Travelling with a heart condition? Our heart condition travel insurance will protect your trip. We cover all destinations and over 100 different activities. You can take us with you, whatever you’ve got planned.
Can you get travel insurance if you have a heart condition?
Around 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory diseases. This includes about 4 million men and 3.6 million women. The right travel insurance policy lets you enjoy your trip. You’ll be protected even in the event of a cardiac episode.
Having a heart condition shouldn’t prevent you from having a great holiday. We’ll consider all pre-existing heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy, angina and stroke.
Our travel insurance for people with heart conditions covers all medical emergencies. We’ll even cover repatriation back to the UK if necessary.
If you’ve got a heart condition, here’s why finding the best travel insurance is a must:
- Covers emergency medical expenses. Travel can make managing a heart condition more difficult. Cardiac medications may be affected by changes in temperature or environment. Make sure you have an adequate supply of medications and understand how to adjust dosages if necessary. Our heart condition travel insurance means you’re covered for emergency medical treatment. This includes care for your pre-existing condition
- Covers repatriation. Make sure you can return to the UK in a medical emergency. The cost of this can be high, even in Europe. For one UK traveller in Spain, this was £124,000. Our heart condition travel insurance covers medical evacuation, wherever you are.
- Covers cancellation. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adult international travellers. If your heart condition means you must cancel your trip to stay well, we’ll cover the cost.
- Help when you need it. Travelling with a pre-existing condition can be challenging. We offer a 24/7 emergency medical helpline if you need it.
Make sure the policy you’ve chosen covers all the activities you plan to do. Our policy wording provides full terms and conditions for what’s included.
You’ll also need to tell us all your pre-existing medical conditions. We can’t cover any costs related to medical issues that aren’t declared. If your medical history isn’t accurate, you may have to pay for unexpected medical costs.
What types of heart conditions does InsureandGo’s travel insurance cover?
Heart conditions can affect your travel plans in different ways. Our travel insurance covers many different types, including:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): A narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. People with CAD may experience chest pain (angina) with exertion. This is especially likely at higher altitudes where oxygen is less plentiful. Travelling by plane is usually okay. However, strenuous activities at high altitudes could increase the risks.
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): This occurs when the heart can’t pump blood effectively. People with CHF may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs. Long flights or bus rides where sitting is prolonged can worsen these symptoms.
- Arrhythmia. This is a general term for irregular heartbeat. Some arrhythmias may cause no symptoms. Meanwhile, others can cause heart palpitations, dizziness, or fainting. You might need to adjust your travel plans, depending on the type and severity of the arrhythmia. For instance, some arrhythmias aren’t compatible with airport security scanners. This means you’ll need to arrange a different screening method. Consulting a doctor about potential risks and getting a medical clearance letter can be helpful.
- Valvular Heart Disease: This condition affects the heart valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. Symptoms can vary depending on the specific valve affected. These may include fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Strenuous activity and high altitudes could increase the risk of symptoms.
What does InsureandGo’s heart condition travel insurance cover?
What’s covered?
Our travel insurance for heart conditions includes:
- Medical emergency expenses.
- Cover for cancellation of your trip.
- Our 24-hour emergency assistance team, available to call, day or night, wherever you are
- Over 100 sports and activities covered (see your policy wording for a full list of activities)
- Personal belongings and baggage cover.
- Personal money, passports and travel documents cover.
- Accommodation cover.
- Legal expenses cover.
What’s not covered?
There are some situations travel insurance will not cover. For example:
- You cannot cover events or reasons to claim which took place before you booked the trip or purchased insurance. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside of the insured’s control
- Claims which are less than the excess for that section of cover. For example, you cannot claim a £40 lost item if your baggage excess is £60
- All of our travel insurance policies include cover for cancellation of your trip. But there may be some exclusions. For example, you won’t be covered to cancel if you simply decide not to go
Find out about our optional add-ons for activities like extreme sports, cruises and golf.
We will consider all pre-existing medical conditions. Find out more about medical travel insurance.
