Will travel insurance cover diabetes?

Living with diabetes shouldn’t stop you from traveling. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you deserve to have fun and relax on vacation as much as anyone else. However, when it comes to insuring your trip, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Is diabetes considered a pre-existing medical condition?

Travel insurance generally excludes pre-existing medical conditions. This means that if you need to cancel your trip due to a situation related to your diabetes, you may not have coverage.

For most Arch RoamRight plans, a pre-existing condition is defined as:

Any illness, disease, or other condition during the 180 day period immediately prior to the Effective Date of Your coverage for which You or Your Traveling Companion, Business Partner or Family Member: 1) received or received a recommendation for a test, examination, or medical treatment; or 2) took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine. Item (2) of this definition does not apply to a condition which is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription drugs or medicine and remains treated or controlled without any adjustment or change in the required prescription throughout the 180 day period before Your coverage is effective under this policy.

The 180-day “look back” period may vary based on the plan selected (Pro and Pro Plus plans have a shorter, 60-day look back period).

In summary, if you have diabetes and in the past 180 days, have not had or been recommended for any test, examinations or medical treatments for the disease, AND your prescription medications have not changed, your diabetes is not classified as a pre-existing condition. Therefore, travel insurance coverage may be available.

How to purchase travel insurance if your diabetes is a pre-existing condition

If your medical situation has changed recently, such as having tests recommended and medication changes, you may still be able to have travel insurance coverage.

With most Arch RoamRight plans, the clause that excludes pre-existing conditions can be waived when certain criteria are met. These criteria are:

1. You purchase your policy within 21 days of making the initial payment on your trip;
2. You insure all of the Travel Arrangements that are subject to cancellation penalties and restrictions;
3. You are not disabled from travel when you purchase your travel insurance policy; and
4. The booking for this trip is your first and only booking for this travel period and destination.

When you meet all four of these conditions, any trip cancellations or travel medical emergencies related to your diabetes may be covered.

Diabetes and Travel Insurance Coverage during Severe Emergencies

Rest assured – there are two cases where travel insurance can provide coverage for complications from diabetes, regardless of whether it is considered a pre-existing condition or not. These are Emergency Medical Evacuations and Repatriation of Remains.

You may be in good health, safely managing your condition when you plan to go on a trip. However, medical emergencies can still occur. If you experience diabetic complications and need emergency medical treatment that cannot be provided in the local area, you may be covered for an emergency medical evacuation.

It’s happened before – just watch this story about a man who experience major complications due his diabetes while he was in Antarctica.

Learn More about Traveling with a Medical Condition

There are several places where you can get more information about traveling with a medical condition. You may be interested in these posts found here in on the Arch RoamRight Travel Insurance Blog:

• When Travel Insurance May Cover Pre-Existing Conditions
• Will Your Health Insurance Cover You Abroad?

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.