Millions of people in the UK live with a heart condition. For many of them, travelling is still very much part of life, and getting travel insurance is an important part of travelling safely.
This guide explains how heart conditions affect travel insurance, what to expect when you apply, what you’re covered for if something goes wrong abroad, and what to do if you need additional help finding cover.
Yes. At Post Office, having a heart condition doesn’t automatically disqualify you from getting travel insurance. We’ll need to ask some questions about your condition, any treatments you’re having and any medications you’re taking. We do this when you get a quote.
While we can support many heart conditions, there are certain situations which our policies aren’t suited for. If we can’t offer you a policy, we’ll refer you to a partner provider which specialises in providing cover for people with pre-existing health conditions.
You won’t need any kind of physical examination to take out travel insurance with Post Office if you have a heart condition. The process is very straightforward and can be completed online.
You can search for your heart condition and select it from a list of options. We’ll then ask a handful of related questions. Once that’s completed, you’ll be able to see whether we can offer you a policy and, if so, the price of different options.
It’s essential to answer these questions fully and honestly. If you don’t, and a claim is later found to relate to an undisclosed or inaccurately described condition, your claim could be rejected. That applies not just to directly related claims, but also to conditions that might indirectly increase your risk. High blood pressure and diabetes, for example, are known to increase the likelihood of cardiac events.
Most travel insurers, including Post Office, are sadly unable to offer cover if your condition is not yet diagnosed. The same applies if you’re awaiting test results, consultations, referrals, treatment or surgery, or if you have been advised not to travel by a doctor. Policies are carefully created to cover specific things, so if an insurer doesn’t know what they’re insuring, they can’t commit to providing that cover.
Having a heart condition may well affect the cost of your travel insurance. Insurers price policies based on risk, and a heart condition, depending on its nature and severity, increases the likelihood of a medical claim abroad.
The additional cost will vary from person to person. Factors that typically influence your premium include:
There’s no single answer to how much more you might pay, it depends on your individual circumstances. The best way to get a clear picture is to go through the quote process, which will give you a personalised price based on your specific situation.
Travel insurance covers heart attacks abroad as long as you declared any heart condition you have when you took out your policy. Here’s how it works if you have, or haven’t, declared your full health information.
If you have gone through the medical screening process, had your condition accepted, and your policy is in force, you will have emergency medical cover if you suffer a cardiac event abroad. This includes a heart attack.
Post Office Travel Insurance includes emergency medical expenses and medical repatriation cover as standard across all cover levels. This covers the cost of emergency treatment, hospitalisation and, if necessary, repatriation back to the UK. Cover limits vary by level:
If you are admitted to hospital abroad, you must contact the Post Office emergency medical assistance line as soon as possible: +44 (0) 208 865 30741. Additional accommodation and travel costs for a companion may also be covered, subject to pre-authorisation and up to the limits in the policy wording.
If you suffer a heart attack abroad and have a pre-existing medical condition that you didn’t declare, or didn’t declare accurately, your claim is likely to be rejected.
This applies not just to a direct cardiac claim, but also to any claim that is indirectly related to your condition. For example, if high cholesterol or high blood pressure was not declared and contributed to a heart attack, a claim could still be refused.
It cannot be overstated: always declare all your conditions fully and accurately.
If you suffer a cardiac event abroad with no prior history of heart disease, your standard travel insurance policy would cover the emergency medical costs in the same way as any other unexpected illness or injury, provided your policy is valid and in force.
If you’re ready to get travel insurance, here are a few key aspects of the cover provided by Post Office.
Many conditions can be covered, including various forms of coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, valve conditions, heart failure and structural heart conditions. Each application is assessed individually. Having a heart condition does not automatically prevent you from getting cover, but it does need to be declared fully and accurately.
There is no single answer. The additional cost depends on the type and severity of your condition, your age, your destination, the length of your trip, and how recently you have had treatment or a cardiac event. The only way to get an accurate figure is to go through the quote process, which will give you a personalised price based on your circumstances.
Emergency medical treatment abroad can be extremely expensive, particularly in countries like the USA. For someone with a heart condition, the risk of needing emergency care is higher than for the general population. Without insurance, the costs of treatment, specialist care and repatriation could be significant. Travel insurance helps protect you from those costs, and means you can focus on your health rather than your finances if something goes wrong.
Yes, in many cases. A previous heart attack does not automatically prevent you from getting travel insurance, but you will need to go through medical screening and declare it fully. Your premium may be higher than for someone without a cardiac history. It’s also advisable to speak to your doctor before travelling following a cardiac event, to make sure it is safe for you to do so.
1Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calling a standard geographic number starting with 01 or 02 from your fixed line or mobile and may be included in your call package dependent on your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes.
2Post Office has won the following awards:
Post Office won a “Best Travel Insurance Provider” award at the Your Money Awards in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
3Medical Assistance Plus is not available for trips taken in the UK, only for international travel. The service allows up to 3 separate medical events per person listed on the policy, and up to 3 appointments per event. All appointment charges are covered by your travel insurance policy. You will not need to pay any excess fees for this service. You may need to pay for your prescription upfront and claim on your return home.
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