The excess and amount of cover available varies depending on the level of travel insurance you buy. Check the policy wording to see the full terms and conditions.
The best travel insurance for your holiday
The best travel insurance for your holiday will depend on what type of trip you’re taking and where.
How many times do you go abroad each year? This might affect what kind of policy you want.
- Single trip travel insurance: Get covered for a single trip, lasting up to 365 days.
- Annual multi-trip travel insurance: Multi-trip policies cover you for as many trips abroad as you like. Each can last up to 45-55 days.
Planning some activities for your trip? You might need extra cover to protect against any holiday mishaps.
- Cruise cover: Don’t let onboard illness lose you money. We’ll refund your expenses if you’re confined to your cabin for any reason. We’ll also cover the cost if you need airlifting to the mainland for treatment.
- Gadget cover: Taking your tablet or laptop abroad with you? Make sure you can replace it if it’s lost or damaged.
- Golf cover: Planning the golfing holiday of your dreams? We’ll cover your clubs and Greens Fees up to £750.
Some places need specific travel insurance policies so you’re properly covered.
- European travel insurance: Cover from Paris to Prague, so you can travel knowing you’re covered.
- Worldwide travel insurance: Get covered across the globe with our worldwide travel insurance policies.
- USA travel insurance: The US is known for its expensive healthcare system. If your heart condition (or any other condition) needs emergency treatment, this will be expensive. You can avoid large medical bills with our travel insurance.
Getting a single policy that covers multiple people can take some stress out of a group holiday.
- Family travel insurance: Enjoying a big family holiday? Why not get a single policy to cover everyone? Our family travel insurance policies cover up to two adults and eight children.
- Group travel insurance: A single policy covers up to eight adults.
Choose a cover level to suit your travel needs
| Black | Gold | Silver | |
| Medical expenses and repatriation | Unlimited | £15 million | £10 Million |
| Cancellation and curtailment | £10,000 | £7,500 | £5,000 |
| Travel delay | Up to £650 | Up to £540 | Up to £450 |
| Personal belongings | £5,000 | £2,500 | £2,000 |
| Legal Expenses | £60,000 | £50,000 | £15,000 |
| Standard Excess | Nil | £50 | £60 |
Heart condition travel insurance with other pre-existing medical conditions
We’re experts at helping people with pre-existing conditions get cover for their trips. We’ve covered more than 27 million travellers and 30% of our customers have more than one pre-existing health condition3.
We can cover your trip for multiple pre-existing health conditions, including your heart condition. Just tell us about all your conditions, and we’ll create a quote that works for you. At InsureandGo, we’ll consider all medical conditions, including COPD, heart conditions, and asthma.
To ensure you get the cover you need, we may need to ask you a few questions about your condition/s. Things we may ask include:
- When was the last time you had a cardiac episode?
- When were you first diagnosed?
- Are you currently taking medication for your condition?
You must declare all your pre-existing medical conditions. If you don’t, you may find that your policy does not cover you fully.
To learn more, please read our page about travel insurance for medical conditions. Or take a look at our policy wording documents.
How to get heart condition travel insurance
Ensuring you have enough medications. Packing compression socks. Travelling with a heart condition can involve a lot of planning. At least getting a travel insurance policy is easy.
1. Let us know about your trip
Tell us where you’re going, who you want to cover and when you want the policy to start. We’ll ask you about your heart condition and any other pre-existing medical conditions.
It’s quick and easy to give us this information; either online or by phone.
2. Get your quote
Once we have all the details we need, we will send you your quote. At this stage, you can go ahead and buy your policy or save the quote for the future.
Letitia Smith – Travel insurance expert
“When travelling with a heart condition, planning is essential. From scheduling your meals on a long-haul flight to packing all your medications. The best travel insurance for people with heart conditions makes it easy for you to travel anywhere, knowing you have comprehensive cover.”
Our reviews speak for themselves
I have a heart condition
“I have a heart condition and all my worries were eased after speaking with agent Ocean, so professional and polite. Made everything so easy and the price was excellent so I took out the annual policy. 10/10 Thank you Ocean.”
