Does asthma affect your travel insurance?

Yes, asthma affects your travel insurance because you are required to declare it as a pre-existing condition to avoid any claims being declined. Depending on the severity of your asthma, it can affect the type of travel insurance you’re able to get.

Do I need to declare asthma?

Yes, asthma is classed as a pre-existing condition and has to be declared during a medical screening. If it isn’t, any claim made on the policy can be rejected.

Does asthma count as a pre-existing condition?

Yes, asthma is categorised as a pre-existing condition (if it has been diagnosed by a doctor) by travel insurers. This means that you have to declare it during your medical screening. During the screening you’ll have to answer specific questions about your asthma so that your insurer understands the severity of your condition. If you don’t, and you had an asthma related illness while you're abroad, your claim will likely be rejected. This means you will likely have to pay the medical costs yourself.

Is asthma classed as a respiratory condition?

Yes, asthma is a chronic respiratory condition. It causes people to have trouble breathing. If you have asthma, a change in altitude or humidity can trigger an attack. This is why you must disclose it when buying your policy, as it helps make sure you have the right type of cover. If you don’t disclose it, it can lead to your insurer rejecting your claim, leaving you with a substantial medical bill.

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Key things to know about travel insurance if you have asthma

Specialist Cover: Standard policies often exclude respiratory issues; specialist cover is essential to protect against costs for asthma attacks, emergency nebulisers, and lost or stolen inhalers.

Repatriation Costs: Medical flights back to the UK from abroad can range between £10,000¹ - over £100,000 depending on the destination. A comprehensive travel insurance policy designed for someone living with asthma can help make sure these expenses and 24/7 medical assistance are fully covered.

Mandatory Disclosure: You must declare all asthma history and any other medical conditions like high blood pressure; failing to do so, or travelling against a doctor's advice, will void your entire policy.

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Thanks to specialist insurers, it’s still possible to travel with asthma whatever your age, even if you have multiple inhalers. These insurers can provide you with the right type of cover which gives you peace of mind needed to enjoy your trip.

Whether it’s a bank holiday weekend trip to France or a 2-week trip to visit family in Canada, you can now explore the world, without being penalised for your pre-existing condition.

What does travel insurance for Asthmatics cover?

Travel insurance for asthmatics is designed to protect you from the specific risks that are related to asthma.

A comprehensive policy generally includes:

Emergency medical treatment	This covers the cost of any hospital admissions, GP consultations, and emergency medication if you have an asthma attack during your trip.
Medical repatriation	If your symptoms suddenly worsen during your trip, and you can’t return home on a commercial flight, you can be covered for the cost of an air ambulance to take you back home.
Lost or stolen medication	Specialist insurers can provide cover to replace inhalers (preventers and relievers) or other prescribed medications if they are lost, damaged, or stolen during your trip.
Emergency nebuliser treatment	You’ll be covered for the cost of using an emergency nebuliser therapy or the repair/replacement of your own if it stops working.
Cancellation and curtailment	If a doctor advises that you are unfit to travel due to an asthma flare-up before you depart, or if you have to cut your trip short to return home for treatment, you can claim back non-refundable travel and accommodation costs.

Why you need specialist travel insurance for Asthmatics

It’s important to declare your asthma, and the asthma of anyone else that is travelling as part of the policy e.g. children, spouses etc. during the screening process, as insurers class it as a pre-existing condition. This can potentially lead to you having to pay thousands, or even tens of thousands of pounds in additional costs if your asthma were to flare up while you are abroad.

What is not covered by travel insurance for Asthmatics?

Travelling against medical advice	If your GP or a respiratory specialist has advised you not to travel abroad, and you still travelled, your policy wouldn’t be valid.
Recent medical changes	Insurers will generally not cover you if you have been hospitalised for your asthma or had a change in your prescribed medication (such as a new dosage or a different type of inhaler) within the last 12 months. However, it may still be worth checking if another specialist insurer may be able to offer you cover.
Awaiting test results or treatment	If you are waiting to see a specialist for the results of a lung function test, for example, or are on a waiting list for surgery, any claims related to these issues will typically be excluded.

How much does travel insurance for Asthmatics cost?

The price of travel insurance for asthmatics can vary depending on your circumstances, these include:

The severity of your asthma - The more severe your asthma symptoms, for example regularly needing inhalers, poor lung function etc. the more expensive your policy is likely to be.

Destination - If you’re travelling to the USA or Dubai, your premium will be higher because of the high healthcare costs in those countries.

Age and other pre-existing conditions - If you are older or have other pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure, insurers may charge you more as you pose a higher risk of making a claim.

Tips on finding affordable travel insurance for Asthmatics

A great way of getting the most out of your policy is matching your cover to your circumstances, for example:

Annual Multi-Trip policy - If you plan to travel abroad more than twice in a year, let’s say a 1-week beach holiday to Spain, a 2-week skiing holiday in the USA and a weekend getaway in France. It may be better value for money to get an AMT policy than buying separate policies for each trip.

Declare your full medical history - This can save you tens of thousands of pounds from having a claim rejected by not declaring a pre-existing condition.

Only pay for the cover that you need - If you’re planning a relaxing holiday, with lots of walking, relaxing by the beach etc. you won’t need any winter sports cover, so there is no need to buy any.

To find the right travel insurance policy for your asthma, you can use PayingTooMuch to compare all the options available to you now.

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