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Health Insurance

Can you get health insurance with pre-existing conditions?

If you have pre-existing conditions, the thought of trying to find private medical insurance can be daunting. Whether you have a heart condition, diabetes or something else, it can be a worry whether an insurer will insure you. Even if you find the right company, you may be concerned that your conditions will push up the price of your premiums. So, what is the situation for people with pre-existing conditions that need to find the right health insurance?

Is health insurance available for people with pre-existing conditions?

The short answer is yes, you can get long term health insurance if you suffer from one or more pre-existing conditions. Many insurers will still cover you for new conditions, however, you may find that your insurance company places several restrictions on what they will and will not pay out for if you require treatment.

What are pre-existing conditions?

Pre-existing conditions include any medical-related problem that you have sought treatment for in the past. It incorporates any treatments that were provided by NHS services or by private clinics and can refer to medication, medical consultations and surgeries. The majority of insurers refer to pre-existing conditions as any medical issue for which you have had treatment within the past five years, although this time period can vary from one company to another.

Therefore, if you have suffered from an illness more than five years ago and have not sought treatment within the past five years, many insurance companies may not classify it as a pre-existing condition. Common pre-existing conditions include hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, strokes and arthritis. If you have one of these or another pre-existing condition, an insurance company could still give you a policy but will probably not pay for treatment concerned with a chronic condition.

Does it cost more to get insurance with a pre-existing condition?

As many insurance companies exclude pre-existing and chronic conditions from the cover provided by their policy, it is unlikely that your conditions will increase the price of your policy. However, there are some policies that will include your pre-existing conditions in their cover when you pay higher premiums. If the cost of treatment for your pre-existing conditions is high, then paying a little extra for your premiums may be worth it.

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Health Insurance Travel Insurance

What does Brexit mean for travel insurance and healthcare in Europe?

The last 12 months have been dominated by COVID-19, and due to the global pandemic stopping people from being able to travel abroad, the ramifications associated with Brexit are yet to be experienced – or indeed acknowledged – by many people.

With the vaccine rollout going well, and with COVID-19 cases going down by the day, it seems likely that holidays will be on the agenda shortly, so what do you need to know? What impact has Brexit had and will it impact your ability to obtain health cover?

The GHIC

At the beginning of January 2021, the Government declared that all UK citizens would be able to apply for a scheme known as the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which was created and subsequently launched as part of the post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU.

Previously, UK citizens were able to access a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though this is now being phased out entirely. However, while the cards are somewhat similar, there are certain limitations that you should be aware of. While the EHIC made a point of not only covering the EU but also other European nations such as Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, the GHIC will not cover these non-EU countries (other than the UK).

To apply for a free GHIC card, simply follow this link to the NHS’s dedicated application page.

What the GHIC covers

The GHIC, just like the EHIC, has been designed to ensure those who are travelling abroad have access to care for one-off emergency medical issues, routine care for pregnant women, as well as treatment for any ongoing chronic illnesses.

Venturing further afield

The UK Government is currently in the process of finalising agreements with a host of other European countries that are not covered by the GHIC (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland). These will likely be finalised in the coming weeks, but for the time being, Norway has confirmed that UK passport holders will be able to get emergency health insurance simply by showing their passport. The other countries have not signed off on any such deal.

When it comes to heading outside of Europe, the UK already has agreements in place in principal with a host of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia. With regard to the remainder of the countries in the world, talks are currently ongoing, and it is expected that some kind of deal will be in place by the summer of 2021.

Take a look at our insurance comparison website today to find a business travel insurance policy that suits your needs.

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