Heart Condition Travel Insurance

What are heart conditions?

“Heart condition” is a broad label. It takes in problems with the blood supply to the heart, such as coronary heart disease and angina, as well as rhythm problems like atrial fibrillation, weakness of the heart muscle, faulty valves and conditions people are born with. You can browse every page in our heart conditions section if you want something more specific.

Some people live with a heart problem for decades with little more than a daily tablet. Others have had a heart attack, a stent or bypass surgery, or have been diagnosed with heart failure. The NHS cardiovascular disease page explains the main types and what raises the risk.

Why do I need to declare a heart condition for travel insurance?

Any diagnosed heart condition is treated as a pre-existing medical condition. That includes problems that feel well controlled, like a murmur or an irregular rhythm kept in check with tablets. We need to know because heart trouble is one of the more common reasons people need emergency care on holiday, or end up cancelling after a sudden flare.

Leaving it off your policy means a claim tied to your heart, or to a complication of it, could be turned down or reduced.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with a heart condition?

Often you can, and that applies to a wide range of heart conditions, from angina and atrial fibrillation to past surgery or a pacemaker. Whether cover is offered depends on your screening result. A condition that has been stable for some time is usually easier to accept than one that is still being investigated or has recently changed.

What we’ll ask about your heart condition

Declaring your heart condition online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about the type of heart condition you have and the medication you take. After that, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions you have.

Once you’ve finished the medical declaration, you’ll go through to the quote page. If your heart condition and your other conditions can be covered, you’ll see a list of quotes, and the premium shown includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Heart conditions can change quickly. If you’re admitted to hospital, you start a new heart medicine or have your dose altered, you’re referred for an angiogram or other tests, or you get a new diagnosis between now and departure, you must let us know. Your cover may need reviewing, we may need to refer your medical situation to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to proceed with cover. If you don’t let us know of any changes in your medical, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can heart condition travel insurance cover?

When your heart condition has been accepted, a cardiac emergency abroad can be covered like any other. Say you develop chest pain in Lanzarote and are admitted for tests and treatment. Emergency medical costs can be covered, and if the doctors say you need to fly home with medical support, repatriation can be covered too, subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If your heart problem gets worse before you leave and your doctor tells you not to go, cancellation cover may let you claim back non-refundable costs.

No policy pays for treatment you planned to have overseas, such as a procedure you’ve booked abroad. Conditions you didn’t declare aren’t covered either.

Will a heart condition affect the cost of travel insurance?

Quite possibly, though nobody can say how much until you’ve been screened. When you complete our online medical screening, expect questions about the treatment you have for your heart and how well it keeps the condition under control. Those answers shape the medical part of your price. General points such as your age, destination and trip length count too. Whatever the figure, it appears on screen before you decide to buy.

Single trip or annual cover with a heart condition

For one holiday, single trip cover is usually enough. People who travel a few times a year often prefer annual cover, which saves buying a new policy each time. Whether annual cover is available with your heart condition depends on the screening result.

Travelling with a heart condition: practical tips

These general tips are for your own planning. They don’t form part of your insurance.

Timing matters after a heart attack, surgery or a stent. Airlines have their own rules about how soon you can fly, and your cardiologist is the best person to tell you when a trip is sensible. Ask them before you pay for anything.

Think about the place as well as the journey. Very hot, humid destinations put extra strain on the heart, and so does high altitude. Steep hill towns, long walking tours and lots of stairs can be tiring if you get breathless, so look at the layout of your hotel and resort in advance.

On a long flight, get up and walk when you can, drink water and go easy on alcohol. If you carry a GTN spray, keep it on you rather than in the overhead locker. If you have a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, carry your device card and show it at security.

Airports can offer free assistance, which can save a long walk to the gate. Book it through your airline at least 48 hours ahead.

1. pack all your heart medicines in your hand luggage with extra for delays
2. carry a list of your medicines and a copy of your latest ECG if you have one
3. find out where the nearest hospital with a cardiac unit is

Our guide to travelling abroad with medication covers packing and paperwork.

How to get a quote

Enter your trip details, then declare each heart condition in the screening along with anything else you need to tell us about. The price is shown before you buy.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Heart Pages

• Angina Travel Insurance
• Atrial Fibrillation Travel Insurance
• Cardiomyopathy Travel Insurance
• Heart Attack Travel Insurance
• Heart Conditions Travel Insurance
• Heart Failure Travel Insurance
• Heart Valve Disease Travel Insurance
• Pericarditis Travel Insurance
• Supraventricular Tachycardia Travel Insurance

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.