Travel Insurance After Angioplasty or a Stent
If you’ve had an angioplasty or a stent fitted, we can help you find Travel Insurance that takes your medical history into account. Tell us about your procedure, the condition that led to it and your health now, and we’ll show you the options available from our panel of insurers.
- Cover for a declared angioplasty or stent and related medical conditions
- Medical screening based on your treatment and current health
- Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip options, where available
- Emergency medical treatment and repatriation cover, subject to policy limits
Can I Get Travel Insurance After an Angioplasty?
Travel Insurance can still be available after an angioplasty or having a stent fitted. The cover available will depend on your individual circumstances, including why you needed the procedure, when it took place, your health now and the details of your holiday.
When you get a quote, we’ll ask you some questions about your angioplasty and the heart or circulatory condition behind it. If the procedure followed angina, a heart attack or narrowed arteries, those details may also need to be recorded. This helps us find the policies available from our panel based on your medical history and travel plans.
Angioplasty Is a Treatment, Not the Underlying Condition
A coronary angioplasty, also called percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI, widens a narrowed or blocked coronary artery. A small mesh tube called a stent is often left in place to help keep the artery open. The British Heart Foundation explains the procedure and recovery in more detail.
When arranging Travel Insurance, we’ll need to know about both the angioplasty and the condition that led to it. Two people who have had an angioplasty may receive different questions if one had a planned procedure for stable angina and the other needed emergency treatment after a heart attack. We may also ask about your current health, medication, any further investigations and other heart conditions.
If your angioplasty followed a heart attack, our Heart Attack Travel Insurance guide explains the questions that relate specifically to that diagnosis.
What Should I Declare After an Angioplasty?
When completing your medical screening, answer the questions as accurately as you can. Having your discharge information or medication list to hand can make this easier, particularly if your procedure was recent.
- The date of the angioplasty and whether a stent was fitted
- Why the procedure was needed, such as angina, coronary heart disease or a heart attack
- Any chest pain, breathlessness or other symptoms since treatment
- Hospital admissions, follow-up appointments, tests or further treatment
- Medication you currently take, including antiplatelet or blood-thinning medicine
- Other requested conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or an irregular heart rhythm
When completing the medical screening, answer the questions shown about your angioplasty and the condition that led to it. If you’re unsure how to answer a question or record your medical history, call Just Travel Cover and our team can help you through the quote process.
What Can Travel Insurance After Angioplasty Cover?
Travel Insurance can provide protection against a range of unexpected events before and during your holiday. Depending on the policy you choose, this can include:
- Emergency medical treatment abroad relating to the angioplasty, stent and other declared conditions
- Repatriation to the UK when medically necessary and covered by the policy
- Cancellation or curtailment if an insured change in health means you cannot travel or need to return early
- Lost, stolen or damaged baggage, prescribed medication or medical equipment, within the stated limits
- 24-hour emergency medical assistance
What Is Not Usually Covered?
- An angioplasty, stent or related condition that should have been declared but was left out
- Travelling against medical advice or before your treating team considers you fit to travel
- A planned operation, consultation or other medical treatment abroad
- A known event or expected treatment that falls outside the policy terms
- Travel against applicable FCDO advice, activities not included in the policy, or claims below the excess
Exclusions differ between insurers. Check the policy wording supplied with the quotation rather than assuming every policy treats recent treatment in the same way.
Maximum limits available across the Just Travel Cover panel include up to £10 million for emergency medical expenses, cancellation cover up to £50,000; limited to £100,000 per policy upon referral and baggage cover up to £3,500 per person. The cover offered to you may be lower, so use the limits shown with your quote and read the policy wording before buying.
Planning a Holiday After Angioplasty
Check when you can travel
Recovery time depends on whether the angioplasty was planned or followed from a heart attack, and whether there were complications. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says people with an uncomplicated angioplasty and stent placement may be fit to fly after three days, but individual assessment is essential.
British Heart Foundation guidance says some people may be fit after two days following a planned, uncomplicated procedure. Ask your treating team what applies to you and check the airline’s requirements before booking or travelling.
