With around 1 in 5 Australians, or over 4.2 million Australians living with cardiovascular disease, travelling with heart conditions is becoming incredibly common. We get calls daily from people looking for travel insurance for their heart or cardiovascular condition, particularly heart attacks, pacemakers, atrial fibrillation and stents - so you’re not alone.

While it used to be incredibly common for insurers to have blanket exclusions for heart conditions, the industry is becoming more sophisticated and cover is now more widely available. It’s important for travellers to take advantage of this and cover their condition if they’re able to.

Declare your condition

Many insurers are employing advanced online medical screening tools to allow more travellers to get the cover they need for an increase in premum. You can answer questions about your condition and they’ll let you know immediately if they can cover you and if there will be an increase in the premium.

If you’re an otherwise healthy non-smoker who can get around without breathlessness, have a preventative stent or had a heart attack a three years ago, for example – these things no longer seem to be a barrier to getting full travel health cover with these screenings.

Remember, all declarations are assessed on a case-by-case basis, so it is important to answer the questions accurately. Incorrect information can invalidate your policy, which means eyewatering medical bills for you and your loved ones.

Insider Tip: Check out the underwriter

Insurers with the same underwriter often have the same health screening standards, which means if you can’t get cover for your condition with one brand, you’re unlikely to be able to get cover with other brands with the same underwriter.

If you’re having difficulty getting cover with any standard travel insurer, an option to look at is a specialist medical travel insurer, like AllClear Travel Insurance, as they consider a wider range of conditions for those of any age.

Preparation is important

Before you book your flights, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor to get a check-up. Take the opportunity to talk about ways you can improve your health in the lead up to your trip, particularly with respect to diet or exercise plans. Given that conditions like influenza can be a trigger for heart attacks, you may also wish to enquire about getting your flu shot.

Thanks to increased physical activity, sun exposure and alcohol, dehydration while on holidays is very common, which can cause a strain on your heart due to decreased blood volume and thicker blood. Drinking plenty of water, particularly as soon as you wake up and while outdoors can assist in preventing unnecessary heart stress.

Before travelling, make sure you stock up on your medications, as depending on where you travel to, you may not be able to easily obtain them if you run out.

When you board a flight, have your medication in its original bottle, with the prescription letter from your doctor, and always transport it in your carry-on – if your checked luggage ends up in the wrong place, you don’t want your medication to be there too.

Are You A Mature Traveller?

If you are over the age of 50, finding a suitable policy to cover your pre-existing medical conditions can be more tricky. Read our guide to seniors travel insurance for some top tips.