Medical Questionnaire Help
What do you consider a heart condition?
A heart condition is ANY condition involving your heart. If you are unsure if you have ever had a heart condition, please consult your doctor. Heart conditions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Angina (or chest pain coming from your heart)
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart failure (water on the lungs or swelling of the ankles)
- Heart valve problems
- Irregular heart beat for which your doctor has prescribed medication, or for which you have had surgery, treatment or a pacemaker
- Rapid or slow heart rates for which your doctor has prescribed medication, or for which you have had surgery or a pacemaker
- Heart murmur (however, if you had a murmur as a child and no longer have the murmur as an adult, this does not count)
- If you have a pacemaker, then you have a heart condition
- Pericarditis
What is a lung/breathing condition?
A lung/breathing condition can have several names. If you are unsure, please speak with your doctor. Lung/breathing conditions include, but are not limited to the following conditions:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis (including chronic bronchitis)
- Pneumonia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Asbestosis
- Fibrosis of the lungs
- Respiratory failure
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary Emboli
I was treated for bowel cancer 5 years ago. I saw my doctor for a checkup and I was told I was cancer free, does my check up count?
You can answer “No” to Question 2 as it pertains to cancer. Follow up visits do not count if there were no findings of cancer or treatment provided.
I had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for breast cancer 7 years ago. My doctor has prescribed medication such as Tamoxifen to prevent recurrence. How do I answer Question 2?
Your answer to Question 2 is “No.”
I have a history of prostate cancer. I completed radiation 3 years ago and I am currently taking hormone therapy medication to help prevent recurrence. How do I answer Question 2?
Your answer to Question 2 is “No.”
Question # 3 on the Medical Questionnaire, refers to “ongoing basis.” What does this mean?
Ongoing basis means medication prescribed on a regular basis for the treatment or prevention of lung symptoms.
These medications can include puffers, inhaled medications or oral medications.
Example: Your doctor has advised you to take your puffers daily for an indefinite period of time, this would be considered “ongoing basis.”
I had a stroke two years ago. My doctor has prescribed Plavix (or Clopidogrel). How do I answer Question 5?
Your answer to Question 5 is ‘Yes.”
I had a stroke or TIA 3 years ago. My doctor has advised me to take ASA. How do I answer Question 5?
Your answer to Question 5 is ‘Yes.”
My doctor prescribed medicine to treat diabetes, how do I answer Question 6?
Your answer to Question 6 is “Yes.”
My doctor informed me recently that I have diabetes (or my blood sugars are a bit on the high side). He has referred me to a dietician because of my blood sugar levels. How do I answer Question 6?
Your answer to Question 6 is “Yes.”
I developed gestational diabetes when I was pregnant many years ago, how do I answer Question 6?
You may answer “No” to Question 6 if you no longer require treatment for diabetes and are not monitoring your blood sugar. You may also answer “No” to Question 6 if you have had Diabetes Insipidus.
What does change in medication mean?
A complete list of our definitions will be included in your Travel Policy. Following is the definition of stable which includes reference to change in medication:
Stable - A medical condition is considered stable when all of the following statements are true:
- there has not been any new treatment prescribed or recommended, or change(s) to existing treatment (including a stoppage in treatment), and
- there has not been any change to any existing prescribed drug (including an increase, decrease, or stoppage to prescribed dosage), or any recommendation or starting of a new prescription drug, and
- the medical condition has not become worse, and
- there has not been any new, more frequent or more severe symptoms, and
- there has been no hospitalization or referral to a specialist, and
- there have not been any tests, investigation or treatment recommended, but not yet complete, nor any outstanding test results, and
- there is no planned or pending treatment.
All of the above conditions must be met for a medical condition to be considered stable.
Exceptions relating to change in medication:
- an adjustment in the dosage of insulin or Coumadin (Warfarin), if you are currently taking these drugs;
- a change from a brand name drug to an equivalent generic drug of the same dosage.