Best Travel Insurance for Travellers with Pre-Existing Conditions (2023)

Having pre-existing conditions need not stop you from visiting your favourite holiday destinations. Here are three travel insurance plans that cover pre-existing conditions.

Best Travel Insurance for pre-existing conditions: MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex | TIQ Travel Insurance Pre-Ex

Best Travel Insurance: TIQ Travel Insurance | MSIG TravelEasy | Allianz Travel Insurance | Ergo TravelProtect | Singlife Travel Insurance | Sompo Travel Insurance | Tokio Marine Travel Insurance | Allied World Travel Insurance | Starr Travel Insurance | FWD Travel Insurance | AIG Travel Guard

Travel insurance is a handy, cost-efficient way to ensure your ability to afford medical treatment should an illness, accident or emergency occur while overseas.

However, by default, medical insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. So, should a diabetes patient require a trip to the emergency room while visiting another country, they will have to foot the hospital bill out of their own pocket.

As you can imagine, this can be expensive, especially because as a visitor in a foreign land, you won’t be entitled to any subsidies.

Thankfully, insurers have launched travel insurance plans with cover for pre-existing conditions, helping people with long-term health conditions travel with affordable insurance coverage.

Table of contents:

• Travel insurance promotions
• What are pre-existing conditions?
• Travel insurance plans with coverage for pre-existing conditions
  • MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan
  • TIQ Travel Insurance plan
  • NTUC Income Enhanced PreX plan
• Things to note about pre-ex travel insurance
• Find out more about travel insurance providers

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Travel insurance promotions

SingSaver's Best Price Travel Campaign: All successful applicants of participating Travel Insurance products will receive 1x draw chance to enter our weekly lucky draw where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed (up to a maximum of $2,000). Valid till 31 July 2023. T&Cs apply.

Travel Insurance	Premium for Individual Cover	Covid-19 Coverage	Promotion
Allianz Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$34.10 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Use promo code AzSSV to get a 45% discount (Exclusive to SingSaver) and up to $60 via PayNow. Valid till 30 June 2023. T&Cs apply
MSIG Travel Easy Apply Now	from S$34.10 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Score an Airalo eSIM with 1GB data and receive it within 4 working days when you apply now! Valid till 12 June 2023. T&Cs apply.   Enjoy 40% off your Single Trip premium and 20% off your Annual Trip premium. Plus, receive up to S$38 via PayNow when you apply. Valid till 31 July 2023. T&Cs apply.
Etiqa (TIQ) Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$39 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Single Trip: Use promo code TIQSINGSAVER to enjoy 40% off when you apply. Annual Trip: Use the promo code TIQSINGSAVER to enjoy a 60% discount and S$20 cashback on your COVID-19 add-on. Valid till 18 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
Starr TraveLead Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$11.05 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Use the promo code SSVTL35 to enjoy up to S$48 via PayNow, a 35% discount, plus an exclusive Agoda promo code. Valid till 30 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
FWD Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$22.50 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Score an Airalo eSIM with 1GB data and receive it before you travel! Valid till 2 July 2023. T&Cs apply.   Use the promo code TRAVEL25 to get 25% off on Single Trip and Annual Trip plans. Valid till 5 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
AIG Travel Guard® Direct  Apply Now	from S$30 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Score an Airalo eSIM with 1GB data and receive it within 4 working days when you apply now! Valid till 16 June 2023. T&Cs apply.   Single Trip: Use promo code SSFLASHSALE to get 10% off and up to $50 Dairy Farm eVoucher (fulfillment by AIG). Valid till 30 June 2023. T&Cs apply.

Find the Best Travel Insurance for You

What are pre-existing conditions?

A pre-existing condition for travel insurance refers to any injury, illness or medical condition that resulted you in seeking treatment, experiencing symptoms or taking medication.

Such pre-existing conditions usually include cancer, stroke, heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure and more, not limited to this list.

However, not all travel insurance offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, while some limit the pre-existing conditions they cover. It's best to check the policy document of the travel insurance you're planning to purchase.

When a travel insurance covers you for your pre-existing conditions, this means that any medical expenses you seek because of your ailments will be covered, though usually the coverage has a sub-limit of how much you can claim.

Some travel insurance also lets you claim for any travel disruptions due to pre-existing conditions, while some require co-payment.

Singlife Travel Insurance Promotion: Enjoy a 25% discount with the promo code TRAVEL25. Valid till 7 June 2023. T&Cs apply.

Apply Now

Travel insurance plans with coverage for pre-existing conditions

Product	Highlights	Premium*	Apply
MSIG Standard Pre-Ex Plan (For Pre-existing Conditions) Apply Now	- Covers all pre-existing medical conditions - No co-payment or excess for medical bills due to acute onset of pre-existing conditions - No upper age limit	From S$51	Apply Now
Tiq Travel Entry Apply Now	- Covers all pre-existing medical conditions - No upper age limit - Covers single trips, up to 30 days each	From S$72	Apply Now

Bonus mention: NTUC Income Enhanced PreX

• Covers all pre-existing medical conditions

• Offers up to 50% reimbursement for trip changes or cancellations due to pre-existing conditions (Enhanced PreX Superior and Prestige only)
• No upper age limit 
• Premiums start from S$78

*Premiums are calculated based on a 5-day trip to Thailand

Compare Best Travel Insurance

MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex Travel Insurance

One of the best plans to get if you have pre-existing conditions is the MSIG Pre-Ex travel insurance plan because it covers all pre-existing conditions, offers high coverage and has no age upper limit. 

