uk travel insurance pre existing conditions

Pre-Existing Medical Condition Travel Insurance

Compare cover from as little as £8.75*.

Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.

Why do you need travel insurance for pre-existing conditions?

Going on holiday can be a costly expense, which is why it’s important to get covered for your pre-existing medical conditions before travelling. With Medical Travel Compared , travel insurance with medical conditions isn't too far away. 

If anything happens as a result of your condition while travelling, this type of travel insurance enables you to claim - providing you with the peace of mind to enjoy your holiday knowing you’re protected. 

Despite the fact that many standard policies will include medical coverage, more often than not - this won’t extend to claims relating to undisclosed medical conditions. In fact, a recent study found that only 1 in 5 people understood the need to disclose a pre-existing condition.

Failing to disclose pre-existing medical conditions carries many risks if you end up needing to claim as a result of a pre-existing medical condition. It's essential to arrange specialist travel insurance for existing conditions with the correct cover.

Depending on the type of medical condition you have, finding specialist providers to cover you can be challenging and expensive. This is where Medical Travel Compared can help.

Our experienced team is on hand to help you compare the market for travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions and take the money out of travelling with a medical condition.

Our simple online comparison tool helps you find affordable quotes in minutes, so you know you're getting the best travel insurance for medical conditions. Why not give it a try today? 

Specialist Medical Cover

We only work with providers who specialise in covering pre-existing conditions.

No discounts. No pressure. We’ll always show you the best prices from providers.

Medical screening for pre-existing conditions

With Medical Travel Compared, the process of disclosing your conditions when applying for holiday insurance with pre-existing conditions is very straightforward. 

You’ll be able to declare your conditions once you’ve entered a number of details regarding your trip - as well as selecting the type of policy you need, whether that’s for a single trip , or an annual multi-trip policy. 

It’s likely that you might be asked a few questions in relation to your condition before you proceed. This stage is called medical screening - and it enables travel insurance providers to get a better understanding of your medical background so that they can offer you the right type of cover.

For more information on declaring your pre-existing medical conditions and the online medical screening process, you can read our comprehensive guide.

What are pre-existing medical conditions?

This refers to any condition that existed before, or at the time you take out travel insurance for existing medical conditions. Essentially, you need to notify insurance providers about any conditions you’ve been previously diagnosed with in order to get the most suitable level of holiday insurance for medical conditions - and that’s where we come in!

You can declare your pre-existing conditions with us - and we’ll help you compare quotes for pre-existing medical travel insurance. Just bear in mind that insurance providers cannot provide cover for undiagnosed conditions.

There are over 2,000 conditions that can be covered by travel insurance that covers pre-existing medical conditions. Here are some of the most common forms of medical insurance we help people find:

• Travel Insurance for Allergies
• Travel Insurance for Anxiety
• Travel Insurance for Asthma
• Travel Insurance for Atrial Fibrillation
• Travel Insurance for Back Problems
• Travel Insurance for Breast Cancer
• Travel Insurance for Cancer
• Travel Insurance for COPD
• Travel Insurance for Crohn’s Disease
• Travel Insurance for Depression
• Travel Insurance for Diabetes
• Travel Insurance for Epilepsy
• Travel Insurance for Gallstones
• Travel Insurance for Heart Conditions
• Travel Insurance for Hernias
• Travel Insurance for High Blood Pressure
• Travel Insurance for HIV
• Travel Insurance for Lupus
• Travel Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Travel Insurance for Prostate Cancer
• Travel Insurance for Skin Cancer
• Travel Insurance for Stroke

If any of the above apply to you - then you may need to declare them to compare the right travel insurance cover for you.

This especially applies if you have recently been diagnosed with the condition and are receiving treatment for it right now. That being said - not all conditions necessarily need to be declared. It often depends on what they are and when they occurred.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that we are unable to provide a quote for an undiagnosed medical condition that’s currently under investigation.

Dr Sarah answers your questions

Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.

Question: Is it safe to travel alone when I have a pre-existing medical condition?

That very much depends on what medical condition you have. For instance, if you have epilepsy or insulin-treated diabetes, you may have a seizure or become severely unwell in a very short space of time.

If you have COPD or arthritis, your mobility may be limited. In this case, it could be difficult for you to carry your luggage, board transfers, or get around.

In any of these situations, it may not be advisable for you to travel alone. You should certainly take all the precautions you would take at home and more to ensure you remain safe.

What does a pre-existing medical policy typically cover?

Holiday insurance for pre-existing medical conditions could offer coverage for a variety of different things, including:

• Lost, Stolen or Damaged Personal Belongings - this could include any medication you take abroad with you - so it’s an important benefit.  
• Emergency Medical Expenses and Repatriation - if you need emergency medical treatment abroad, the chances are you’ll end up paying a hefty price for it. The cost of repatriation (emergency return back to the UK) is also high.
• Cancellation and Curtailment - the insurance provider will cover you in the event of needing to cancel your holiday or cut it short for a certain reason (usually medical).
• Travel Delay - this won’t always be included, check with your provider.
• Personal Liability - if you cause accidental damage to another person or someone else’s property - cover is provided.

We work with over 30 leading providers to help you compare cover for over 2,000 medical conditions - so you can count on us to help you find what you need in no time.

Compare quotes and find the best cover for your condition

Why waste time and effort searching the internet for specialist cover when you can come straight to us? We enable you to compare travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, UK wide, from leading insurance providers all in one place.

The process couldn’t be any easier - and you’ll be able to start comparing cover against any pre-existing travel insurance you may have in minutes. 

