Which health insurers cover pre-existing medical conditions?

It is crucial for you to be aware of the health insurance plans available on the market that are able to cover your pre-existing health and medical conditions. Having a pre-existing medical condition means you have a disease or illness for which you had symptoms, required treatment, or which you were aware of. However, perhaps you did not seek treatment for it before the beginning of your medical insurance policy. 

Health insurance companies may consider any medical condition you may have had in your life before purchasing an individual medical plan as a pre-existing medical condition. 

Therefore, it is important to be aware of the health insurance plans available on the market that are able to cover your pre-existing medical conditions which are exactly what we are going to share with you in this blog post. (If you’re an expat and you’re wondering what types of Expat Medical Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions, click here.)

How insurers define a pre-existing medical condition  

Pre-existing conditions are any injuries or illnesses that affect you before you start a new health insurance plan. 

Usually, when you go to purchase a new health insurance plan your insurer will ask for a medical record or for you to note down any ongoing treatments you may currently have. If the conditions are serious enough they will usually exclude any coverage related to the illness or injury. 

For example, if you have diabetes or asthma before you start a new health insurance plan, insurers will usually not cover these conditions or any care related to these conditions. That said, some conditions like a broken leg, cold/flu, chickenpox, other minor injuries/illnesses/infections that you have not had before will not be counted. 

The key thing to be aware of here when considering whether a condition you have might be labelled by insurers as a pre-existing condition is whether you have had it in the past and whether it affects your health now or in the future. If yes, then there is a much higher chance it will be labeled as a pre-existing condition and could be excluded. 

What are some coverage choices for insurance for pre-existing medical conditions? 

Insurers will respond to pre-existing conditions in one of the following six ways:

1. Full coverage including your pre-existing conditions

This will also be done with no premium loading (premium charged on top of the quoted price) or exclusions. 

2. Coverage for your pre-existing conditions through premium loading

This involves paying a higher premium for the insurer to cover your condition. 

3. Pre-existing conditions medical insurance after a moratorium period

This is a length of time, usually between 1-2 years where you cannot claim any treatments for your pre-existing conditions. 

4. Pre-existing conditions medical insurance after a moratorium period but with a lower limit

The same as above, but the insurer will impose a lower limit on claims related to the condition once the waiting period has passed. 

5. Standard medical insurance excluding coverage for your pre-existing conditions

This is where the insurer will allow you to join the plan, but will not cover your pre-existing condition. 

6. Refusal of coverage entirely

The insurer will refuse to allow you to join the plan. 

Recommended Health Insurers for Pre-existing Medical Conditions 

Although many health insurance providers do not provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, the following three health insurers are the best when it comes to offering coverage options for pre-existing medical conditions: 

1. VUMI

VIP Universal Medical Insurance Group (VUMI®) is an international health insurance company offering exclusive major medical insurance products and VIP medical services to private and corporate clients worldwide.  

VIP Universal Medical Insurance Group, Ltd. (VUMI®) is registered in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI), a British Overseas Territory controlled and regulated by the United Kingdom.   

TCI has a strong legal system based on English common law and insurance legislation that provides the flexibility to accommodate the clients’ needs and is backed by the protection of a secure government that is highly regulated and supported by the United Kingdom.  

VUMI® is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The insurance operation for this region is managed by VUMI® Global Services FZ-LLC from its offices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  

VUMI® Global Services FZ-LLC serves as an operational hub for the Middle Eastern, African and Asian regions, and is part of VUMI’s accelerated global expansion goal. The offices are managed by David T. Youssef and Mark Dickinson, two industry leaders with proven track records and vast knowledge of the International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) market. 

2. April

April International Care has been specializing in the management of international insurance for over 35 years. Their multilingual advisors and administrators, based in Paris and Hong Kong, deal on a daily basis with the challenges created by international mobility. 

Whether it’s for a long trip to Asia or a move to the USA, April International Expat provides the most appropriate insurance solution and ensures a rapid and efficient response, whether for the reimbursement of medical expenses, a need for repatriation, the incurring of personal liability or the payment of a daily allowance. 

The April My Health International plans have proved to be some of the most popular policies for individuals and families in South East Asia. A strong combination of high benefits and low premiums (including family discounts) has meant this is plan that 

Since 1975, APRIL International Expat has been providing a range of insurance solutions for people travelling or living outside their home country whether this be international students, globetrotters, expatriates, travellers, employees on assignment and foreign visitors to France. 

3. Cigna 

Cigna is a global health service company with roots in the US, serving more than 180 million customers and patients throughout the world. 

They have more than 60 years of experience in designing, implementing and managing international group health insurance and employee benefits programs for domestic and internationally recruited employees from European corporations, International Organisations (IGO & NGO) and governments. We also provide health services for globally mobile individuals. 

As part of a global organisation, they have access to a unique database of healthcare providers in 192 countries, and operation teams across all time zones. 

Our advice

If you would like to compare medical insurance plans from the world’s best insurers that cover pre-existing medical conditions, click here. At i-Brokers, we take great pride in offering the best service possible when it comes to insurance. 82% of consumers who compare insurance with i-Brokers find lower premiums. Can you afford not to? Click here to get a quote on your medical insurance.