Travel Insurance for Pericarditis

What is pericarditis?

The pericardium is a thin, fluid-filled sac wrapped around the heart. Pericarditis is when it becomes inflamed. The classic sign is a sharp chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in or lie flat and eases when you sit forward. It’s one of several heart conditions on our site, though unlike most of them it’s often short-lived.

A viral infection is the usual cause, but it can also follow a heart attack or heart surgery, or be linked to conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Most people get better within a few weeks with anti-inflammatory medicines, but for some it keeps coming back. See the NHS pericarditis page for more.

Why do I need to declare pericarditis for travel insurance?

Pericarditis is a pre-existing medical condition once you’ve had it, especially if it was recent or has come back. We ask because it can return, sometimes within weeks, and chest pain abroad is usually treated as a possible cardiac emergency, with checks and observation in hospital.

If you haven’t declared it and then need care for chest pain, or cancel because of a flare, the claim could be refused 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 pericarditis?

In most cases, yes. Whether cover is offered depends on your screening result. A single episode that settled some time ago is often straightforward, while current treatment, repeated episodes or fluid that needed draining may change what’s possible.

What we’ll ask about your pericarditis

Declaring your pericarditis online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about when you had it and whether you’ve had more than one episode. 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 pericarditis 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

Pericarditis can return after it seems to have settled. If you have another episode, your treatment changes, you’re admitted to hospital, or you’re referred for more tests between now and departure, you must let us know. Your cover might need another look, your medical situation may have to go to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to continue with cover. A future claim can be affected or denied if a change in your medical isn’t reported.

What can pericarditis travel insurance cover?

Once accepted, pericarditis is treated like any other covered condition if it flares up while you’re away. If chest pain sends you to hospital in Rome and you need monitoring and treatment, the emergency costs can be covered, and repatriation can be too if you need medical help getting home. All of this is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

A recurrence just before you go can be frustrating. If your doctor tells you not to travel, you may be able to claim for non-refundable costs under cancellation cover.

Undeclared conditions aren’t covered. Nor is any treatment you’d planned to get abroad.

Will pericarditis affect the cost of travel insurance?

Pericarditis can make a difference to your premium, but how much is decided by your screening answers rather than the name of the condition. Our online medical screening may ask how it was treated and whether it’s now under control. Age, destination and trip length are part of every quote too. Once you’ve finished, the price is there in front of you before you commit.

Single trip or annual cover with pericarditis

If it’s just one trip, take out single trip travel insurance. Frequent travellers might prefer annual travel insurance instead. Your screening result will show whether annual cover is available.

Travelling with pericarditis: practical tips

These pointers are general and aren’t part of your policy.

Give yourself time to recover. Doctors usually advise avoiding strenuous exercise for a while after pericarditis, and for athletes this can be months. A hiking or diving holiday booked soon after an episode may need rethinking, so ask your doctor what’s sensible.

If you’re on colchicine or anti-inflammatories, finish the course as prescribed even while you’re away, and take enough to last. Stopping early is one reason pericarditis comes back. Anti-inflammatories can upset the stomach, so take them with food and be careful with alcohol.

Know what to look out for. Chest pain that’s getting worse, breathlessness, or feeling faint should be checked by a doctor straight away, wherever you are. Save the local emergency number in your phone before you land.

Viral infections are a common trigger, so basic hygiene helps on planes and in busy places. Hand gel and a bit of distance from anyone coughing won’t hurt.

Pericarditis pain can feel a lot like a heart attack to a doctor who doesn’t know you. A short note from your GP or hospital explaining your diagnosis, your recent ECG findings and what you take can speed things up if you end up in a clinic abroad. Keep a photo of it on your phone as well as a paper copy.

1. pack your medicines in hand luggage with a few days’ extra
2. plan quieter days early in the trip so you can judge how you feel
3. look up the nearest hospital to where you’re staying

How to get a quote

Tell us about your trip, declare pericarditis and any other conditions in the screening, and choose the cover you want. You’ll know the price before you pay.

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.