Travel Insurance for Supraventricular Tachycardia

What is supraventricular tachycardia?

Supraventricular tachycardia, usually shortened to SVT, causes sudden bursts of a very fast heartbeat. An episode can start and stop without warning and may last seconds or hours. It’s a type of arrhythmia and sits with the other heart conditions on the site.

During an attack you might feel your heart racing or pounding, and some people feel dizzy, breathless or have chest discomfort. SVT is rarely dangerous, and many people learn simple techniques to stop an episode. Others take medicine to prevent attacks or have a procedure called catheter ablation, which can fix the problem for good. The NHS SVT page explains the symptoms and treatments.

Why do I need to declare SVT for travel insurance?

SVT is a heart rhythm condition, so it counts as pre-existing even if episodes are rare. We need to know because an attack that won’t settle on its own can mean a trip to A&E abroad, and an ablation booked near your holiday dates might lead you to cancel.

Leave it undeclared and a claim for palpitations, hospital care or cancellation linked to your heart rhythm might be refused or paid at a lower amount.

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 SVT?

Yes, in many cases. Whether SVT can be included depends on your screening result. People whose episodes are infrequent, or who have had a successful ablation, often find it easier than someone with frequent attacks or treatment still to come.

What we’ll ask about your SVT

The online medical screening is short and easy to get through. It asks a few things about your SVT, how often you have episodes and whether you’ve had an ablation. When you’re done declaring this condition, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

After the declaration, you’ll be taken to the quote page. You’ll be shown a list of quotes if your SVT and your other conditions are coverable, and each premium includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we’re unable to offer cover, you’ll be told before you proceed.

If your health changes before travelling

Heart rhythm problems can change. If your attacks become more frequent, you visit hospital, you start new medicine, or you’re referred for an ablation 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 SVT travel insurance cover?

When SVT is accepted, an episode abroad that needs medical help can be covered like any other emergency. If an attack in Turkey won’t settle and you’re taken to hospital for treatment to slow your heart, those costs can be covered, as can repatriation if that’s medically needed. Cover is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Should your SVT become troublesome before you leave and your doctor advise you not to go, cancellation cover may help you recover non-refundable costs.

Planned treatment overseas, including an ablation, isn’t covered. Neither are conditions that weren’t declared.

Will SVT affect the cost of travel insurance?

There’s a chance it will, and the result of your screening decides by how much. Going through our online medical screening, you may be asked how your SVT is treated and how well your heart rhythm is controlled at the moment. Beyond that, ordinary things like age, destination and the length of your trip shape the price for everyone. You see the cost in full before buying.

Single trip or annual cover with SVT

For a single holiday, single trip cover does the job. If you go away more often, take a look at annual multi-trip cover. It depends on your screening, but many people with SVT find it a convenient choice.

Travelling with SVT: practical tips

These are general suggestions and don’t form part of your cover.

Know your triggers. For many people, caffeine, alcohol, dehydration, lack of sleep and stress can set off an episode. A late night flight, strong coffee on arrival and a few drinks in the sun is a fairly common combination on holiday, so pace yourself.

If your doctor has shown you vagal manoeuvres, such as bearing down or splashing cold water on your face, practise them before you travel so they come naturally. Keep water to hand on flights and in hot weather.

Planning to scuba dive? An episode underwater is a very different matter from one on dry land, so diving with SVT needs a proper conversation with your cardiologist and a dive medical first. The same goes for other activities where a sudden dizzy spell could be dangerous.

Make sure someone you’re travelling with knows what an episode looks like and when to call for help. Chest pain, fainting, or an attack that lasts longer than usual needs urgent medical attention, wherever you are.

If you’ve had an ECG recorded during an episode, keep a copy or a photo of it. It can help doctors abroad see what your normal SVT looks like. Some people also use a smartwatch that records heart rhythm, which can be handy to show a doctor.

If you take tablets such as beta blockers, carry them in your hand luggage, and read our guide on travelling abroad with medication.

How to get a quote

Put in your travel details and work through the screening, adding SVT and any other conditions. Then choose your cover and see the price.

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.