How to apply for Medibank Travel Insurance existing medical conditions cover
Include your medical conditions when you apply
If your condition isn't listed as automatically included in the PDS, or automatically accepted, to be covered you need to disclose all of your existing medical conditions so they can be assessed, including anything that requires medication, review or specialist care. You can do this at the traveller details section of your quote.
Complete the online health assessment
If your condition does not meet the criteria of automatically included conditions, you have one or more conditions which are not listed in the table of conditions automatically included, or a combination of both points, you will need to complete an online health assessment.
Proceed with your cover
If you are offered cover, you may need to pay an additional premium. Your certificate of insurance will list your approval number and any special conditions on it.
What is considered an Existing Medical Condition?
An existing medical condition means a disease, illness, medical or dental condition or physical defect that, at the time you purchase cover, meets any of the criteria listed below.
You must be aware of the condition, or a reasonable person in your circumstances would be expected to be aware of the condition, including whether it meets any one of the following:
- has required an emergency department visit or day surgery in the last 12 months
- it requires prescription medication, regular check-ups or reviews, ongoing medication for treatment, or a consultation with a specialist
- has been medically documented to involve the brain, circulatory system, heart, kidneys, liver, respiratory system, or cancer, or required surgery of the abdomen, back, brain, joints, or spine that included at least an overnight hospital stay
- is chronic or ongoing and medically documented, under investigation, pending diagnosis or pending test results.
Can you get Travel Insurance for existing medical conditions?
You can get cover for existing medical conditions, depending on a few factors, but there are some existing medical conditions that cannot be covered.
Some conditions are automatically included, provided all your existing medical conditions are on the list of automatically covered conditions, you haven’t been hospitalised or needed treatment by a medical practitioner in the past 12 months for any of the listed conditions, you aren’t under investigation for any of the listed conditions, you aren’t waiting for investigation, surgery, treatment, or procedures for any of the listed conditions and your condition meets the criteria outlined in the PDS. See the PDS for the full list of conditions and criteria.
If your condition is not listed, or if you are not sure if you meet the criteria to be covered, you should complete an online health assessment during the application process. This may mean you have to pay an extra premium if required. If approved, it will be listed on your certificate of insurance.
If you don't declare an existing condition, you risk being not covered for claims relating to it.
This is just a summary, for detailed information, read the PDS.
Which existing medical conditions are covered by Medibank Travel Insurance?
Medibank Travel Insurance automatically cover a number of existing medical conditions, provided all of the existing medical conditions you have are on the below list. You also must meet the criteria: You have not been hospitalised or required treatment by a medical practitioner in the last 12 months for any of the listed conditions, you are not under investigation for any of the listed conditions and you are not awaiting investigation, surgery, treatment or procedures for any of the listed conditions.
- Acne
- ADHD
- allergies (if in the last 6 months no treatment by a medical practitioner was required and you have no known respiratory conditions.)
- anxiety (if in the last 12 months, any prescribed medication hasn't changed, you have not been diagnosed with depression in the last 3 years, you are not currently waiting to see a mental health clinician and you have not previously been required to cancel or curtail travel plans due to your anxiety)
- asthma (if in the last 12 months you haven't had an asthma exacerbation requiring treatment by a medical practitioner, you have been a non-smoker for at least the last 12-months, you don't need prescribed oxygen outside of hospital and you don't have any other chronic lung conditions)
- Bell’s palsy
- bunions
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- cataracts (if in the last 90 days you haven't had an operation, and no ongoing complications)
- coeliac disease
- congenital blindness
- congenital deafness
- depression (if you have not been hospitalised for this condition in the last 2 years, your prescribed medication has not changed in the last 12 months, you are not currently waiting to see a mental health clinician and you have not previously been required to cancel or curtail travel plans due to your depression)
- ear grommets (if you don't have an ear infection)
- epilepsy (if no underlying medical condition such as previous head trauma)
- gastric reflux (if doesn't relate to an underlying diagnosis)
- goitre
- gout
- Graves’ disease
- hiatus hernia
- hip or knee replacement (if the procedure was performed more than 12 months ago and less than 10 years ago, you haven't had any post-operative complications related to that surgery. Post-operative complications include joint dislocation and infection)
- hypercholesterolaemia or high cholesterol (if no heart or cardiovascular condition)
- hypertension or high blood pressure (if you don't have a known heart/cardiovascular condition, you don't have diabetes, your hypertension is stable and managed by a medical practitioner, in the last 12 months any prescribed blood pressure medication has not changed, you aren't suffering any symptoms of hypertension, you aren't having investigations related to your blood pressure)
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis (if you are less than 18 years of age when the policy is purchased and you have not complications of this condition requiring a specialist's opinion)
- migraines
- peptic or gastric ulcer (if ulcer has been stable in the last 12 months)
- osteoarthritis (if you are less than 80 years old when you purchase the policy, your prescribed medication hasn't changed in the last 6 months, you have no complications of this condition requiring a specialist's opinion, you have not been assessed or advised on spinal surgery associated with this condition and you don't require the daily use of mobility aid)
- plantar fasciitis
- Raynaud’s disease
- rheumatoid arthritis (if in the last 6 months prescribed medication hasn't changed, you have no complication of this condition outside of the joints, you don't require the daily use of a mobility aid, your condition is not ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, giant cell arteritis, haemochromatosis or haemochromatotic arthritis, lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), polymyalgia rheumatica, reactive arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome or spondyloarthritis).
- skin cancer (if your skin cancer is not melanoma, you haven't had chemotherapy or radiotherapy for this condition and your skin cancer does not require any follow-up treatment)
- trigger finger
- urinary incontinence
- underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism (if the case wasn't a tumour).
Are there any existing medical conditions not covered?
Some existing medical conditions cannot be covered, this includes:
- any condition not fully diagnosed
- any condition that is under investigation or where test results are pending
- any condition where you are awaiting specialist opinion
- travel that is booked or undertaken against medical advice
- travel undertaken to seek medical or dental advice, review, treatment, or surgery, including in relation to an existing medical condition.
- travel to participate in a clinical trial
- routine, cosmetic, or elective treatment that occurs during your trip
- any condition relating to alcohol or drug dependency.
Please refer to the PDS for further information.
Why choose Medibank Travel Insurance for existing medical conditions
Medibank Travel Insurance can help provide cover for existing medical conditions, with some cover being automatically provided.
Automatic cover for common conditions
Medibank Travel Insurance automatically includes cover for some common conditions. This includes conditions like asthma, hypertension and diabetes, provided you meet the criteria. Conditions apply. Refer to the PDS.
Online medical condition assessment
If needed, you have the option to complete a health assessment online. If approved, we can then offer you cover, and you can choose to include this in your policy. Your existing medical condition will be listed on your certificate of insurance and you can travel with confidence knowing you’re covered.
Be sure of your cover before you leave
Having an existing medical condition doesn't necessarily mean that you can't get travel insurance cover. Before you leave, you can apply for approval to have your existing medical conditions included in your cover.
Support during the process
If you need help while applying for cover, you can complete your health assessment online, over the phone or in-store.
Your questions answered
Limits, sub-limits, exclusions and conditions apply. This is general advice only. Medibank Private Limited, ABN 47 080 890 259, an Authorised Representative, AR 286089, of Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited, ABN 73 144 049 230 AFSL 360138 arranges the insurance on behalf of the insurer. The insurer is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507. Please consider your own needs and the Combined FSG/PDS available from at medibank.com.au/travel to decide if this product is right for you. For information on the Target Market and Target Market Determinations, visit medibank.com.au/travel-insurance/help/