For information relating to policies purchased prior to 18 May 2022, please check the Policy Document provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 18 May 2022 please see below.
Got an existing medical condition and wondering if it can be covered? Read on for the answers...
If you have an existing medical condition, it will be automatically covered if you can meet the following requirements:
Under our policies an existing medical condition is any medical condition which at the time you buy your policy is:
We automatically cover more than 40 conditions in our plans. Not only are you covered in some circumstances if you have existing medical conditions, but you’re also covered in relation to existing medical conditions of people you’re travelling with and your close relatives who are not listed on your policy. For example, say you’ve got a big trip booked and are covered by travel insurance, but before you leave your father has a sudden heart scare that puts him into hospital. Obviously your trip is off, but you could make a claim for cancellation costs with us. Another example: you’re travelling with your best buddy, and his knee gives up and he has to return home. We understand that you need to cancel your trip, too, and we offer cover.
The terms and conditions about existing medical conditions apply to your close relative or travelling companion/s too. If before you bought your policy your father had a heart condition, or your buddy had a knee reconstruction, those are existing medical conditions and benefit limits will apply. For claims involving someone who is not a close relative or a travelling companion, there is no cover.
Be sure to read the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the Policy Document for what's covered. If you’re not sure, contact us.
If your existing medical condition is not on the list, you may not be covered for any expenses arising from, affected by or exacerbated by that existing medical condition.
If an existing medical condition is excluded from cover, you will still have cover for any sudden illness or serious injury that is unrelated to an excluded medical condition.
Medical Condition |
Criteria |
Acne |
You haven’t received treatment for your acne from a medical practitioner in the three months prior to buying your policy. |
Allergies |
You follow advice in accordance with your medical practitioner (such as to carry EpiPens, antihistamines/other preventative medication at all time) and, at the time you buy your policy, you:
|
Anaemia (Iron Deficiency) |
No criteria apply. |
Asthma |
At the time you buy your policy, you:
|
Bell’s Palsy |
No criteria apply |
Benign Positional Vertigo |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required hospitalisation for benign positional vertigo in the last two years, including as an outpatient. |
Bunions |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for bunions in the last three months and have no surgery planned. |
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome in the last three months and have no surgery planned. |
Cataracts |
At the time you buy your policy, you have no ongoing complications, haven’t had surgery for cataracts in the last three months, and have no surgery planned. |
Coeliac Disease |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required hospitalisation for coeliac disease in the past two years, including as an outpatient. |
Congenital Blindness |
No criteria apply |
Congenital Deafness |
No criteria apply |
Diabetes Mellitus (Types I and II) |
At the time you buy your policy, you:
|
Dry Eye Syndrome |
No criteria apply |
Ear Grommets |
At the time you buy your policy, you have no current ear infection. |
Epilepsy |
At the time you buy your policy, you’ve:
|
Folate Deficiency |
No criteria apply |
Gastric Reflux |
Your gastric reflux doesn’t relate to another underlying diagnosis (example: hernia or gastric ulcer. |
Glaucoma |
At the time you buy your policy, you have no ongoing complications, haven’t had surgery for glaucoma in the last three months, and have no surgery planned. |
Goitre |
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour. |
Graves’ Disease |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t received treatment from a medical practitioner for Graves’ disease in the last six months. |
Hashimoto’s Disease |
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour. |
Hiatus Hernia |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for hiatus hernia in the last six months and have no surgery planned. |
Hypercholesterolemia/ Hyperlipidaemiatension (High Cholesterol/ High Lipids) |
Provided you have no cardiovascular/ coronary heart disease. |
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) |
Provided at the time you buy your policy:
|
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) |
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour. |
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) |
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour. |
Impaired Glucose Tolerance |
At the time you buy your policy, you:
|
Incontinence |
You have no underlying gastrointestinal or urinary condition. |
Insulin Resistance |
At the time you buy your policy, you’ve:
|
Iron Deficiency |
No criteria apply. |
Macular Degeneration |
No criteria apply. |
Migraine |
You haven’t required hospitalisation for migraines in the two years prior to buying your policy, including as an outpatient. |
Nocturnal Cramps |
No criteria apply. |
Osteoporosis/ Osteopenia |
At the time you buy your policy, you:
|
Pernicious Anaemia |
No criteria apply |
Plantar Fasciitis |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required surgery for plantar fasciitis in the last three months, and have no surgery planned. |
Raynaud’s Disease |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required treatment by a medical practitioner for Raynaud’s disease in the last six months. |
Sleep Apnoea |
At the time you buy your policy, you:
|
Solar Keratosis |
Your condition has been confirmed as benign. |
Trigeminal Neuralgia |
You haven’t required treatment by a medical practitioner for trigeminal neuralgia in six months prior to buying your policy. |
Trigger Finger |
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for trigger finger in the last three months, and have no surgery planned. |
Vitamin B12 Deficiency |
No criteria apply. |
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.
We’re here to help if you have a question about travel insurance. We’re available:
Within New Zealand:
0800 666 237
From anywhere in the world:
+61 2 8256 1542
Within Australia:
1300 787 375
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.