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What Does Medically Stable Mean?

In order to understand what Medically Stable means, you should try to look at a claim from the travel insurance claim department's perspective. Travel insurance covers cancellation, interruption and medical treatment for unexpected illnesses and injuries. The question is "What constitutes an unexpected illness or injury? This is where the concept of Medically Stable / Medically Fit comes in the discussion. Also, if what we are saying doesn't completely make sense, I'll need you to forgive us in advance.

Medically Stable includes the idea that nothing is foreseen or expected to "be a turn for the worse". In other words, if you're given a week to live (yet medically able to travel) and you want to buy travel insurance for a cruise next month, you can't cover the Pre-Existing Condition. It's like wanting to buy Fire Insurance when your house is on fire.

You also will not be covered if the purpose of the trip is to obtain medical treatment. This is an exclusion with all travel insurance plans. Go here to learn more about exclusions.

Travel Guard says"The Insured must be medically able to travel when he/she pays his/her premium." For example, Travelex says "Medically Fit implies assessment by a physician who advises that there is no medical condition/illness that would likely interfere with upcoming covered travel plans." You cannot get any clearer than that.

A cynic might say, "Any insurance company will always turn down any claim". I can't speak for all insurance companies, but the travel insurance companies we offer all have claim departments staffed by people. You are not dealing with a computer-based algorithm. You are working with real human beings who have a heart and want to help you.

As you look and call around, you will find a wide range of advice & opinions as to what exactly it means to be Medically Stable. In order to better explain this, there are a few concepts that are good for you to understand

1) Adverse Selection - This is the tendency of higher risk persons or groups to seek coverage more than less risky persons or groups. Doesn't it make sense that you're more likely to buy travel insurance if you think you'll have a claim?
2) Foreseen or expected to "be a turn for the worse" - If you're given a week to live and you want to buy travel insurance for a cruise next month, you can't cover the Pre-Existing Condition. It's like wanting to buy Fire Insurance when your house is on fire.
3) Medically Able To Travel - You have to be able to travel on the day you get your travel insurance. Don't call us to order a policy if you're being treated now, and can't currently travel, yet your doctor says you'll be able to travel later. You will not be covered at all. This includes calling us from your hospital bed.

Travel insurance providers' Medically Stable rules apply to the Covered Person's medical condition on the day they get their travel insurance. If you are one of the travelers, you must be "medically able to travel when you pay your premium (get your travel insurance)". In other words, your doctor says you can travel. If your doctor's saying you can't travel, but you insist you can travel, the insurance company will always side with your doctor.

Click here to download or read the Certificate of Coverage

Click here to go directly to Travel Guard's Cruise, Tour & Travel online quote and purchase page

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