By Pankaj Babbar, licensed advisor at SAI Insurances · 3 min read
1-minute read
The short answer
- A pre-existing condition is any health issue your parent had before the policy starts — diabetes, blood pressure, a past heart problem.
- Most plans only cover a condition if it was stable: no new symptoms, tests, treatment or medication changes for a set period before the start date.
- On one insurer's plans, the basic plan excludes anything present or treated in the 180 days before the start date, while the upper plan covers conditions stable for 180 days up to age 79 (ages 70–79 still exclude certain heart, brain and lung conditions).
- The plan that covers stable conditions costs more — but it's often the one that matters.
- Answer every medical question truthfully. A missed detail can void a claim later.
Detailed guide · 2 min read
Why this is the question that matters most
Price gets most of the attention when families shop for Super Visa insurance. But for a parent in their 60s or 70s, the more important question is often: will this policy pay if my existing condition flares up? A cheap plan that excludes your mother's heart condition may not help much on the day she needs it.
What counts as “pre-existing”
In insurance terms, a pre-existing condition is a medical condition that existed before the policy's start date — whether or not it was ever formally diagnosed. Common examples for visiting parents:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Thyroid conditions
- A past heart attack, stent or bypass
- Asthma or other breathing conditions
So what does “stable” mean?
Insurers that cover pre-existing conditions usually require them to be stable for a period before the policy starts. Roughly, stable means nothing has changed: no new symptoms, no new or worsening diagnosis, no new tests or referrals, no hospital visits, and no change in medication or dosage.
The details are where plans differ — how long the stability period is, whether a routine dose adjustment counts as a change, and which conditions are excluded no matter what. Those details live in the policy wording, not the brochure.
One insurer's plans, side by side
To make it concrete, here's how one insurer we compare handles it:
| Basic plan (Essential) | Upper plan (Premier) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-existing conditions | Not covered — anything present or treated in the 180 days before the start date is excluded | Covered if stable for 180 days, up to age 79 |
| Ages 70–79 | — | Certain heart, brain and lung conditions still excluded |
| Age 80+ | — | Pre-existing conditions not covered |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
Travelance, January 2026 policy wordings. Other insurers' rules differ.
Answering the medical questions
Many plans ask a short medical questionnaire before quoting. It can be tempting to round off the answers to get a better price — please don't. If a claim comes in and the insurer finds a condition that wasn't disclosed, they can refuse it, and in some cases cancel the policy. Bring your parent's medication list and recent doctor's notes when you talk to us; it makes the answers accurate and the conversation faster.
Worth the extra cost?
Plans that cover stable conditions cost more, and for a healthy parent the basic plan may be enough. For a parent managing a long-term condition, the upper plan is often the only one that would respond to the most likely emergency. A higher deductible can bring the price of the better plan back within reach.
How we help
Tell us about your parent's health and medications — in English, Hindi or Punjabi. We'll explain which plans would cover their conditions, what the stability rules mean for them, and what each option costs, so you can choose with your eyes open.
This article is general information, not insurance advice. Plan rules described are from Travelance's January 2026 Visitors to Canada policy wordings (underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada); other insurers define stability and exclusions differently. Your licensed advisor confirms the exact terms of the policy you choose.