Will Travel Insurance Cover My Scheduled Surgery?

by Steve Dasseos on March 9, 2010

I made my initial payment yesterday, March 8, 2010 for a trip leaving March 21, 2010. But, I am scheduled to have surgery on my ear on March 17th. Can I be completely covered for anything related to the surgery?

In a nutshell, the answer is “No”. The reason why not is because your ear condition has progressed to a point where it’s no longer unforeseen.

Having said this, you can get a “Cancel For Any Reason” plan that gives you the right to cancel your trip until 2 calendar days before you leave, or until March 19th. The drawback is that you only get 75% or 80% of the money you lose refunded back to you.

For your future trips, if you want to waive the pre-existing medical condition exclusion for cancellation, interruption & medical treatment, you have to fulfill these 4 requirements when you buy your travel insurance plan:

1. With a few exceptions, you have to insure at least your trip’s full prepaid, non-refundable cost (you can’t round it down). If you don’t know your final trip cost, estimate it high to be safe. You can always lower to the correct trip cost prior to your departure date. If it drops you to a lower trip cost range, you’ll get a partial refund; and

2. You must get your travel insurance in the first 14, 15, 21 or 30 days after your first trip payment date (all my companies except CSA) or no later than 24 Hours after you make your final Trip payment for CSA Freestyle & Freestyle Luxe and

3. You have to cover your trip’s full length and

4. The person with the medical condition has to be medically stable when you get your insurance – this means that person cannot have already taken a turn for the worse. This also includes having surgery or other medical procedure(s) scheduled just before you leave.

Learn more about the Waiver of the Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion here.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we'll help you figure it all out.

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