rdsCOPD, Asthma, Oxygen and Prednisone: Travel Insurance Considerations
Travelling with COPD or asthma requires careful planning regarding insurance, especially regarding oxygen use and prednisone prescriptions. Learn how stability periods impact your eligibility.
Snowbyrds Editorial Team. For individual eligibility, speak with a licensed travel insurance advisor.
Understanding Lung Conditions and Travel Insurance
For many Canadian snowbirds, escaping the winter chill is a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, if you manage a lung condition such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma, planning your annual migration requires extra diligence. Travel insurance providers in Canada have specific criteria regarding respiratory health, and understanding these rules is essential to ensure you are fully covered while abroad. From oxygen therapy to the use of prednisone, your medical history plays a significant role in determining your eligibility and coverage options.
The Short Answer: Can You Get Covered?
Yes, you can generally obtain travel insurance if you have COPD or asthma, provided your condition is stable as defined by the specific insurer. Stability is the most important factor in your application. Most Canadian travel insurance providers require that your medical condition has not changed during a specific period before your departure date. This means you have not sought new treatment, changed medication dosages, or experienced a deterioration in symptoms that would be obvious to a reasonable person.
However, insurers treat respiratory conditions with additional scrutiny, especially when they involve supplemental oxygen or regular use of corticosteroids like prednisone. Providers like soNomad, GMS, TuGo, and Allianz all have unique medical questionnaires that must be completed accurately if you are aged 60 or older. Failing to disclose a condition or providing incorrect information can lead to denied claims, which is a risk no traveller should take.
Understanding Stability Periods and Tests
When you apply for coverage, you will frequently encounter the term stability period. For most standard pre-existing conditions, providers like TuGo and Allianz typically require a 90-day stability period. During this time, your condition must remain stable, meaning no new symptoms, no new treatments, and no changes to medication. If you have had an adjustment to your asthma inhalers or your COPD treatment plan, your stability period may reset, effectively starting the clock over.
soNomad includes a specific requirement for their Nomad+ product regarding lung health. In addition to their standard stability rules, they impose a 90-day test that explicitly states you must not require supplemental oxygen or the use of prednisone. If your doctor has recently prescribed prednisone to manage a flare-up of your COPD, you may not meet this criteria until you have gone 90 days without needing the medication. It is vital to read your policy document carefully, as different plans have different thresholds for what constitutes a stable condition.
The Role of Oxygen and Prednisone
Medication changes are a common point of confusion for travellers. Many people assume that a change in dosage only matters if it is an increase. However, for many insurers, any change to your medication—including a reduction in dosage or a change in delivery method—can affect your stability status. In the context of lung health, prednisone is a major factor because it is often prescribed to reduce inflammation during an acute exacerbation of COPD or asthma. Since its usage signals an active or changing health state, it is heavily weighted by underwriters.
If you require a portable oxygen concentrator for travel, you must declare this on your medical questionnaire. Many insurance plans will view the need for supplemental oxygen as an indicator of a more serious lung condition. When you compare providers, look specifically for how they handle oxygen use. Some insurers may exclude coverage related to your lung condition entirely if you require oxygen, while others might provide coverage if the condition is declared and approved during the underwriting process. Always verify your coverage status in writing before you book your flight.
Navigating the Medical Questionnaire
If you are aged 60 or older, you will be required to answer a medical questionnaire. This document is a legal contract, and the information you provide forms the basis of your insurance policy. The questions regarding your lung health will likely ask about hospitalizations, the frequency of your inhaler use, and whether you have been diagnosed with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or asthma.
Do not rely on memory alone when filling out these forms. Consult your GP or a specialist to confirm your current diagnosis and medication history. If you are unsure about whether a particular event counts as a medical change, err on the side of caution and disclose it. If you have questions about how to interpret your health history, use our Your Health guide to help navigate the complexities of these questionnaires. You can also use our Find Your Match tool to see which providers align best with your specific health profile.
Managing Your Health Abroad
Regardless of which insurer you choose, your behaviour while on vacation matters. If you experience an increase in respiratory distress, you must contact your insurer’s emergency assistance line before seeking non-emergency care. Failing to do so could result in a significant reduction in your claim payout. For instance, soNomad notes that failing to call before treatment can lead to a 25% or 30% coinsurance penalty.
Always travel with a copy of your current prescription and a letter from your doctor outlining your condition and your current medication list. This serves as a vital record in the event that you need to see a doctor in a foreign clinic. If your condition is well-managed and stable, you are far more likely to have a smooth experience, but the security of knowing your insurance covers your pre-existing conditions is the true key to peace of mind.
Before You Go: Your Checklist
- Consult your doctor at least 6 weeks before departure to ensure your lung condition is stable.
- Confirm with your insurer if your current medication dosages meet their definition of stability.
- Carry a current list of all medications, including exact dosages and instructions.
- Ensure your portable oxygen concentrator is approved for use on your flights and fits the requirements of your insurance policy.
- Keep your insurance provider's 24/7 emergency contact number stored in your phone and in your wallet.
- Disclose all conditions accurately on your medical questionnaire; honesty is your best defence against a claim denial.
- Review your specific policy document for any exclusions related to oxygen or corticosteroids like prednisone.
Where to Go Next
- Visit our Your Health guide for detailed tips on managing pre-existing conditions.
- Use the Find Your Match tool to identify providers that best suit your medical history.
- Visit our compare providers page to see a side-by-side view of policy requirements.
Sources
- soNomad Policy: CA-TRVL-MED-EN-10-2025
- GMS Policy: 21JULYCA2026
- TuGo Policy Documents
- Allianz Global Assistance Policy Documents
This article is educational. For your actual coverage, confirm the specific wording with the insurer or speak with a licensed travel insurance advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does taking prednisone mean I am not stable for travel insurance?
Yes, for many providers, the use of prednisone or a recent change in your dosage is considered a change in your health status. You must be stable for the required period—often 90 to 120 days—without needing such medications to be considered eligible for full coverage.
If I use a portable oxygen concentrator, can I still get coverage?
Coverage depends on the insurer. Some companies may exclude lung-related claims if you require oxygen, while others may cover you if it is declared during the underwriting process. You must confirm this with your provider before purchasing a policy.
What is the difference between a stability period and a disqualification list?
A stability period is a window of time where your condition must remain unchanged. A disqualification list, used by some insurers, is a set of specific conditions or treatments that make you automatically ineligible for coverage regardless of your current stability.
Do I have to inform my insurance if I change my asthma inhaler dosage?
Yes. Any change to a medication, including a change in dosage or a switch to a new inhaler type, is typically considered a change in your health status and can reset your stability period.
Want to see how this applies to you?
Use Find Your Match to get a suggested starting point, explore the Your Health guide, or ask Artie a specific question. No medical details required.
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