Existing Medical Conditions

Online Medical Screenings

We automatically cover over 40 existing medical conditions (as defined) at no additional premium, provided you satisfy all criteria listed for the condition(s) as outlined in the policy.

If any travellers have existing medical conditions that are not automatically covered, you will be asked to complete a medical screening at the time you buy your policy. If we agree to offer you cover for your existing medical condition(s), these can be added to your policy as specified medical conditions for an additional premium. The premium charged will vary depending on your medical condition and trip details. An additional excess may also apply.

During the medical assessment, you will be asked some simple questions about your medical condition(s) and your general health; we will then determine if we can provide cover to you and, if so, on what terms.

Frequently asked questions about Existing Medical Conditions

What’s an existing medical condition?

An existing medical condition is any medical condition which:

  • at the time you buy your policy is:
    • chronic; or
    • displaying symptoms; or
    • under investigation; or
    • pending follow-up consultation, treatment or surgery; or where these are recommended or planned; or
    • metastatic; or
    • terminal; or
  • in the six months prior to the time you buy your policy there has been:
    • treatment by a medical practitioner; or
    • medication prescribed; or
    • surgery.
What happens if you choose not to get cover for your existing medical condition(s)?
If you have an existing medical condition that’s not automatically covered under your policy or added to your policy as a specified medical condition, then you won’t be covered for any claim that arises from that existing medical condition.
What if I can’t complete the screening online?
You can also complete the screening by contacting our Customer Service Centre on 1300 783 146 (Australian customers) or 0800 800 608 (New Zealand Customers) during Australian business hours Monday to Friday. Visit our Contact Us page for more details.

Automatically covered conditions

We automatically cover you for over 40 existing medical conditions which may exist at the time you buy your policy. Your medical condition is classified by us as an ‘automatically covered condition’ if it’s listed in the table below, provided that you satisfy all criteria listed for that condition. You must read this section together with the General exclusions, as these may affect your cover.  

Acne 
You haven’t received treatment for your acne from a medical practitioner in the three months prior to buying your policy.  
 

Allergies   
You follow advice in accordance with your medical practitioner (such as to carry EpiPens, antihistamines/other preventative medication at all times) and, at the time you buy your policy, you:  
 

  • have no other known or underlying respiratory conditions or diseases (for example, asthma); and 
  • have not required treatment from a medical practitioner for your allergies in the last six months. 

Anaemia (Iron Deficiency)  
No criteria apply.  
 
Asthma     
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • are under 60 years of age;  
  • have no other known or underlying respiratory conditions (including sleep apnoea); 
  • haven’t required cortisone medication, except taken by inhaler or puffer; and 
  • haven’t required hospitalisation for asthma in the last two years, including as an outpatient. 

Bell’s Palsy 
No criteria apply.  

Benign Positional Vertigo      
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required hospitalisation for benign positional vertigo in the last two years, including as an outpatient.  

Bunions      
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for bunions in the last three months and have no surgery planned.  

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome in the last three months and have no surgery planned.  

Cataracts     
At the time you buy your policy, you have no ongoing complications, haven’t had surgery for cataracts in the last three months, and have no surgery planned.  

Coeliac Disease     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required hospitalisation for coeliac disease in the last two years, including as an outpatient.  

Congenital Blindness 
No criteria apply.  

Congenital Deafness 
No criteria apply.  

Diabetes Mellitus (Types I and II) 
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • were diagnosed more than six months ago;  
  • haven’t had any complications in the last six months;  
  • have no eye, kidney, nerve or vascular complications; 
  • have a blood sugar level reading between 4 and 12 or a HbA1C score of 9% or less; and  
  • have no known cardiovascular/ coronary heart disease.  

Dry Eye Syndrome 
No criteria apply.  

Ear Grommets     
At the time you buy your policy, you have no current ear infection.  

Epilepsy   
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • no underlying medical conditions (for example, previous head trauma, stroke);  
  • not changed your medication regime for epilepsy in the last 12 months; and  
  • not required hospitalisation for epilepsy in the last two years, including as an outpatient.  

Folate Deficiency 
No criteria apply.  

Gastric Reflux      
Your gastric reflux doesn’t relate to another underlying diagnosis (examples: hernia or gastric ulcer).  

Glaucoma     
At the time you buy your policy, you have no ongoing complications, haven’t had surgery for glaucoma in the last three months, and have no surgery planned.  

Goitre     
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour.  

Graves’ Disease     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t received treatment from a medical practitioner for Graves’ disease in the last six months.  

Hashimoto’s Disease     
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour.  

Hiatus Hernia     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for Hiatus Hernia in the last six months and have no surgery planned.  

Hypercholesterolemia/Hyperlipidaemia (High Cholesterol / High Lipids) 
At the time you buy your policy, you have no cardiovascular/coronary heart disease.  

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) 
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • you have no known cardiovascular/coronary heart disease; and  
  • your current blood pressure reading is lower than 165/95.  

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) 
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour.  

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) 
The underlying medical cause excludes tumour.  

Impaired Glucose Tolerance    
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • were diagnosed more than six months ago;  
  • haven’t had any complications in the last six months;  
  • have no eye, kidney, nerve or vascular complications; 
  • have a blood sugar level reading between 4 and 12 or a HbA1C score of 9% or less; and  
  • have no known cardiovascular/ coronary heart disease.  

Incontinence     
You have no underlying gastrointestinal or urinary condition.  

Insulin Resistance     
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • no known cardiovascular/coronary heart disease; and  
  • not required hospitalisation for insulin resistance in the last two years, including as an outpatient. 

Iron Deficiency 
No criteria apply.  

Macular Degeneration 
No criteria apply.  

Migraine     
You haven’t required hospitalisation for migraines in the two years prior to buying your policy, including as an outpatient.  

Nocturnal Cramps 
No criteria apply.  

Osteoporosis/Osteopenia     
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • haven’t had any fractures;  
  • don’t require more than one medication for this condition; and  
  • have no other conditions involving the neck or back.  

Pernicious Anaemia 
No criteria apply.  

Plantar Fasciitis     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for plantar fasciitis in the last three months, and have no surgery planned.  

Raynaud’s Disease     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t required treatment by a medical practitioner for Raynaud’s disease in the last six months.  

Sleep Apnoea      
At the time you buy your policy, you:  

  • have no other known or underlying respiratory conditions (including asthma); and  
  • haven’t required hospitalisation for sleep apnoea in the last two years, including as an outpatient.  

Solar Keratosis     
Your condition has been confirmed as benign.  

Trigeminal Neuralgia     
You haven’t required treatment by a medical practitioner for trigeminal neuralgia in six months prior to buying your policy.  

Trigger Finger     
At the time you buy your policy, you haven’t had surgery for trigger finger in the last three months, and have no surgery planned.  

Vitamin B12 Deficiency 
No criteria apply. 

Changes in your health before travelling

If you develop a new medical condition (or the symptoms of one) after you buy your policy but before you depart on your trip, you must check with your medical practitioner that you are fit to travel and get written confirmation. If you don’t get your medical practitioner’s written confirmation before you travel, and you were unfit to travel due to your medical condition, you won’t be covered for any claim that arises from that condition if you still travel.

Don’t forget, our definition of an ‘existing medical condition’ includes a condition that was displaying symptoms or that you were undergoing investigations for at the time you bought your policy. If you did not tell us about your existing medical condition when you bought your policy, contact us as soon as possible.