When you buy travel insurance, the application asks a few questions about you, your trip and sometimes your health. It is tempting to rush through them, or to leave out a condition that seems minor. That small decision can cause big problems later.
Insurers decide whether to cover you, and on what terms, based on your answers. If those answers turn out to be wrong, a claim can be reduced or rejected, even for something unrelated to your health. This guide explains what to declare, what counts as a pre-existing condition and what to do if anything changes before you fly.
Why honest answers matter
In Malaysia, if you buy insurance for personal reasons rather than for your business, you have a legal duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation when you answer the insurer’s questions. In practice, this means you should answer every question fully and accurately.
If you do not take reasonable care, the insurer may refuse or reduce a claim, change the terms of your cover or even treat the policy as if it never existed. Insurers explain this in their duty of disclosure notices, which you will usually see on the application or proposal form.
This duty lasts until the policy is issued, changed or renewed. Some insurers also ask you to tell them straight away if any information you gave becomes inaccurate after you buy.
What counts as a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a health problem you already had before your cover started. Each insurer defines it in its own policy wording, but many Malaysian travel policies look back over a set period, often the 12 months before your trip or cover begins.
For example, Liberty’s Travel Star policy wording treats an injury, illness or symptom as pre-existing if you sought or received treatment, medication, advice or a diagnosis for it in the 12 months before your journey. A condition can still count even if you never saw a doctor for it, as long as it existed before you travelled.
A condition is usually treated as pre-existing if, during the look-back period, you:
Had symptoms of it, even mild ones
Received a diagnosis or medical advice
Were prescribed medicine for it
Went for treatment, tests or follow-up appointments
Because the definition and the look-back period differ between insurers, always read the exact wording in the policy or Product Disclosure Sheet (PDS) of the plan you are buying.
Health conditions you should mention
If the application asks about your health, answer honestly even when you feel the condition is under control. Examples of conditions that you should not leave out include:
Heart problems, including past heart attacks or heart surgery
High blood pressure or high cholesterol
Stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke
Diabetes
Asthma or other breathing problems
Cancer, whether you are in treatment or in remission
Epilepsy
Recent surgery, or surgery you are waiting for
Pregnancy is not an illness, but many travel policies have specific rules about it. If you are expecting, read our guide on travel insurance for pregnant women before you buy.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Usually not. Most travel insurance plans sold in Malaysia list pre-existing conditions as an exclusion. Etiqa’s TripCare 360 FAQ, for example, states that the policy does not cover expenses caused by a pre-existing condition, and that there is no option to buy cover for one.
This is a key difference from travel insurance in some other countries, where you can declare a condition and pay extra to have it covered. In Malaysia, declaring a condition does not normally make it claimable. It does keep the rest of your policy safe.
Situation
What usually happens
You fall ill overseas with a new, unrelated illness
Covered, subject to the policy’s terms and limits
Your declared heart condition flares up during the trip
Usually excluded as a pre-existing condition
You hid a condition and later claim for lost baggage
The insurer may reject the claim or void the policy for misrepresentation
You travel against your doctor’s advice
Usually excluded
Some plans may treat certain situations differently, so check the PDS and policy wording before you buy. If you need ongoing cover for an existing illness, your medical insurance may be more relevant. Our article on medical insurance and pre-existing conditions explains how that works.
Other details you need to get right
Your health is not the only thing that matters. Make sure these details are accurate too:
Your full name, date of birth and passport or MyKad number, exactly as they appear on your documents
Your destination and the countries you will pass through
Your departure and return dates
Everyone who is travelling and should be covered, such as your spouse and children
Any risky activities you plan to do, such as scuba diving or skiing, which may need an add-on or may be excluded
A wrong date or a missing family member may mean that part of the trip, or one of your travellers, is not covered at all.
Do not travel against medical advice
Most policies exclude claims if you travel against a doctor’s advice, or if you travel mainly to get medical treatment abroad. If your doctor has told you not to fly, speak to your insurer before you go.
What if your health changes before you travel?
Many people buy travel insurance weeks before their trip. If you are diagnosed with something new, start new medication or are told you need surgery during that time, contact your insurer before you leave.
Explain what has changed and ask how it affects your cover. Depending on the insurer and your situation, they may confirm your cover, exclude the new condition or explain your options. Keep a record of what they tell you, ideally in writing.
If you are not well enough to travel, check whether your plan includes trip cancellation benefits. Whether a cancellation linked to your health is covered depends on the policy terms, including the pre-existing condition exclusion.
A quick checklist before you click buy
Read every question on the application slowly
Answer health questions fully, including conditions that feel minor
Check how your plan defines a pre-existing condition and its look-back period
Confirm your personal details, trip dates, destinations and travellers
Note any activities that may need extra cover
Save a copy of your application and policy documents
Being honest on your application is the simplest way to make sure your travel insurance works when you need it. With BJAK, you can compare travel insurance plans from several insurers and takaful operators in one place, then read each plan’s benefits and exclusions before you buy. Compare travel insurance with BJAK.
Do I have to declare minor health conditions when buying travel insurance?
Yes, if the application asks about them. You have a duty to take reasonable care when answering the insurer’s questions. Leaving out a condition because it seems minor could lead to a claim being reduced or rejected.
What is a pre-existing condition in travel insurance?
It is an illness, injury or symptom you had before your cover started. Many Malaysian travel policies look at the 12 months before your trip, including any symptoms, diagnosis, medication or treatment during that time. Check your own policy wording, as definitions differ.
Will travel insurance pay for treatment of my pre-existing condition overseas?
Usually not. Most travel insurance plans in Malaysia exclude pre-existing conditions. You are still covered for new, unrelated illnesses and accidents, subject to the policy’s terms.
What happens if I do not declare a medical condition?
The insurer may refuse or reduce your claim, change the terms of your cover or treat the policy as void. This can affect claims that have nothing to do with your health, such as lost baggage.
What should I do if I fall ill after buying travel insurance but before my trip?
Contact your insurer before you travel. Tell them what has changed and ask how it affects your cover. Keep a written record of their reply.
Can I travel if my doctor advises me not to?
You can, but most travel insurance policies exclude claims if you travel against medical advice. Speak to your insurer before you go.
Nabil Farhan· · 6 min read
