Travel Insurance with High Blood Pressure.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is classed as a pre-existing medical condition and will need to be declared as such on any application form for travel insurance.
Problems sometimes occur because the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to be tested for it, therefore some people could have it but be unaware that they have this condition if they have never been tested.
On this basis, anyone who is unaware that they have high pressure should not be penalized by an insurance company for not declaring it if they are not aware that they suffer from it.
What is High Blood Pressure?
In clinical terms, there are a range of blood pressure readings that are considered normal, and a range that are considered to be classed as high blood pressure, with a range of readings in between which show that someone could be at risk of developing high blood pressure.
As with all things medical, blood pressure readings can be interpreted in different ways from a clinical point of view, but from an insurance point of view the issue is very simple if someone is considered to have high blood pressure by their doctor, they need to declare it when applying for travel insurance.
Travel Insurance Policy Conditions
Travel insurance policies are normally issued either for single trips or on an annual basis that covers multiple trips but is limited to a certain number of days.
Policies will provide a range of cover concerning medical expenses, cancellation of trips, lost or stolen valuables, lost baggage etc.
Anyone travelling with high blood pressure or any type of existing precondition should check the medical facilities in the country they are visiting to make sure they are adequate to be used in the event of an emergency.
Sites such as TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor forums can give invaluable insights into specific problems that people may have and how to guard against them.
Medical Screening
When applying for travel insurance the insurance company will want to know a significant amount of information relating to the individual’s medical conditions.
If someone has declared that they have high blood pressure, questions asked are likely to include quite specific lifestyle questions which can have a major impact on their levels of blood pressure.
The insurance company’s concerns will relate to the possibility that high blood pressure can lead to other medical conditions, so their questions are likely to be a balance of both medical and lifestyle issues.
Typical Travel Insurance Questions about High Blood Pressure
Continuous high blood pressure can put a strain on how the body functions, leading to other types of illness or disease. Some of the questions that insurance companies are likely to ask will probably include the following :
- Are there any other medical conditions present or a history of other medical conditions, such as but not limited to heart disease, heart attacks, Strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease
- When was your last blood pressure reading and what was it
- How regularly do you have your blood pressure monitored
- Is there a family history of high blood pressure
- Are you on any medication for high blood pressure, if so what is it
- If so has that medication changed in any way recently, over the last 12 months
- Has there been any major life-changing event in the last 12 months such as divorce, bereavement, retirement etc
- Do you smoke – if so how many a day – if not, have you ever smoked and if so when did you give up
- Do you drink alcohol, if so how much on a weekly basis
- Do you do any type of regular exercise, if so what and approximately how much on a weekly basis
- How much do you weigh – has this changed at all over the last 12 months
High Blood Pressure Management Plan
Most people who have high blood pressure are likely to have some type of management plan in place. It is a good idea to make the travel insurance company aware of this, whether they ask for it or not, as it may help to be accepted for travel insurance, or the cost thereof.
A management plan should also include how people will manage their condition when they are overseas, including things such as where their nearest hospitals and clinics are, carrying spare medication and written details of what the medication is.
It is helpful to have cards written in the native language of the country they are visiting including terms for the medication they are on which may be different to these used in their own country.
Stress
Excessive stress can be a danger for people with high blood pressure, whilst at the same time travelling and holidays are meant to be a relaxing process. A good travel insurance policy, well-researched and with the proper benefits can be a lifeline in making sure that any trip overseas is as stress-free as possible.
