What pre-existing medical conditions are covered?

By way of basic overview, we do not cover any claims under the policy benefits arising from any medical condition or pregnancy condition that existed during:

the period of 3 years prior to your policy issue date; or
the period between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip (other than for a claim under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip),

unless we agree to list the relevant medical condition or pregnancy condition as covered on your certificate of insurance. If any changes to health occur after we have listed any medical condition or pregnancy condition as covered and before the date of departure for your trip, the cover for those listed conditions is automatically excluded from the time the change in health occurred, unless you undertake an additional medical screening and we agree to list them as covered.

Any cover is subject to the other terms and conditions (including exclusions and limits) of the policy which may otherwise affect cover. Any rights we have will only be exercised to the extent permitted by applicable law. See General Exclusions that apply to all benefits in our PDS.

After the date of departure for your trip, we will not agree to list a medical condition as covered on your certificate of insurance.

No cover is provided under this policy for any claims arising from, related to, or associated with the medical condition or pregnancy condition of any person who is not named on your certificate of insurance, except as provided under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, Benefit 6: Trip Disruption Expenses and Benefit 7: Trip Resumption Expenses.

What is a medical condition?

A medical condition means any bodily or physical injury, physical defect, illness, disease or other medical or dental condition or sign or symptom of these things, the applicable person:

required prescription medication for or has been prescribed medication from a medical practitioner in writing for,
sought or received medical advice from a medical practitioner or other health care professional for,
had tests, investigations, care, treatment or medical attention including surgery for,
been admitted to hospital for (including emergency department or day surgery procedure), or
became aware of or which a reasonable person in the circumstances would have been aware of.

It includes but is not limited to:

the suffering or treatment of mental illness,
a brain, heart (such as any cardiovascular or coronary heart disease or any condition related to a heart or blood vessels), kidney, liver, respiratory, circulatory (such as high blood pressure, stroke, or transient ischaemic attack), cancer or cancerous condition,
reduced or deficient immune system,
a sign or symptom of the above matters,
an allergy or food intolerance,
a persistent and lasting health condition such as constant pain or long-suffering pain or pain with a pattern of relapse and remission, or
any conditions related to previous and current pregnancy as detailed in “What is a Pregnancy Condition” as described below. Find out more about our “Pregnancy Cover” in our PDS.

What is a pregnancy condition?

A pregnancy condition means you are pregnant and any of the following circumstances apply to you: 

You are experiencing complications with the pregnancy that fall within the definition of Complications of pregnancy and childbirth in Table 1.1 in our PDS,
You experienced complications with any previous pregnancy that fall within the definition of Complications of pregnancy and childbirth in Table 1.1 in our PDS, or 
You are having multiple children (e.g. twins, triplets or more), or 
Your conception was medically assisted (e.g. hormone therapy or IVF).

Exclusions relating to our Medical Condition cover

Medical and Pregnancy Conditions must be listed as a covered condition on your certificate of insurance

We will not cover any claims arising from any of your Medical Conditions or Pregnancy Condition that existed during the period:

of 3 years prior to your policy issue date; and
between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip, other than for a claim under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip,

which are:

not listed as a covered condition in your Certificate of Insurance,
listed as an excluded condition in your Certificate of Insurance, or
medical condition or pregnancy conditions which was listed as a covered condition on your Certificate of Insurance on the issue date of the policy, but changes in health have occurred after the issue date of the policy and before the date of departure of your trip, unless:
1. before the date of departure for your trip, you complete a new Medical Screening after the changes in health occur, and
2. we have agreed to list the Changes in health as a covered Medical condition or Pregnancy condition on your certificate of insurance (and you have paid the applicable additional premiums).

Point 3. (b) does not apply to a claim under Cover Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip which occurs between the issue date of your policy and the date of departure for your trip.

Medical Conditions that are never covered

In addition to the medical conditions that we can't cover above, you should also be aware of other exclusions that may impact the policy you purchase.

In particular, we can’t offer cover for, and it’s not possible to complete a medical screening for, any of the following:

Routine medical, dental, chiropractor, physiotherapist or prenatal check-ups and visits, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,
Cosmetic treatments, or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,
Medical treatment undertaken against the advice of any medical practitioner,
Travel undertaken to seek medical advice, treatment, review or clinical trials,
Planned medical procedures or other non-emergency medical treatments or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,
Undiagnosed conditions where you were aware of, or a reasonable person in your circumstances reasonably should have been aware of:

a. the change, signs or symptoms (including but not limited to: pain or discomfort anywhere on your body, persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath or unexplained bleeding), or
b. the change and had not sought medical opinion, or
c. was advised by your medical practitioner that the cause cannot be defined and/or it is still under investigation.

If any of the above apply to you, and you require cover for your trip, you may wish to contact the Insurance Council of Australia to assist you in finding a specialist travel insurer who may be able to cover your condition.

For more information on Medical conditions, refer to our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Please note: any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the PDS prior to deciding whether this policy is right for you.