If your angioplasty followed a heart attack or there were complications, your recovery time may be different. Your treating team can advise you based on your individual circumstances.
Take medication and treatment information
The NHS angioplasty recovery guidance explains that medication after a stent is important and should not be stopped early without medical advice. Before you travel, make sure you have enough of your prescribed medication for your holiday and check any requirements for travelling with it. Keeping a copy of your prescription, medication list or procedure information with you can also be useful.
Think about your holiday plans
Your destination, length of trip and what you plan to do while you’re away can all affect the Travel Insurance you need. A cruise may need cruise-specific benefits, while a higher-value booking may require more cancellation cover than a standard policy provides. Before departure, check the latest FCDO advice for the destination and keep the insurer’s emergency number with your travel documents.
If you have any questions about travelling with a stent, including airport security, check with your airline or treating team before you travel.
Our Expert Says
“After an angioplasty, the date of the procedure is only part of the picture. Insurers may also need to know why it was performed, whether a stent was fitted and how your recovery is progressing. Having those details ready makes the medical screening easier and helps ensure the policies shown reflect both the treatment and the condition behind it.”
Amy Smith
Customer Experience Executive at Just Travel Cover
Related Heart and Circulatory Conditions
An angioplasty is often connected to an underlying heart or circulatory condition. If you have another diagnosis, make sure you declare it when asked during medical screening. You can also find more information in our related guides:
Angina Travel Insurance for ongoing or previous angina symptoms.
Heart Attack Travel Insurance if the angioplasty was part of emergency heart-attack treatment.
Heart and Circulatory Conditions Travel Insurance for the wider condition finder and related diagnoses.
Our Content is Reviewed by Travel Insurance Specialists
Just Travel Cover has helped travellers find Travel Insurance since 1999. Our medical guides are written and reviewed using insurer policy wording, product information and relevant travel and health guidance. They are reviewed regularly so the insurance information remains accurate and useful.
Authorised and Regulated
Just Travel Cover is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 610022) for General Insurance Distribution activities.
Angioplasty Travel Insurance FAQs
Is an angioplasty or stent a pre-existing medical condition?
An angioplasty is a procedure and a stent is a device, but both are relevant to your medical history. The condition that led to the procedure, such as angina, coronary heart disease or a heart attack, may also need to be declared. When getting a quote, answer the medical screening questions as accurately as you can so we can show you the options available.
Does having a stent affect Travel Insurance?
You can still find Travel Insurance after having a stent fitted, but it may affect the medical screening questions you’re asked, the policies available and the price of your cover. Insurers may consider when the stent was fitted, why it was needed, your current symptoms, medication and whether more tests or treatment are planned.
Can I get Travel Insurance soon after an angioplasty?
Travel Insurance can still be available following an angioplasty, although the options will depend on your recovery and individual circumstances. You will need to answer questions about the procedure, recovery and any follow-up care. Your Travel Insurance does not determine whether you are medically fit to travel, so always follow the advice of your treating team and any requirements set by your airline.
What if my angioplasty followed a heart attack?
Tell us about both the heart attack and the angioplasty when asked during medical screening. Screening may consider the date and severity of the heart attack, the treatment received, ongoing symptoms and follow-up care. Your treating team can advise you on recovery and when you are fit to travel.
Can my partner travel on the same policy?
Your partner or travelling companion can be included on the same policy where permitted by the insurer. Depending on the policy, this can also provide protection if an insured change in your health affects your travel plans. Check whose circumstances are covered for cancellation and curtailment before buying.
Will medication for my stent be covered if it is lost or stolen?
Some policies include cover for prescribed medication within the baggage or personal-belongings limit. Cover limits, excesses and the evidence required can vary, so check the policy wording before you travel. It’s also a good idea to keep essential medication in your hand luggage along with a copy of your prescription.
Can my partner travel on the same policy?
Yes. If you and your partner live at the same address and are travelling together, you can usually take out a joint policy. Each traveller should declare their own medical conditions during the quote process so you can compare suitable cover.
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