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Travel Medical Insurance with Diabetes

I was reading the other post and looking. I am diabetic, and the most likely reason for me needing medical care is definitely my diabetes. If anything happens, the diabetes will be a complicating condition. The insurance sites I have visited say pre-existing conditions aren't covered. Any suggestions?

Posted by
808 posts

Are you looking for suggestions/advice on managing your Diabetes while abroad?
Or are you looking for a suggestion/recommendation of a company which may provide you with coverage even if you have a pre-existing medical condition?

If the first question is the case, I could offer some Travel/Diabetes management tips if that's what you were looking for. (I'm also in Health Care - EMS.) PM me if that would be helpful.

Posted by
9363 posts

I would think that diabetes care or complications wouldn't be covered on their own, but I don't think that if something else were to happen just having diabetes as a complicating condition would keep you from being covered for that other thing. You really need to have medical evacuation insurance.

Posted by
10344 posts

I am sorry to hear about your situation. I am not an insurance professional, but I know of someone who has a significant pre-existing condition and was able to find travel medical insurance that would cover it. However, she lives in a country (not the US) that has laws guaranteeing their citizens' right to affordable medical treatment. I would hope that if you keep researching you might find a company that would cover your pre-existing condition for the short period of time (just the length of your trip) at a cost that would make sense to you. Good luck on this.

Posted by
658 posts

You need to talk direct to a travel insurance company, not a broker, not an agent.

My wife is in recovery from breast cancer, has a diagnosed heart valve problem and asthma. On the face of it she's uninsurable for long haul trips - not a bit of it !

OK you need to ring a lot more than one company and you do need to give written permission for your doctor to disclose medical details but you can find travel insurance at a reasonable cost. It is not straight forward, it takes a little time, but it can be done. Don't leave it to the last minute.

Posted by
38 posts

My questions are the same as the last post....I traveled to Spain for 2 weeks this fall with my father who has had type 1 diabetes for over 40 years. He made sure to have letters from the appropriate doctors, his medical ID braclet on him at all times, glucose tablets (just in case), insulin in his carry on AND his luggage.

Be prepared.
He did not look into any extra medical coverage for being overseas, so on that end I can't offer any advice.