Travel insurance with pre-existing conditions
You can usually get travel insurance with pre-existing conditions. Coverage for a prior condition typically depends on it being stable for a defined period before you travel. Under 60 you answer no medical questions; at 60 and over a medical questionnaire sets your premium, not your eligibility. OHIP does not pay abroad, so confirm your terms in a quote.
Key takeaways
- A pre-existing condition usually must be stable for a set period before departure to be covered.
- Travellers under 60 answer no medical questions on TripCovered emergency medical plans.
- At 60 and over, a medical questionnaire sets premium, not eligibility.
- Answer health questions accurately — errors can affect a claim.
- OHIP does not cover care out of country.
Having a health condition does not shut you out of travel insurance. Most travellers with pre-existing conditions can get covered — the real question is whether a specific prior condition will be included, and that usually turns on how stable it has been before you leave.
Why OHIP doesn’t fill the gap
OHIP covers care in Ontario, not abroad. Most out-of-country coverage ended in 2020, and OHIP never pays a foreign hospital up front. If a pre-existing condition flares while you travel — or any unrelated emergency happens — the bill is yours unless you carry travel insurance. Emergency medical coverage is what protects you within the policy’s limits.
How stability periods work
Coverage for a pre-existing condition generally depends on a stability period: a defined window before departure during which the condition must be unchanged. Stability usually means no new symptoms, no change in treatment or medication (dosage included), no new tests, and no pending results. If the condition stays stable through that window, it is generally eligible; if it changed recently, related claims may not be covered.
The length of the window varies by plan and age, so read it carefully and match it against your own recent medical history before you buy.
Medical questions by age
TripCovered emergency medical plans have no age limit. Travellers under 60 answer no medical questions at all. At 60 and over, you complete a medical questionnaire — and this is important — it sets your premium, not your eligibility. Answer it accurately and completely. The questionnaire is also where your stability window and condition-specific terms get pinned down, so it directly shapes what is covered.
Why accuracy matters
Health questions are not a formality. An inaccurate or incomplete answer can affect whether a related claim is paid. Take your time, check your medication list and recent appointments, and if you are unsure how to describe something, describe it plainly rather than guessing. Accurate answers are the foundation of a coverage you can rely on.
What price depends on
Your premium typically reflects your age, trip length, coverage amount, destination and — at 60 and over — your questionnaire answers. A well-managed, stable condition generally has less effect than an unstable or recently changed one. Because so much depends on your specific history, the only accurate figure comes from a personalized quote; no generic number can tell you your real price.
Getting coverage you can trust
Go into a quote prepared: know your diagnoses, current medications and doses, and the dates of any recent changes or tests. Confirm the stability window that applies to you, check which conditions are included, and make sure the emergency medical limit is high enough for any unrelated illness or injury too. If a large trip deposit is at stake, consider trip cancellation and interruption coverage alongside the medical plan.
Travel insurance with pre-existing conditions is very achievable — the key is answering accurately and confirming your stability terms before you go. Comparing your options in a quote is the quickest way to see exactly what is covered and what it costs for your situation.
Ready to get covered?
See your price and buy in minutes — the same price as going direct, with real guidance behind it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get travel insurance if I have a medical condition?
Yes, most travellers with pre-existing conditions can get coverage. Whether a specific condition is covered usually depends on a stability period — the condition being unchanged for a defined time before departure. Confirm the exact terms and your stability window in a quote.
What is a stability period?
It is a defined window before your trip during which a condition must be stable — no new symptoms, no changes to treatment or medication, no new tests pending. If the condition stays stable through that window, it is generally eligible for coverage. The length varies by plan and age.
Do I have to answer medical questions?
On TripCovered emergency medical plans, travellers under 60 answer no medical questions. At 60 and over you complete a medical questionnaire that determines your premium, not whether you are eligible. Answer honestly and accurately, because inaccuracies can affect a claim.
TripCovered is a licensed insurance referral service operating in Ontario. Insurance is administered by North American Air Travel Insurance Agents Ltd., doing business as TuGo®, a licensed insurance broker in all provinces and territories. The issuer of the contract is Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. and Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. This website provides general information only and is not a contract of insurance. Always read your policy wording before you travel.