When do you need pre-existing coverage on your visitor health insurance?  

When do you need pre-existing coverage on your visitor health insurance?

Everyone loves to travel, but some challenges, like pre-existing illnesses, put people under restraint. With age, you tend to develop certain health conditions that can interfere with your daily life and traveling. Pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, asthma, etc., can hinder your everyday life, forcing you to stay on medications and routine check-ups. Nevertheless, these illnesses will never stop you from traveling if your doctor allows it. Moreover, now, you have several pre-existing coverages included on visitor health insurance that can protect you during a trip. 

Insurance plans offering acute onset of pre-existing coverage cover medical expenses up to the chosen policy maximum or up to a specific amount. Each plan has different coverages and definitions, so you must go through the brochure or talk to the insurance executive to clarify the insurance plans. However, one must note that visitor insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. Instead, they cover the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. To know more about this, keep reading. 

What is pre-existing coverage in visitor insurance?  

Visitor insurance with pre-existing coverage provides some peace of mind while you travel the world confidently. Despite your medical condition, your doctor needs to clear you before you venture out on an adventure. Typically, these plans protect you abroad from various acute onset medical events that can occur without symptoms and need immediate medical attention within 24 hours of the first symptom. Depending on your plan, you can receive cashless treatment up to the amount mentioned in the policy. 

Before proceeding with any plan, you must understand the difference between a pre-existing condition and the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are medical conditions that are already present and exist before the effective date of the policy. Each plan has a look-back period for a  condition to be pre-existing. 

Visitor insurance plans do not cover all events that result from a pre-existing condition. These policies cover those events that occur without prior symptoms or warnings and can lead to severe threats.  For instance, suddenly, one fine day, you go through an asthma attack for which you need coverage immediately. This can be considered as an acute onset for which the plan can offer coverage through the acute onset of pre-existing condition benefit. However, it is essential to check the policy wording and understand what it covers before buying. 

What are the most common pre-existing conditions covered?  

• Diabetes– Diabetes causes a rise in blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production. This condition can lead to frequent urination, excessive thirst, and hunger. Pre-existing coverages on visitor health insurance do not cover regular check-ups, doctor visits, or insulin refills. But some plans can cover the acute onset of this pre-existing condition.
• Cholesterol– Fats accumulate along the walls of the arteries and cause blockages, leading to high cholesterol levels. This is a serious health condition and can cause a stroke, coronary heart disease, a heart attack, narrowing of arteries, and more. Therefore, you must buy a plan that covers the acute onset of this chronic pre-existing condition so that you can be covered when traveling with high cholesterol levels.  
• High blood pressure– High blood pressure can cause life-threatening events like a heart attack, heart failure, dementia, a stroke, aneurysms, vision loss, kidney disease, etc. One must take regularly prescribed medications and follow a suitable lifestyle to avoid acute onset conditions. However, buying a visitor insurance policy with acute onset of chronic pre-existing coverage is recommended to protect you from financial losses if any mishap occurs.  
• Arthritis– Arthritis is unpredictable, and one can experience sudden joint pain and discomfort. These discomforts can be so grave that you may require hospitalization. This is where pre-existing coverage on visitor health insurance comes into the picture. So, buying a plan with acute onset is recommended.  

When do you need pre-existing coverage?  

• Covers sudden recurrence- If you need emergency hospitalization or a doctor’s assistance at any point while traveling, you need not worry, as the payment can be covered.  Based on the pre-existing condition you have, your plan can /cover up to the amount stated in the brochure for the eligible claim.
• Saves money–  As health care is expensive in the US, buying visitor insurance with coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions can save you from hefty out-of-pocket expenses. In short, you do not have to pay for any new illnesses or injuries as your plan can cover them. 
• Coverage for new complications– Visitor insurance provides coverage for any unexpected incident that may arise due to any pre-existing condition if it is an acute onset. You can be rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment.  
• Quick access to doctors– You can easily find doctors or clinics in the event of an illness or injury.  You can find providers within your network and access them. Once your deductible and coinsurance are met, your comprehensive plan can cover the rest of the eligible expenses.  

Buying visitor insurance is essential, especially when suffering from a medical condition. During a trip, your pre-existing condition may become unstable and develop a new complication. As a result, you may need immediate care and treatment within 24 hours. This is where you can utilize visitor insurance with an acute onset of pre-existing coverage.  

Visitor Guard® has several plans that cover the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. For any more information, feel free to contact us.