What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?When a trip cancellation travel insurance company refers to

a "Pre-Existing

Condition", they are talking about medical conditions that

exist in the

Lookback Period that immediately preceeds the travel

insurance purchase

date. Simply put, a Pre-Existing Condition is any medically

documented condition (no matter how minor) an

Insured Person, Traveling Companion or Family Member

has been treated for, consulted with or received advice on.

This includes any adjustments or changes in any

prescription drugs or medication during the Lookback

Period. The condition has to be medically stable. Medically Stable also includes the idea that nothing

is foreseen or expected to "be a turn for the worse". In other

words if you're given a week to live and you want to buy travel

insurance for a cruise next month, you can't cover the

Pre-Existing Condition. It's like wanting to buy Fire Insurance

when your house is on fire. Here's some actual policy wording:? ny injury, illness, sickness or medical condition of an

Insured or Family Member which either manifests itself or

exists during the Lookback Period immediately preceding

the day you buy Travel Insurance, unless the condition is

controlled through the taking of prescription drugs or

medication and remains controlled throughout the

Lookback Period. A pre-existing condition has manifested

itself when medical care, treatment or diagnosis has been

given. ?hat this means is starting today, if during the Lookback

Period:

You, a traveling companion or a family member, has any

injury, illness, disease, sickness or medical condition

and

Has been diagnosed, treated for it, had any prescription

changes (increase or decrease), been advised to be

treated, had symptoms of it, hopitalized, saw a medical

professional for it, etc.

Then that person has a Pre-Existing Condition as

defined by a Travel Insurance policy. Note: If that person has

a medical condition that? farther in the past than the

Lookback Period, they don't have a Pre-Existing

Condition. Why is this important?You can cancel or interrupt your trip or receive medical

treatment even if you have a Pre-Existing Condition? if you

follow the rules. Trip cancellation travel insurance excludes claims due to

pre-existing medical

conditions. Some travel insurance plans will waive the

pre-existing condition

exclusion at no extra charge if you get your travel insurance

in the first 10, 14

or 21 days after your first trip payment date (before the end

of these 10, 14 or

21 days). Any payment on your trip is considered the first payment.

This includes the tax you pay when you redeem frequent

flyer tickets, refundable deposits or even a trip planning

consultation fee if that fee is later credited toward your trip

costs. You'll protect yourself if you have to cancel or interrupt your

trip or receive medical treatment because of that

pre-existing medical condition. There are three primary

rules to keep in mind:

You have to insure your trip's full prepaid,

non-refundable cost and

person with the medical condition has to be medically

stable when you get your insurance and

You must get your travel insurance in the first 10, 14 or

21 days after your first trip payment dateIf you're past the first 10, 14 or 21 days you will be governed

by the "Lookback Period". What's the bottom line?If Pre-Existing Conditions are a concern for you or your

traveling companions,

you have to buy your trip cancellation travel insurance within

the deadlines. Steve Dasseos is the CEO of TripInsuranceStore. com. You can

compare travel insurance policies at this website. Contact

Steve here.

Author:
Steve Dasseos