Travel Insurance and Pre-Existing Conditions: What Australians Need to Know in 2026

In travel insurance terms, a pre-existing condition is any medical condition, illness, or injury that existed before you bought your policy or booked your trip. This includes:

• Chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or arthritis
• Mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression
• Recent surgeries, treatments, or hospital stays
• Conditions you're currently being investigated for (even if undiagnosed)
• Ongoing medication use

Insurers define pre-existing conditions differently, so always check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

When you apply for travel insurance with a pre-existing condition, insurers typically take one of these approaches:

• Automatic cover: Some common, stable conditions (e.g., well-controlled asthma, high blood pressure managed with medication) may be automatically covered at no extra cost.

• Medical screening: For other conditions, you'll complete a medical assessment—usually an online questionnaire. Based on your answers, the insurer may offer cover, exclude the condition, or charge an additional premium.

• Exclusion: If your condition is deemed high-risk, the insurer may cover your trip but exclude any claims related to that condition.

• Decline: In some cases, the insurer may decline to offer cover altogether.

The landscape for pre-existing condition cover has improved:

• More inclusive policies: Competition has driven insurers to broaden automatic cover for stable, well-managed conditions.

• Specialist insurers: Several insurers now specialise in cover for travellers with complex health needs, including cancer survivors and those with multiple conditions.

• Online screening: Most insurers offer instant online medical assessments, giving you a decision within minutes.

• Mental health: Following industry reform, insurers must treat mental health conditions more fairly. Many now offer cover for stable mental health conditions that were previously excluded.

If you have a pre-existing condition, follow these steps:

1. Disclose everything: Non-disclosure can void your entire policy. Be honest about your health history, medications, and recent treatments.

2. Get a letter from your GP: Some insurers accept a GP letter confirming your condition is stable and you're fit to travel.

3. Compare multiple insurers: Different insurers have different appetites for risk. If one declines you or charges a high premium, try another.

4. Consider specialist insurers: Companies like InsureandGo, Cover-More, and Travel Insurance Direct offer dedicated pre-existing condition cover.

5. Buy early: The sooner you buy after booking, the more cancellation cover you'll have if your health changes before departure.

Failing to disclose a pre-existing condition is risky:

• Claim denial: If your claim relates to an undisclosed condition, it will be denied.
• Policy cancellation: The insurer may cancel your policy entirely, leaving you uninsured for the rest of your trip.
• No refund: You won't get your premium back.

Even if you think your condition is irrelevant, disclose it. Let the insurer decide what's material.

Jenny, 58, has type 2 diabetes managed with medication. When booking a European cruise in 2026, she completed an online medical screening with her travel insurer. Her diabetes was covered at no extra cost because it was well-controlled. During the trip, she experienced a diabetic episode requiring medical attention in Spain. Her insurer covered the $8,000 hospital bill in full—because she'd disclosed her condition upfront.

Having a pre-existing condition doesn't mean you can't get travel insurance—it just means you need to be upfront and shop around. In 2026, more options exist than ever for travellers with health conditions. Disclose everything, compare policies, and travel with confidence.