What is medical screening for Travel Insurance?

When you get a Travel Insurance quote, you may be asked questions about your medical conditions, medications, and treatments. This is called medical screening, and it helps the provider understand your health and assess the cover it can offer.

But what do you need to declare, and what information should you have ready? Here, we explain how Travel Insurance medical screening works, with example questions and answers to common concerns.

What is medical screening for travel insurance?

Medical screening for Travel Insurance is a series of questions about your health and medical history, usually completed when you get a quote. Your answers help the provider assess whether it can cover your pre-existing medical conditions, what terms apply and how much your policy will cost.

If you’re unsure what you’ll be asked or which conditions to include, understanding the process can make getting a quote feel more straightforward.

How does medical screening for Travel Insurance work?

When you apply for Travel Insurance with pre-existing medical conditions, you’ll be asked about your health and your trip details.

At AllClear, you can complete medical screening online or over the phone. The process involves:

1. Reading the medical declaration questions. These explain which parts of your medical history you need to tell us about
2. Adding the relevant medical conditions. Use the diagnosis your doctor or specialist has given you
3. Answering follow-up questions. Depending on your condition, these may cover treatment, medication, symptoms or hospital visits
4. Checking your answers. Review the information before continuing, and contact us if anything is unclear

Your answers help us assess the cover we can offer. Always check your policy documents to understand which conditions are accepted, along with the cover limits and exclusions.

What questions are asked during medical screening?

Medical screening questions vary depending on the provider and the conditions you declare.

For example, you may be asked about:

• Your diagnosis: What condition you have and when it was diagnosed
• Treatment: Whether you’ve had surgery or other treatment, or have treatment planned
• Medication: Whether you take prescribed medication and how many medicines you take for a condition
• Hospital visits: Whether you’ve had any planned or unplanned admissions
• Investigations: Whether you’re waiting for tests, results or a specialist appointment
• Symptoms: How your condition currently affects you

Read each question carefully, including any dates or time periods it mentions. If you’re unsure about an answer, take a moment to check your medical information or ask the provider to explain the question before continuing.

How to prepare for medical screening

Having a few details to hand can make the questions easier to answer.

Before you start, it can help to:

• Check your diagnoses: Have the names of the conditions you need to declare available
• Review your treatment history: Remind yourself of relevant appointments, procedures and hospital admissions
• Check your medication details: Be ready to answer questions about medication taken for each condition
• Note anything you’re waiting for: This could include tests, results, treatment or referrals
• Allow time to review your answers: Check that you’ve included each relevant condition and answered the questions accurately

You don’t need to work out the medical terminology yourself. If you’re unsure what a diagnosis means, check with your GP or specialist.

What should you declare during medical screening?

A condition may still need to be declared even if you feel well or no longer receive treatment. Read the questions carefully, including any time periods mentioned. Here are some situations you may be unsure about:

• Conditions controlled by medication: You may still need to declare a condition even if medication keeps it well managed. For example, controlled high blood pressure should still be included when the questions require it
• Previous conditions and treatment: Stopping medication or completing treatment doesn’t automatically mean you can leave a condition out. Check the time periods in the questions, including for conditions you’ve only experienced once
• Private consultations and treatment: Include relevant appointments, investigations and treatment, whether you received them through the NHS or privately
• Hospital visits and A&E: Questions may distinguish between hospital attendance and admission. Follow the wording carefully, and ask the provider if you’re unsure how to include your visit
• Symptoms still being investigated: Tell the provider about symptoms, tests, results or referrals when asked, even if you don’t yet have a diagnosis. Read our guidance on Travel Insurance for undiagnosed conditions
• A diagnosis that has changed: If a condition was misdiagnosed or ruled out, explain this to the provider. It can help you understand how to record the corrected diagnosis and any relevant treatment or investigations

Ready to complete you medical screening with confidence?

Knowing what to expect can make medical screening feel more straightforward. Have your medical information to hand, take your time with the questions and ask for help if anything is unclear.

With AllClear, you can complete your screening online or over the phone. If you’d prefer to talk things through, our team can explain the questions and help you complete your declaration.