Are you someone who travels frequently for business or pleasure? Do you have private medical insurance in the UK? If you answer ‘yes’ to both questions, does your policy cover your medical treatment abroad? Historically, many health insurance policies offered you cover for emergency treatment abroad. This is not the same as travel insurance as they only offered a small monetary amount of cover.
What options are available for medical treatment abroad?
International private medical insurance
Are you out of the UK for long periods of time? If so, An international private medical insurance policy could be the answer. These are available for both consumers and companies and on a short-term and long-term basis. You can buy different cover levels and there are several international private health insurance companies to choose from.
Travel insurance add-on to a UK policy
Depending on your insurer, you may be able to buy an add-on for travel insurance, again available for consumer and company policies alike. You do not have to declare your medical history; they are sold on a fit-to-travel basis. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, an add-on may be the easiest and cheapest option for you to access medical treatment abroad. Importantly, however, you must ensure the cover offered is adequate and suitable for your requirements. Key points to check are:
- Length of trip allowed
- Cancellation cover value
- Non urgent medical claims
- High-risk activities cover
- Winter sports option
If you do have pre-existing medical conditions, it should be noted that getting clarification from your GP about your health before you travel can save problems if you need to claim. Clearly, you want to ensure you have cover in place if a claim is required, but it is far better to be declared well enough to make your journey in the first place, especially if you are feeling unwell, have undiagnosed symptoms or purely for your own peace of mind.
Standalone travel insurance
A travel insurance policy will cover you for medical treatment abroad. When you purchase your policy, you will need to declare your medical history. In addition to this, your premium will also depend on your age and where you are travelling to. Without a doubt, you must provide a full medical declaration. If anything changes before you travel, you will need to advise your insurance provider. There is a chance you will be able to pay an additional premium and get cover agreed, but they can, however, decline to offer cover for your new condition or – worst case scenario – withdraw the cover completely. This is entirely dependent on the severity of your condition and the likelihood you will need treatment whilst travelling abroad.
Do any UK private medical insurance policies offer medical treatment abroad?
Freedom Health insurance offers a policy called Freedom Essentials. You can opt to have your treatment abroad on this policy. Please be aware, however, that there is no cover on the Essentials policy for cancer treatment (cancer cash benefit available). This policy provides you with a fixed cash sum based on the national average cost for your treatment. There is an accessible guide to fees available on the Freedom website. Out-patient cover is not covered as standard, but it can be added to your policy.
Do you have the Extended Cover add-on with AXA Business Health? If so, you can have treatment outside of the UK, providing it is planned or pre-approved.
Aviva Healthier Solutions and Solutions policies no longer offer emergency overseas cover.
General and Medical do still offer emergency treatment outside of the UK. You will need to take their “plus” upgrade. You can also add their worldwide travel insurance option, too. On this basis, you would be covered for medical treatment abroad. Importantly, you must provide a declaration where requested. This is key to having the right cover in place should you need to make a claim.
There is a great deal of accessible information online (and many horror stories, too!) about travel insurance options.
If you are not sure, the following website can help:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance
The Ascend Health team can help you work out what cover you already have attached to your health insurance and can advise you on the right travel insurance, wherever you’re travelling!
Please contact us today on 01245 929129 or, via email: enquiries@ascendhealth.co.uk