Cruise Insurance with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Booking a cruise is one of the most exciting ways to see the world. You have the itinerary set, the cabin chosen, and perhaps even a few shore excursions planned. But amidst the excitement of organising your maritime adventure, there is one administrative task that often causes confusion and worry: travel insurance, specifically regarding pre-existing medical conditions.

For many travellers, health considerations are simply a part of life. High blood pressure, asthma, or a previous surgery shouldn't stop you from exploring the Norwegian Fjords or the Caribbean. However, they do mean you need to be smarter about arranging your cruise insurance.

The risk of falling ill at sea is different from falling ill on land. You aren't just a short taxi ride away from a hospital. This makes specialist cruise insurance not just a "nice to have," but an absolute necessity. Understanding how to navigate medical declarations, and cover options is the key to setting sail with confidence.

This guide explores everything you need to know about securing the right cover for your health needs, ensuring your holiday remains memorable for all the right reasons.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

In the world of travel insurance, the term "pre-existing medical condition" comes up constantly, but definitions can vary slightly between providers. Generally, it refers to any illness, injury, or disease that you have received advice, medication, or treatment for before purchasing your policy.

It is a common misconception that only "serious" conditions count. While heart conditions and cancer are certainly on the list, insurance providers also need to know about more common, manageable issues.

Common Conditions to Declare

We can help you compare cover for over 2,000 different conditions, but here are some typical examples of what you must disclose:

• Cardiovascular issues: Heart attack, angina, high blood pressure, or stroke.
• Respiratory problems: Asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), or bronchitis.
• Chronic conditions: Diabetes, Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Musculoskeletal issues: Arthritis, back problems, or joint replacements.
• Psychological conditions: Anxiety, depression, or other mental health diagnoses.

The Declaration Period

Most insurance providers will define a declaration period. This is a specific window of time - often ranging from the last two years to five years -regarding your medical history. If you have visited a doctor, visited a hospital, or been prescribed medication for a condition within this window, it is considered pre-existing.

Even if a condition feels minor to you, or is well-controlled with medication (like taking a daily statin for cholesterol), it usually still requires a declaration. Transparency is your best policy here.

If you are in doubt, you can reach out to our team via our Contact Us page  or, if you have found a policy you like the look of, you can also contact the provider directly for clarity.

Why is it important to declare your pre-existing medical conditions?

You might be tempted to skip the medical declaration to save a few pounds on your premium. It is an understandable impulse, but it is also a dangerous financial gamble.

The Risk of Invalidating Your Policy

Insurance operates on the principle of good faith. If you fail to declare a condition and then suffer a medical emergency related to it during your trip, your insurance provider is entitled to reject your claim.

This doesn't just apply to the specific condition. If you have undeclared high blood pressure and suffer a stroke, the connection is clear. However, insurers may also argue that undeclared conditions affect your overall risk profile. If your policy is declared invalid due to non-disclosure, you aren't just not covered for the illness; you could lose cover for lost baggage, cancellations, and travel delays too.

The High Cost of Maritime Medicine

Medical treatment on a cruise ship is private and expensive. A simple consultation with the ship's doctor can cost hundreds of pounds. If you require a medical evacuation - such as a helicopter lift from the ship to the nearest land-based hospital - the costs can skyrocket into the tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Without a valid policy that accounts for your medical history, these costs fall entirely on you. Declaring your conditions ensures that the safety net you paid for is actually there when you need it.

How do I tell you about my pre-existing medical conditions?

Using our comparison tool to declare your pre-existing medical conditions couldn’t be easier. Gone are the days of lengthy phone calls and faxing doctor's notes before you can even get a quote.

Once you have provided us with a few details about your cruise, we will ask you a couple of questions to determine whether or not you need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions. If you do, just follow these steps:

1. Enter your conditions: Type in your specific medical conditions, one at a time for each traveller on the policy.
2. Answer brief questions: We’ll ask a few targeted questions about each condition. This helps insurance providers understand your health profile so they can provide the right level of cover for your needs.
3. Get your quotes: Once you click ‘finish’, you’ll see a list of available quotes from our panel of providers.

The questions asked should not be too difficult for you to answer – it is important that you answer them honestly to ensure your policy remains valid.

Important Note: If you are currently undergoing tests for symptoms that have not yet been diagnosed, insurers typically cannot offer cover for that specific issue until a diagnosis is confirmed.

What benefits does a pre-existing medical policy include?

Cruise travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions can provide you with a wide range of benefits, for many different things. Usually, the following benefits will be included: 

• Emergency Medical Expenses and Repatriation: Should you need medical treatment whilst on-board or on land, can help protect you from expensive medical expenses, and can help with repatriation costs back to the UK. 
• Cancellation and Curtailment: Protection should you need to cancel your holiday, or come home early, due to medical reasons.
• Lost, Stolen or Damaged Personal Belongings: This can help you recoup the costs for your personal belongings that are lost, stolen, or damaged.
• Missed Port: Should your cruise schedule change, you could be given compensation for any ports missed.
• Cabin Confinement: If you are unwell and have been asked to remain in your cabin by the medical crew, you could receive compensation for your time confined.