In travel insurance, a pre-existing medical condition is considered stable if it has not changed for a specified period before departure.
Changes to medication or treatment, new symptoms, medical consultations, tests or diagnoses can interrupt the required stability period. At Tourmed, this period is 2, 3 or 6 months, depending on the medical condition and the traveller’s age on their departure date, regardless of destination.
Your doctor has adjusted your medication just weeks before your trip. You immediately wonder, “Will my travel insurance still cover this condition?” It’s one of the most common questions travellers ask. Fortunately, you can find out before you leave.
What Is a Pre-existing Medical Condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is a health problem, illness, injury or set of symptoms that existed before departure, even if the cause was unknown or the condition had not yet been diagnosed. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are common examples. The exact definition can be found in your travel insurance policy.
Travel Insurance and Your Health: Why Does Medical Stability Matter?
Medical stability helps insurers determine whether a pre-existing medical condition meets the requirements for coverage during a trip. If the required stability period is not met, expenses directly or indirectly related to that condition may not be reimbursed if you make a claim.
Example: Louise has been taking the same medication for several years. Six weeks before a trip outside her home province, her doctor increases her medication dosage because she has been experiencing symptoms. Louise feels better and no longer has any symptoms. However, this recent change interrupts her stability period. If she fails to take it into account, an emergency related to this condition during her trip may not be covered.
My Doctor Says I’m Stable: Am I Covered?
Not necessarily. Your doctor assesses your health, while your insurer applies the criteria set out in your travel insurance policy. For example, your blood pressure may be well controlled even if your medication was changed last month. However, that change could mean you no longer meet your insurer’s stability requirements, even if your doctor considers your condition stable.
What Can Make a Medical Condition Unstable?
| Type of change | Details |
|---|---|
| Medication changes | Starting or stopping a medication, switching medications, or changing the dose or frequency of administration. |
| New symptoms | Seeing a healthcare professional about a new symptom or one that has become more severe or frequent. |
| Medical tests, treatments, surgery, hospitalization, medical consultations or diagnoses | New diagnosis; hospitalization or emergency room visit; consultation with a specialist; medical test or examination ordered, performed or pending; treatment recommended, scheduled or not yet completed; test or treatment results still pending; surgery or another treatment recommended, scheduled or not yet performed. |
What Stability Period Is Required Before You Leave?
With Tourmed travel insurance, the required stability period depends on your medical condition and your age on your departure date.
| Situation | Required stability period before departure |
|---|---|
| Diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol (all ages) | 2 months |
| Other medical conditions, travellers aged 69 or younger | 3 months |
| Other medical conditions, travellers aged 70 or older | 6 months |
Your age on your departure date is what counts. Are you 69 today but turning 70 before your trip? The required stability period will be 6 months.
How Can You Check Your Medical Stability?
Tourmed’s free medical stability calculator can help you assess your situation in just a few minutes. Enter your departure date, your age and any changes in your medical condition. You’ll receive one of three results:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Green | The required stability period appears to have been met. Your condition may be covered during your trip, subject to confirmation by an agent or broker. |
| Yellow | The required stability period does not appear to have been met, but you may qualify for a Reduced Stability Period option. Check with an agent or broker to confirm your eligibility. |
| Red | The required stability period does not appear to have been met, and the reduced stability options do not appear to apply. Coverage with an exclusion may still be available. Check with an agent or broker to discuss your options. |
You can receive your results by email and review them with your broker or our customer service team.
Your Condition Isn’t Stable: What Are Your Options?
Even if you don’t meet the required stability period, you may still be able to purchase travel insurance and, in some cases, obtain coverage for your medical condition. Tourmed offers solutions tailored to your situation.
Reduced Stability Period Option
Depending on the eligibility criteria, this option reduces the required stability period to either 30 or 7 days before departure. Among other eligibility requirements, these options are available to travellers aged 3 months to 85 years inclusive on their departure date.
Extended Stability Period Option
Has your medical condition been stable for at least 12 months, and will you be 85 or younger on your departure date? The Extended Stability Period option could help you save on your travel insurance premium.
Travel Insurance with an Exclusion
If none of these options applies, you may still be able to purchase travel insurance. The policy may cover other risks while excluding those related to your unstable medical condition.
To learn more, explore our Reduced Stability Period and Extended Stability Period options, speak with your representative or call us at 1-800-268-9633.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Stability in Travel Insurance
Yes. A pre-existing condition may be covered if it meets your policy’s stability requirements and remains stable and well managed on your departure date.
Otherwise, you may qualify for a Reduced Stability Period option or travel insurance with an exclusion.
Yes, it can. Starting or stopping a medication, switching medications or changing a dose can interrupt your stability period. Continuing to take the same medication without any changes generally does not affect your stability period.
Not necessarily. It depends on why you saw the doctor and whether the visit led to any changes in your diagnosis or treatment. For example, a new diagnosis, hospitalization, emergency room visit or consultation with a specialist may interrupt the required stability period. The same may apply to medical tests that have been ordered, performed or are still pending, as well as treatments or surgical procedures that have been recommended, scheduled or not yet completed. Be sure to inform your broker or a customer service representative so they can determine whether your insurance policy needs to be updated.
If you are 70 or older on your departure date, the required stability period is 6 months. However, for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the period is 2 months regardless of age.
Notify your broker or Tourmed of any changes in your health before you leave, as changes between the date you purchase your insurance and your departure date may affect your coverage. If your policy takes effect after your departure date—for example, because another insurer covers the first few days of your trip—you must also report any changes that occur between your departure and the effective date of your policy. Your medical declaration must be complete and accurate as of that date.
No. The calculator helps you understand your situation but does not change your coverage. The definitions and exclusions in your policy take precedence.
Travel with Peace of Mind
You’ve chosen your destination and packed your bags. Before you leave, make sure your travel insurance meets your needs. For 30 years, Tourmed has helped travellers enjoy greater peace of mind wherever their journeys take them.
Watch this video to understand why the stability of your medical conditions matters, as defined by your travel insurance.
The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. The terms, definitions and exclusions in your travel insurance policy take precedence.
The medical stability calculator, examples and tables on this page do not constitute an assessment of your eligibility or confirmation of coverage. Coverage is determined only after your medical declaration has been reviewed at the time of purchase. An incomplete or inaccurate declaration could result in a denied claim or cancellation of your policy.