Does taking statins affect travel insurance?

If you love going on holiday and take statins to manage your cholesterol, you may be wondering how statins affect the cost of your medical travel insurance.  

A pre-existing condition, such as high cholesterol, is one of the things that insurers will often look at when working out the cost of your quote. Here, you'll find out whether statins could increase your travel insurance cost, and how to compare quotes for the best value cover, even with a medical condition.

Travel insurance companies look at the risk of you needing to make a claim either before or during your trip to work out how much your travel insurance should cost. One of the risk factors they look at is your pre-existing conditions. 

People taking statins for high cholesterol could be seen as a higher risk - even if you’re fully managing your condition by taking the medication. 

But if you’re taking statins as a precaution and your cholesterol levels have never been raised, then the cost of your policy shouldn’t be affected.  

High cholesterol, while a manageable condition, can sometimes lead to sudden and severe health emergencies, such as a heart attack. So if this happens before your trip, or while you're away, you'd need emergency medical attention, as well as help getting home. The cost involved in this to either help recoup the cost of your trip, or help you get the treatment you need is why your travel policy could cost more.

As well as your medical conditions, your age is also used when working out your quote. This is because as you get older, the risk of needing to claim on your cover also increases.  

Not all travel insurance policies will cover you when you have pre-existing conditions. It’s important to check that your chosen provider isn’t just offering a great price, but is covering you and what’s important to you. 

When you get a quote for travel insurance from PayingTooMuch, you'll be asked a few questions about your health, including whether you've ever had medication for high cholesterol. 

You'll then be asked to let us know about any medical conditions you have and to answer a few questions including: 

• Has a blood test ever shown your cholesterol to be raised? 
• Have you ever been a smoker? 
• Have you been advised to take medication for high blood pressure? 

It's important to be honest when it comes to telling us about any pre-existing conditions. That way you can feel peace of mind that you're covered if you need help. 

Once you get your quotes, you can compare the cover available. It's important to remember that the cheapest policy may not always give you the level of cover you need, especially if you're going to places with costly healthcare.  

Buying travel insurance when you have medical conditions can be more expensive. But you shouldn’t ever feel ripped off when comparing cover. With PayingTooMuch, you’ll be shown a fair price for great quality cover you can trust.

Always read the policy's terms and conditions before you buy (we know it’s not the most thrilling of reads, but it is important), so you understand what is and isn't covered. A condition you live with day-to-day shouldn't stop you taking that dream holiday, so compare travel insurance to find great value cover with PayingTooMuch.