Travel Insurance for Aortic Valve Disease

What is aortic valve disease?

The aortic valve controls blood flow out of the heart’s main pumping chamber and into the aorta, the body’s largest artery. In aortic valve disease the valve doesn’t work properly. It may become stiff and narrowed, known as aortic stenosis, or it may not close fully and let blood leak backwards, called aortic regurgitation. It’s a type of heart valve disease and sits within our wider heart conditions section.

Mild valve disease may cause no symptoms and simply be checked with regular scans. As it progresses, people can notice breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness or fainting, and tiredness. Treatment can include medication, and many people eventually need the valve replaced, either through open-heart surgery or a less invasive procedure called a TAVI. The NHS heart valve disease page covers the treatment options.

Why do I need to declare aortic valve disease for travel insurance?

Aortic valve disease is a pre-existing medical condition, and we need to know about it because a narrowed or leaky valve can bring on breathlessness, chest pain or fainting - sometimes without much warning. It can also lead to heart failure or rhythm problems. Any of these could mean emergency care abroad, or having to cancel at short notice.

Leave it off your policy, and a related heart claim may be declined or reduced.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with aortic valve disease?

Many people can. Severity matters a great deal here. A mildly leaky valve that’s monitored once a year is a different situation from severe stenosis with symptoms, or a valve replacement you’re waiting for. Someone who has had a successful replacement and recovered well may also find cover easier to arrange.

What we’ll ask about your aortic valve disease

Declaring your aortic valve disease online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about the medication you take and whether you’ve been listed for valve surgery. After that, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions you have.

Once you’ve finished the medical declaration, you’ll go through to the quote page. If your aortic valve disease and your other conditions can be covered, you’ll see a list of quotes, and the premium shown includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Valve disease can progress. If new symptoms lead to a diagnosis, your medication changes, you have a hospital stay, or you’re listed for valve surgery between now and departure, you must let us know. We may need to review your cover or refer your medical situation to the underwriters, and occasionally we may not be able to proceed with cover. Any change in your medical you don’t tell us about could mean a future claim is affected or denied.

What can aortic valve disease travel insurance cover?

If your condition is accepted and you collapse or become very breathless while visiting family in Australia, emergency hospital treatment there can be covered, along with repatriation if you need medical support to come home. All cover is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If your valve disease worsens before you leave and your doctor tells you not to travel, you may be able to recover non-refundable costs through cancellation cover.

Planned surgery abroad isn’t covered, and nor are claims connected to anything you didn’t declare.

Will aortic valve disease affect the cost of travel insurance?

Aortic valve disease can have a bearing on the price, and the result of our online medical screening decides how much. Some of the questions cover how your valve condition is treated and how well it’s controlled. Like every quote, yours also depends on where you’re going, how long for and your age. You get to see the cost in full before buying.

Single trip or annual cover with aortic valve disease

For a single holiday, single trip cover is straightforward. If you take several trips a year, ask whether annual cover is available. That depends on what your screening shows.

Travelling with aortic valve disease: practical tips

These tips are general guidance and don’t form part of your policy.

Exertion is the thing to watch, especially with aortic stenosis. Steep streets, long sightseeing days and carrying heavy bags can bring on breathlessness or dizziness. Pace yourself, take a lift where you can and plan rest into the day. Airport assistance can help with long walks to the gate.

Heat and dehydration can lower your blood pressure and make dizziness more likely. Drink regularly, stay in the shade in the hottest hours and be careful getting up quickly.

If you’ve had a mechanical valve, you’ll be on an anticoagulant such as warfarin. Ask your anticoagulation clinic how to manage INR checks while you’re away, and remember that changes in diet and alcohol on holiday can affect your levels.

Look after your teeth before you go. People with valve problems or replacement valves have a higher risk of endocarditis, so a dental check before a long trip is sensible, and so is seeking help early for any fever while away.

Carry your valve card, if you have one, and a list of your medicines. Our guide on travelling abroad with medication has more on packing and paperwork.

How to get a quote

Tell us about your trip, answer the questions about your aortic valve and any other conditions, then choose your cover.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Heart Pages

• Angina Travel Insurance
• Aortic Valve Disease Travel Insurance
• Arrhythmia Travel Insurance
• Atrial Fibrillation Travel Insurance
• Cardiomyopathy Travel Insurance
• Congenital Heart Disease Travel Insurance
• Coronary Heart Disease Travel Insurance
• Endocarditis Travel Insurance
• Heart Attack Travel Insurance
• Heart Conditions Travel Insurance
• Heart Failure Travel Insurance
• Heart Valve Disease Travel Insurance
• Pericarditis Travel Insurance
• Supraventricular Tachycardia Travel Insurance

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.