatment, stabilizing treatment, and emergency evacuation coverage (perhaps air ambulance) for treatment back home. Coverage would not be available, for example, for heart surgery here in the U.S.

Summary

More resources:

International health insurance listings at FreedomBenefits.net