Existing Medical Conditions and Travel Insurance

If you have an Existing Medical Condition and for example take medication to keep that condition in check, it doesn’t mean you can’t purchase travel insurance. It does however, mean that you should tell us about all your Existing Medical Conditions including anything for which medication is prescribed so we can complete an online health assessment.

Budget Direct Travel Insurance automatically covers some medical conditions, provided you meet all of the criteria outlined in the PDS. To see the conditions and the criteria, please consult the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement. 

If you aren’t eligible for automatic cover, you can complete a health assessment online with your quote where an additional premium may apply.

We call an Existing Medical Condition any disease, illness, medical condition, dental condition or physical defect that you have or have had - even if you’re cured, or if it’s under control or in remission. 

For more information, please consult the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement.

If your pregnancy was not medically assisted and you have no complications with this or a previous pregnancy, you can be covered automatically up to 23 weeks and 6 days without completing an assessment. If you have had previous complications, carrying multiple babies or conception was medically assisted - you will be required to complete a medical assessment.

Cover is only available for serious unexpected pregnancy complications up until the 24th week.

High blood pressure (hypertension) can be covered as long as you meet the Autocover criteria outlined in the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement.

If you aren’t eligible for automatic cover, you can complete a health assessment online with your quote where an additional premium may apply.

If you have a heart condition, collectively known as cardiovascular disease, you can complete a health assessment online with your quote. If approved, an additional premium may apply.

Diabetes (type I or II) can be covered as long as you meet the Autocover criteria outlined in the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement.

If you aren’t eligible for automatic cover, you can complete a health assessment online with your quote where an additional premium may apply.

Asthma can be covered, as long as you meet the Autocover criteria outlined in the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement.

If you aren’t eligible for automatic cover, you can complete a health assessment online with your quote where an additional premium may apply.

To be eligible for Budget Direct Travel Insurance, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia (and therefore entitled to publicly funded health services via Medicare).

If you’re a non-permanent resident, you must have a valid Medicare card, private health insurance, or overseas student travel insurance in Australia for the duration of your trip.

Our International Travel Insurance policies – Comprehensive, Essential and Basic – include an $Unlimited* amount for unforeseen overseas medical and hospital expenses.

Our Domestic cover does not include medical and hospital expenses. That’s because these expenses are already claimable in Australia from Medicare or your private health fund.

*Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured. Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset.

If your condition(s) or health changes after you have completed and paid for approved conditions, please contact us. Some examples of when to contact us:

• New treatment or prescribed medication
• Changes to treatment or prescribed medications, including changes in dosages
• New sickness, condition, illness or injury for which you needed to ask for medical advice.

If you receive a diagnosis before you depart on your Journey, you may be able to complete a health assessment and, if approved, add Existing Medical Condition cover to your policy by paying us the required premium.