Does high cholesterol affect travel insurance? 

High cholesterol is considered a “pre-existing medical condition” by insurance providers and must be declared when you take out a policy. While high cholesterol itself is usually asymptomatic, it is a significant risk factor for serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Because insurers calculate premiums based on the likelihood of you needing medical treatment abroad, having high cholesterol can lead to a slight increase in costs or specific exclusions if not properly disclosed. 

What We’ll Discuss in This Article 

• Why high cholesterol is classified as a pre-existing condition. 

• The importance of full disclosure to ensure your policy remains valid. 

• How insurers assess the risk of heart-related complications during travel. 

• The impact of cholesterol medications (like statins) on your premium. 

• Common causes of insurance claim rejections related to lipid disorders. 

• Triggers that require an update to your insurance provider. 

• Using the BMI Calculator to monitor the cardiovascular health factors insurers care about. 

Why You Must Declare High Cholesterol 

When applying for travel insurance, you are required to provide an honest medical history. Even if you feel perfectly healthy and your cholesterol is well-managed with medication, insurers view it as an increased statistical risk. If you were to suffer a heart-related emergency while abroad and had not declared your high cholesterol, the insurer could argue that the emergency was linked to an undisclosed condition and refuse to pay your medical bills. 

Declaring high cholesterol is usually a straightforward process. Most insurers will ask if you are taking any medication for it and whether you have any secondary conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. In many cases, if high cholesterol is your only condition and it is stable, the impact on your premium may be minimal. 

• Non-Disclosure Risk: Your entire policy could be voided if you fail to mention your diagnosis. 

• Medical Bills: Emergency care for heart issues in countries like the USA can cost tens of thousands of pounds. 

• Stability: Insurers are most interested in whether your medication or dosage has changed recently. 

How Insurers Assess Risk 

Insurance companies use a process called medical screening to determine your premium. They are looking for “triggers” that suggest a higher risk of a claim. For cholesterol, they typically focus on the following: 

• Medication History: Are you taking one statin or multiple types of lipid-lowering drugs? 

• Co-morbidities: Do you also have high blood pressure, diabetes, or a high BMI? These factors combined significantly increase the risk profile. 

• Recent Events: Have you had any recent chest pain, hospital admissions, or changes to your treatment plan in the last 12 months? 

• The “Waitlist” Trigger: If you are currently waiting for a follow-up test (like an ECG) or a specialist appointment, many insurers will not cover you until the results are known. 

Factor	Potential Impact
Controlled with 1 medication	Minimal to no increase in premium.
Combined with High Blood Pressure	Moderate increase in premium.
History of Angina or Stroke	Significant increase; may require a specialist insurer.
Awaiting Heart Investigations	Likely deferral or exclusion of heart-related cover.

Causes of Insurance Complications 

Several underlying causes can make finding affordable travel insurance more difficult for those with lipid disorders: 

• Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH): Because this is a genetic condition present from birth, insurers may view the long-term arterial damage as higher risk. 

• Atherosclerosis: If a doctor has already noted “furring” of the arteries in your medical records, this is a specific clinical cause for increased premiums. 

• Age: As we get older, insurers view high cholesterol more seriously because the cumulative risk of a cardiac event is higher. 

Triggers for Updating Your Policy 

It is not enough to declare your condition once; you must update your insurer if your situation changes between buying the policy and going on holiday. 

• Medication Change: If your doctor changes your statin or increases your dose. 

• New Symptoms: If you experience any new chest pain (angina) or shortness of breath. 

• Follow-up Appointments: If you are referred to a cardiologist for any reason. 

• Hospital Visits: Any unplanned visit to a clinic or A&E for a heart-related concern. 

Differentiation: Standard vs. Specialist Insurance 

It is vital to differentiate between standard high-street insurers and those who specialise in medical travel cover. 

Feature	Standard Insurance	Specialist Medical Insurance
Medical Screening	Often basic; may exclude pre-existing conditions.	Detailed screening; designed to cover conditions.
Cost	Usually cheaper but riskier if you have heart issues.	Higher premiums but provides comprehensive cover.
Heart Coverage	May exclude “anything related to the heart.”	Covers heart attacks/strokes even if you have FH.
Policy Clarity	Can be vague about what “managed” means.	Clear definitions based on your clinical data.

To Summarise 

High cholesterol does affect travel insurance, primarily by requiring you to declare it as a pre-existing condition. While it may only slightly increase your premium if well-managed, failing to disclose it can leave you unprotected against massive medical costs abroad. By being transparent about your medications and any associated conditions, you can find a policy that provides peace of mind, ensuring that your cardiovascular health is covered wherever you travel. 

If you experience severe, sudden chest pain, pain radiating to your arms or jaw, or extreme breathlessness while travelling, seek emergency medical help immediately. 

You may find our free BMI Calculator helpful for monitoring your general health markers, as insurers often use BMI as part of their overall risk assessment for patients with high cholesterol. 

Authority Snapshot 

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being. This article discusses the intersection of clinical lipid management and travel insurance requirements.