Medical Questionnaire: FAQs for Senior Travellers

If you’re over 60 and love to travel, you’re probably familiar with a Medical Questionnaire (MQ), which must be completed to determine your rate (not your eligibility) for our travel insurance. Our Customer Service team receives many calls about our MQ and what impacts its rates, so we thought we’d share some of the most frequently asked questions. 

What’s deemed a “medical condition”?

In our Emergency Travel Medical policy wording, we define it as “any disease, illness or injury (including symptoms of undiagnosed conditions)”.

Does answering the MQ mean I’m covered for pre-existing medical conditions?

No, answering the Medical Questionnaire helps determine the cost of your insurance, but does not guarantee coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Learn more: Should I add Goose's 'Unstable Pre-existing Condition' coverage?

I haven’t been diagnosed with a heart condition, but my doctor has prescribed aspirin as a preventative medication. Do I count this?

No, if you haven’t been diagnosed with a condition, the preventative medication doesn’t need to be accounted for.

I was diagnosed with arthritis, but I don’t receive any treatment for it. Do I include it?

Yes, arthritis is considered a condition, so you would tick that box. The same would apply for any conditions that have periods where treatment isn’t required.

I’ve been on medication for high cholesterol for 2 years, but I haven’t had high cholesterol in the last 12 months before completing the Medical Questionnaire. How do I answer this question regarding cardiovascular conditions accurately?

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and still have that condition within the 12 months (regardless of receiving treatment), you would tick the “high cholesterol” box. The same would apply for any condition listed under this question. If you’re unsure if you have any of the listed conditions, consult your doctor before completing the MQ.

I’ve stopped smoking cigarettes, but I’m still using the nicotine patch and gum. How do I answer this question accurately?

If you haven’t smoked or vaped nicotine products in the last 12 months, you can reply “No”; patches and gums wouldn’t count for this question.

I smoke marijuana. How do I answer this last question accurately?

This question specifically asks about tobacco and nicotine products; if you do not use these products, but smoke or ingest cannabis products, you would respond “No”.

Despite travellers’ best efforts to complete the MQ correctly, we know that mistakes can happen; so our insurance provider has a safeguard. Unlike other providers who may void coverage and deny paying your claim, we’ll review your claim and apply a $15,000 USD deductible—rather than forcing you to be out-of-pocket for the total amount of the claim (subject to the policy terms and conditions).