Can Australians Get Travel Insurance With Pre-Existing Conditions?
Yes — but the process requires more care than standard travel insurance. Pre-existing medical conditions are the most common reason Australian travel insurance claims are rejected, not because insurers are dishonest, but because travellers assume they're covered when they're not. This guide explains exactly how pre-existing condition cover works, which insurers are most flexible, and what to do to ensure your claim will actually be paid.
What Counts as a Pre-Existing Condition?
The definition varies by insurer, but a pre-existing condition is generally any medical condition you were aware of — diagnosed or not — in the 12 to 24 months before you purchased your policy. This includes:
- Diagnosed conditions: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma, epilepsy, anxiety and depression, arthritis, high blood pressure
- Conditions under investigation or awaiting test results
- Recent surgeries, hospitalisations or medical procedures
- Medications you take regularly (which signal an underlying condition)
- Conditions you have symptoms of but haven't had diagnosed
The last category catches many people out. If you've had chest pain but not yet had it investigated, an insurer may treat any related claim as a pre-existing condition even if you weren't formally diagnosed.
How Pre-Existing Condition Cover Works
There are three ways insurers handle pre-existing conditions:
- Automatic cover for listed conditions: Some conditions (like well-controlled hypertension, hip replacements more than 12 months ago, certain cancers in remission) are automatically included without requiring a separate assessment. Read the PDS carefully — conditions vary significantly by insurer.
- Assessment-based cover: You declare your condition, complete a medical assessment (usually an online questionnaire), and the insurer decides whether to cover it — sometimes with an additional premium, sometimes with exclusions, sometimes with full cover.
- Exclusion of the condition: The insurer will cover everything except claims related to the declared condition. Your pre-existing condition is excluded, but you're still covered for unrelated emergencies.
Best Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions — Australian Options
Cover-More — Best Overall for Pre-Existing Conditions
Cover-More is generally considered the most flexible and comprehensive Australian insurer for travellers with medical conditions. Key advantages:
- Covers over 40 conditions automatically (including well-controlled type 2 diabetes, hypertension on single medication, asthma)
- Online medical assessment available for conditions not on the automatic list
- 24/7 emergency medical assistance line staffed by doctors and nurses
- No age limit on standard policies
- Competitive pricing for older travellers with conditions compared to competitors
Typical premium for a 65-year-old with controlled type 2 diabetes, 2-week Europe trip: AUD $350–450
World Nomads — Best for Active Travellers With Conditions
World Nomads covers adventure activities most insurers exclude, which makes it particularly valuable for travellers with conditions who still want to ski, scuba dive or trek. Their approach to pre-existing conditions:
- Standard and Explorer plans differ significantly in what's covered automatically
- Medical screening available for conditions requiring assessment
- Best for travellers under 65 with conditions that are well-controlled
- Excellent emergency support network internationally
Note: World Nomads is generally not the best choice for travellers over 65 with significant conditions — Cover-More or a specialist insurer will likely offer better terms.
SafetyWing — Budget Option, Limited Pre-Existing Cover
SafetyWing is designed for digital nomads and long-term travellers. It does not cover pre-existing conditions in its standard Nomad Insurance product. It covers new, acute conditions that arise during travel — so if your pre-existing condition deteriorates while travelling, you're not covered. Consider SafetyWing only if you're in good health or are using it as a supplementary policy.
Conditions Most Commonly Excluded — What to Check
| Condition | Typically coverable? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Well-controlled hypertension | Yes, often automatic | Number of medications, most recent blood pressure reading |
| Type 2 diabetes (diet-controlled) | Yes, often automatic | HbA1c level, complications present? |
| Type 2 diabetes (medication) | Often yes, may require assessment | HbA1c, complications, recent hospitalisations |
| Heart disease / bypass / stents | Often yes, with assessment | Date of procedure, current fitness, medication, cardiologist sign-off |
| Cancer (in remission) | Depends on type and duration | Time since last treatment, prognosis, specialist letter |
| Anxiety / depression | Often yes, with assessment | Medications, hospitalisations in past 2 years, stability |
| Asthma | Yes, often automatic | Hospitalisations in past 12 months, steroid use |
| Hip/knee replacement | Yes, if 12+ months post-surgery | Date of surgery, complications |
The Golden Rule: Always Declare Everything
The single most common cause of rejected travel insurance claims in Australia is non-disclosure. If you fail to declare a condition — even one you consider minor, even one the insurer would have covered — and that condition contributes to a claim, the insurer can void your entire policy, not just the claim related to that condition.
This is not a theoretical risk. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has documented numerous cases where travellers paid tens of thousands of dollars for emergency treatment because their insurer voided their policy for non-disclosure of a condition that had nothing to do with the emergency they experienced.
Declare everything. Let the insurer decide what's covered. The premium increase is almost always worth it.
Tips for Getting the Best Pre-Existing Condition Cover
- Buy your insurance as soon as you book your trip — if your condition changes between booking and departure, some insurers will still cover the change if you're already insured
- Get a letter from your treating doctor confirming your condition is stable and you're fit to travel — this is often required for assessment-based applications
- Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), not the marketing brochure — the PDS is the legal document that determines what's covered
- Call the insurer directly if you're unsure about your condition — document the call including date, time and the name of who you spoke with
- Consider an annual multi-trip policy if you travel 3+ times per year — often works out cheaper than multiple single-trip policies
- Use our travel insurance comparison page to compare pre-existing condition policies side by side