– Sharon
– Date of experience: 27 June 2024
There’s a reason 99% of our customers would recommend us to family and friends4. Here’s what they have to say about us.
Can I get travel insurance with a heart condition?
Can I get travel insurance with a heart condition?
Yes, you can generally get travel insurance with a heart condition. There are some important things to keep in mind:
- You must declare your heart condition. It’s crucial to declare your heart condition when applying for travel insurance. You still need to do this even if it’s well-controlled, or you’ve had it for a long time.
- Medical screening. You’ll need to undergo a medical screening. During this process, you’ll answer questions about your condition. This will help us understand what type of cover you need.
- Comprehensive cover. Our specialised heart condition travel insurance policies cover emergency medical treatment. It also covers cancellation, and cutting your trip short if it’s related to your declared heart condition.
- Additional considerations. You may need to declare related medications, like blood thinners or cholesterol medication. You also need to declare any other pre-existing conditions.
How much is travel insurance with a heart condition?
The cost of travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Besides your health, it also considers factors like
- Your age
- The destination you’re travelling to
- How long you’ll be going for
- Any policy add-ons you need
When you get your quote, you’ll complete a brief medical screening. More medications, more check ups, or higher complication risk? Treatment and, as a result, travel insurance, will cost more.
Is high cholesterol a heart condition for travel insurance?
High cholesterol isn’t classified as a heart condition for travel insurance. However, it is an important medical condition that should be declared when applying for travel insurance.
When getting your quote, you will need to answer questions about your heart condition. This may include questions about your cholesterol levels. We might also ask about any medications you’re taking and any related conditions or treatments. This helps us provide you with the most appropriate cover.
Which heart conditions stop me from flying?
Here are the main heart conditions that may stop you from flying, according to the Civil Aviation Authority:
- Uncomplicated myocardial infarction (heart attack) within 7 days of the flight.
- Complicated myocardial infarction within 4-6 weeks of the flight.
- Unstable angina.
- Decompensated congestive heart failure.
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
- Severe symptomatic valvular heart disease.
- Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia.
- Acute heart failure syndrome – you shouldn’t fly until you’re completely recovered.
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) within 10 days of the flight.
- Acute left ventricular failure.
Even if you have a stable heart condition, you should consult your cardiologist before flying. They can provide specific guidance based on your situation. Some general guidelines include:
- Patients with stable heart conditions are usually fit to fly within 1-10 days if they are stable. However, they should follow their cardiologist’s advice.
- Those with recent cardiac procedures, such as angioplasty with stent placement, may be fit to travel after 3 days. Individual assessment is still essential.
- Patients using pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators can usually travel by air once medically stable
Will the GHIC card cover medical treatment for my heart condition?
The GHIC provides some cover for your heart condition when travelling in the European Union. However, there are important limitations to be aware of:
- The GHIC only covers medically necessary treatment during a temporary stay in EU countries. This includes pre-existing conditions like heart conditions. You won’t receive any treatments that can wait until you’re back home.
- You will be able to access state healthcare services. This is on the same basis as residents of the country you’re visiting. Depending on the country’s healthcare system, these may be free. Or they may require a co-payment.
- The GHIC covers routine medical care related to chronic or pre-existing conditions. This could include things like regular check-ups or medication for your heart condition.
- The GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. Given your heart condition, it’s strongly recommended to also get comprehensive travel insurance. The GHIC does not cover things like transport to hospital or medical repatriation.
Who can buy an InsureandGo heart condition travel insurance policy?
All our heart condition travel insurance policies are available to UK residents. This means:
- Someone who has been living in the UK or the Channel Islands for at least six of the last 12 months
- They must be in the UK at the time of purchase
- All trips must start and end in the UK
Unfortunately, we can’t provide cover to anyone who doesn’t fit this description.
Get a quote online or browse our policy documents for more information.
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Frequently asked questions
If you’ve got more questions about how our heart condition travel insurance works, or more general travel insurance queries, have a read through our FAQs.
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