Travel Insurance for Heart Valve Disease

What is heart valve disease?

Your heart has four valves that open and close with every beat to keep blood flowing the right way. In heart valve disease one or more of them is narrowed, so it doesn’t open fully, or leaky, so some blood flows backwards. It’s one of the heart conditions people often live with for years before it needs treating, and the aortic and mitral valves are the ones most often affected. There’s a separate page on aortic valve disease if that’s your diagnosis.

Mild valve disease may cause no symptoms and just need regular scans. As it progresses, people can notice breathlessness, dizziness, chest discomfort or swollen ankles. Treatment ranges from medicines to repairing or replacing the valve. You can read more on the NHS heart valve disease page.

Why do I need to declare heart valve disease for travel insurance?

Heart valve disease is a pre-existing medical condition, and a past valve repair or replacement needs declaring alongside it. A narrowed or leaking valve can lead to breathlessness, fainting or rhythm problems. People with replacement valves also face a higher risk of infection or clots, and any of these could mean treatment abroad.

If your valve condition isn’t on the policy, a claim connected to your heart could be refused, or you may only get part of it paid.

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 heart valve disease?

Usually, yes. Plenty of people with valve disease can be covered, from a mildly leaky valve under annual review to a replacement fitted years ago. Whether cover is offered depends on your screening result. A past episode of endocarditis, severe symptoms or being on the list for surgery can affect the outcome.

What we’ll ask about your heart valve disease

The medical screening is online and simple to complete. For your heart valve disease, it asks about which valve is affected and whether surgery has been discussed or carried out. When you’ve finished with this condition, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

With the medical declaration complete, you’ll go through to the quote page. A list of quotes is shown if your heart valve disease and any other conditions are coverable, and the premium quoted includes the cost of covering your medical. If we can’t offer cover, you’ll find that out before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

A lot can happen between booking and departure. If your medicines change, you have a hospital stay, you’re listed for valve surgery, or you’re diagnosed with something new before you travel, you must let us know. We may need to review your cover or refer your medical situation to the underwriters, and occasionally we may not be able to proceed with cover. Any change in your medical you don’t tell us about could mean a future claim is affected or denied.

What can heart valve disease travel insurance cover?

With valve disease accepted, emergency care abroad can be covered. Picture a holiday in Crete where you collapse with breathlessness and are found to have fluid on the lungs. Hospital treatment can be covered, and so can repatriation if you need medical help to get home. This is all subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If your condition deteriorates before departure and your cardiologist advises against travelling, cancellation cover may help with costs you can’t get back.

The policy won’t cover routine checks or surgery arranged abroad, or anything relating to a condition that wasn’t declared.

Will heart valve disease affect the cost of travel insurance?

Yes, it might. Everyone’s answers are different, so the price reflects what comes out of our online medical screening. You may be asked how your valve disease is being treated or monitored and whether it is well controlled. As for any traveller, your age, where you’re heading and how long for will also count. You can look at the price and think it over before buying.

Single trip or annual cover with heart valve disease

A one-off holiday is easily covered by a single trip policy. If you travel often, an annual policy can be simpler. Annual cover with valve disease depends on what your screening shows.

Travelling with heart valve disease: practical tips

None of this is part of your cover. It’s general advice that people with valve problems often find helpful.

If you take warfarin for a mechanical valve, plan your INR checks around the trip. A change in diet, a lot of alcohol or a bout of sickness abroad can push your levels up or down. Your anticoagulation clinic can tell you what to do if you’re away for a while, and whether a home testing kit is worth considering.

Dental work abroad is best avoided. People with replaced valves or a past endocarditis infection are at higher risk from infections that start in the mouth, so get any dental problems sorted at home before you go.

If your valve narrowing causes dizziness on exertion, pace yourself in the heat and avoid big climbs. A day by the pool is a perfectly good day.

Carry a card or letter that says what valve you have, whether it’s mechanical or tissue, and which medicines you take. It saves time if you need treatment.

1. keep enough anticoagulant for the whole trip plus spare in your hand luggage
2. be careful with new medicines abroad, as some interact with warfarin
3. ask your pharmacist about anything you plan to buy over the counter

How to get a quote

Fill in your travel dates and destination, then answer the screening questions about your valve condition. Your price appears before you commit to anything.

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.