Pre-authorisation
Pre-authorisation is your insurer’s advance approval for a specific treatment, required before the hospital proceeds.
Pre-authorisation is your insurer’s advance approval for a specific treatment, required before the hospital proceeds.
Also known as
Prior authorisation, Pre-approval, Pre-auth, Guarantee of payment, GOP
Why travellers need to know
Pre-authorisation is required by most travel insurers for non-emergency hospital admissions, planned surgeries, and expensive diagnostics (MRI, CT scans). Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons large claims are reduced or denied. In genuine emergencies, insurers expect you to seek treatment immediately and notify them within 24 hours. For anything planned or non-urgent, call the assistance line first.
Real-world example
You need knee surgery in a Bangkok hospital after a trekking injury. The hospital estimates the cost at $8,000. Before scheduling surgery, your insurer requires pre-authorisation. You call the assistance line, they review the medical reports, and issue approval within 4 hours. Without pre-authorisation, the insurer could refuse to cover the surgery even if it was medically necessary.
Country-specific notes
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
UAE mandatory health insurance system requires pre-authorisation for most specialist and hospital care
The Dubai Health Authority and Abu Dhabi Health Services mandate pre-authorisation workflows for all insured treatment above primary care. Visitors' travel insurance operates differently — call the assistance line before any non-emergency treatment.
Your insurer's UAE assistance line can arrange pre-authorisation within hours for planned procedures — do not assume the hospital will do this on your behalf.
🇺🇸 United States
US hospitals and specialists almost always require pre-authorisation for non-emergency admissions
Without pre-authorisation, US insurers may deny the claim entirely — even for legitimate medical treatment. Emergency admissions are exempt, but elective and semi-elective treatment requires advance approval.
Carry your insurer's 24/7 pre-authorisation number and call it before any planned US treatment — not after.
🇫🇷 France
French public hospitals do not require pre-authorisation from foreign travel insurers — but notify your insurer within 24–48 hours of admission
Most travel insurance policies require prompt notification of hospitalisation even if prior authorisation is not mandated. Failure to notify can reduce or void the claim. Many insurers have Paris-based assistance teams for European claims.
Save your insurer's assistance number as a phone contact before departure — you will not want to search for it from a French hospital bed.
Frequently asked questions
What if I need treatment urgently but can't get pre-authorisation in time?
In genuine emergencies, get treatment first and notify your insurer within 24 hours. All reputable travel insurers understand that emergencies don't wait for paperwork. The 24-hour notification window is the critical deadline. Keep all documentation from the emergency treatment.
Does pre-authorisation guarantee my claim will be paid?
Pre-authorisation confirms your insurer agrees the treatment is covered in principle. It is not a blank cheque. If the final bill significantly exceeds the estimate, or if the insurer discovers the condition was pre-existing and undeclared, they can still dispute part of the claim. But pre-auth makes disputes much less likely than proceeding without it.
Your Nomedic record gives your insurer’s assistance line immediate access to your medical history, speeding up the pre-authorisation process when time matters.