Some pre-existing conditions they cover include asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, stroke, cancer, lupus and more. However, do note that the plan does not cover terminal illness, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and its related conditions, and mental illness.

They offer three plan tiers — Standard, Elite, Premier. Do note that their pre-ex plans do not cover for COVID-19.

For the Pre-Ex Premier plan, you'll get overseas medical coverage of up to S$1,000,000 for adults below 70, with a sub-limit of S$150,000 for pre-existing conditions. 

For emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, the coverage is at S$1,000,000 for all plans, with a sub-limit of up to S$200,000 if its due to pre-existing conditions. This means that under the Pre-Ex Critical Care, you'll get up to S$350,000 coverage for the Premier plan.

The plan also offers coverage for mobility aid reimbursement of up to S$3,000 for adults, and even maternity medical expenses overseas of up to S$2,000.

TIQ Travel Insurance

TIQ's travel insurance does not offer a separate plan for pre-ex plan exactly, you're just able to indicate if you or your travel buddies have pre-existing conditions.

TIQ also covers all pre-existing conditions like diabetes, stroke, cancer, asthma, epilepsy, eczema and more, as long as your illness is stable and under control. Similar to MSIG's pre-ex plan, TIQ's pre-ex plan does not cover for COVID-19 as well.

They offer three plan tiers — Entry, Savvy and Luxury, with the Luxury plan offering the highest coverage.

If you opt for the Luxury plan, you'll receive coverage of up to S$1,000,000 for overseas medical expenses, with a sub-limit of up to S$150,000 for your pre-existing conditions (adults below 70). For adults above 70, you'll receive up to S$75,000 coverage, with a submit of S$50,000 for pre-existing ailments.

There's also overseas hospital income if you need to be hospitalised, allowing you to claim up to S$200 for every 24 hours, up to S$20,000. The pre-ex sublimit is capped at the same amount. 

NTUC Income Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance

NTUC Income Enhanced PreX does things a bit differently from the other two. There are four sections that require co-payments of claims if it's due to your pre-existing conditions — cancelling your trip, postponing your trip, shortening your trip and trip disruption all require a 50% co-payment by the insurer.

But as with the other claims, there is no co-payment involved.

There are three tiers — Basic, Superior and Prestige. Getting a Prestige plan will entitle you to up to S$500,000 for adults under 70 with a sublimit of S$100,000 for pre-existing conditions, and up to S$300,000 for adults over 70 with a sublimit of S$150,000.

The same sublimits apply for emergency medical evacuation and repartriation.

The plan offers overseas hospitalisation allowance of S$200 for every 24 hours up to S$20,000 and a sublimit of S$100 for every 24 hours up to S$3,000.

Read these next:
Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans (2023)
Best Travel Insurance Plans And Promotions In Singapore
Travel Insurance Guide: Five Things All Travellers Must Know

Things to note about pre-ex travel policies

1. Pre-ex travel policies cover four main areas

Coverage for pre-existing conditions in travel insurance plans mainly covers four areas: overseas medical expenses, hospitalisation cash, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of mortal remains.

Unless otherwise specified, the other benefits included in your travel plan will not apply when you need to make a claim due to a pre-existing condition.

As an example, if you need to cancel your trip due to a particularly bad eczema flare-up, you may not be able to get a refund for your plane tickets or pre-ordered attraction tickets, even if your travel insurance plan offers trip cancellation benefits.

You will only be able to receive reimbursement if your plan specifically allows it, as is the case with NTUC Income Enhanced PreX, highlighted above.

2. You cannot use them to seek medical treatment overseas

Pre-ex travel policies will only cover your medical expenses in case of a medical emergency arising from a pre-existing condition.

However, if you choose to go for treatment overseas, your pre-ex travel insurance plan won’t cover you, and your claims will be voided.

Instead, what you need is a worldwide medical insurance plan that would cover you when seeking medical consultation and treatment in another country.

3. There are restrictions and limitations to note

Like with all insurance plans, pre-ex travel insurance comes with restrictions and limitations, and it is important to familiarise yourself with them, so as to avoid voiding your coverage.

At a very basic level, all pre-ex plans require that pre-existing conditions must be stable and under control.

This means that you should ensure you have sufficient medication with you at all times; this means bringing extra. If a relapse occurs because you ran out of medication halfway through your trip, your insurer may deny your claim.

Another precaution to take is to get permission from your healthcare provider – in writing – clearing you for your trip. Otherwise, your insurer may withhold coverage if they deemed you not medically fit for your trip.

Some insurers may also impose a limit on the duration of your trip for travellers with pre-existing conditions. If your policy contains this clause, be sure to observe it stringently, or your policy may be voided.

4. When in doubt, go for higher coverage

Yes, pre-ex travel plans will cost more, but the whole point of getting one is to ensure those with pre-existing conditions can travel with peace of mind.

This means that you should always err on the side of caution, and go for a plan with higher coverage. When it boils down to it, having more insurance than you need is always better than having less, and then scrambling to make up the difference from your own pocket.

But that doesn't mean you should blindly splurge on the most expensive and extensive plan you can find either. Make an estimate based on your own past experience, or check with your healthcare provider and/or insurer for guidance.

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