Then, it’s time to get back to the exciting stuff… like planning your holiday!

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Frequently Asked Questions

A pre-existing condition is a diagnosed medical condition that existed before taking out a policy. We'll ask a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us about the traveller's conditions. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!

It is simple and quick to do! After you've told us about your trip details and answered some medical history questions you can add your pre-existing conditions, one by one, for each traveller. You'll only need to enter your details once, it's all online and there's no need to call, or provide details of your conditions in writing.

Once you've declared all of your relevant pre-existing medical conditions, we'll only show you quotes based on the conditions you have told us about.

* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has declared High Blood Pressure and is travelling to France for 7 nights. The price is correct as of April 2024. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.

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Don't just take our word for it...

If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition , the Money Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their  website.

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Medical Travel Insurance

We specialise in providing Travel Insurance with medical conditions.

• All medical conditions. All ages. All destinations
• 24/7 emergency medical helpline
• 97% customer satisfaction 2

Can you get Travel Insurance with medical conditions?

You can get Travel Insurance with medical conditions if you buy cover from a specialist Travel Insurance provider like AllClear. Some providers will only cover you for medical emergencies that are unrelated to any pre-existing conditions. So if you’ve had a hospital appointment, visited a GP or taken any medication for a medical condition in the last two years, you’ll need specialist Travel Insurance

View this brief video overview from MaPS to learn more about their directory service:

View video transcript

What is medical travel insurance, and why do you need it?

You can still get Travel Insurance if you’re living with medical conditions, but you’ll need a specialist policy.

Standard Travel Insurance excludes cover for your existing medical conditions.

Specialist Medical Travel Insurance covers you for all the medical conditions you declare.

What would your specialist medical Travel Insurance policy cover?

As well as covering cancellation and baggage, a specialist policy covers medical expenses, including if you need medical treatment for your existing medical conditions while you’re away.

Cover benefits:

• Up to unlimited medical emergency expenses cover.
• Cover if you need to be repatriated home.
• A 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance helpline.
• Up to £25K cancellation cover for unforeseen medical emergencies before you go.
• This means you can relax and enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.

Which medical conditions do you need to declare for your Travel Insurance?

A medical condition is anything you’re having treatment for or are taking medication for.

All Clear is a specialist medical Travel Insurance provider.

We have covered more than 1,300 different medical conditions.

Examples include:

• Heart conditions,
• High cholesterol,
• High blood pressure,
• Back problems,

If you don’t declare your medical conditions, your policy could be voided.

Without Medical Travel Insurance, medical costs abroad can be very expensive.

Example costs of treatment for heart attack.

Spain – £45,000.

Thailand – £75,000

USA – £362, 000

How do you get quotes for Travel Insurance with medical conditions?

You can get quotes for Medical Travel insurance with AllClear.

Just pop in a few details about your trip and answer the screening questions.

A set of simple questions that we ask about your medical conditions to individualise your policy.

We may ask what treatment you’re having or your prescribed medication. Don’t worry, we don’t need to know the specific names of any medication.

Once you’ve sorted your Medical Travel Insurance, you can focus on enjoying your holiday. All medical conditions. All ages. All destinations.

Get a quote at AllClearTravel.co.uk or call 0800 640 4839

Why do you need Medical Travel Insurance?

Emergency medical treatment abroad can cost more than you think. That’s why medical cover should be your number one priority when looking for Travel Insurance.

It covers emergency medical costs including hospital charges and ambulance fees. It also covers repatriation (medical transport back home) if needed.

Medical Travel Insurance gives you four key benefits in addition to those provided by standard Travel Insurance:

• Cover for your pre-existing conditions while abroad. AllClear cover up to unlimited costs for emergency treatment, including treatment for ongoing medical issues.
• Cover for cancellation due to a pre-existing medical condition. You can also be covered for up to £25K if you need to cancel your holiday because of your medical condition, or a complication related to it.
• Repatriation costs. According to FCDO figures, if you were to fall over in Spain and need treatment for a broken leg, you would be looking at costs of around £15,000. Even minor ailments such as an infection or stomach bug in the USA could cost you £100, 000 if you need flights home.
• Peace of mind. While you’re away, you’ll have access to 24-hour medical emergency assistance, so you can travel with confidence, knowing we’ll be there just in case.

What happens if you don’t have Medical Travel Insurance?

With a standard policy, you would need to pay for costs incurred due to your pre-existing conditions, which can easily reach thousands of pounds very quickly.

According to FCDO figures, if you were to fall over in Spain and require treatment for a broken leg, you would be looking at costs of around £15,000. Even minor ailments such as an infection or stomach bug in the USA could cost you £100, 000 if you require flights home. Real customer claims we’ve paid out include; £21,587 for a fractured femur in Italy and £179,391 for pneumonia in Spain. Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kay Greveson explains more: “ People often do not realise the cost of medical emergencies abroad. It’s natural that people believe it won’t happen to them, but even the most well-managed conditions need to be covered, in case the unexpected happens. ”

What our Customers Say

Case study – sheila lowrie.

Sheila has been with AllClear since 2015. When the couple visited their holiday home in Portugal, her husband was taken ill, she found out the true importance of having Specialist Medical Travel Insurance.

“When my husband fell seriously ill, he was suddenly taken to hospital in Portugal so you can imagine how traumatised I was. I rang AllClear and they were absolutely fantastic. They arranged for the air ambulance to come and collect him, the doctor and nurse came to the hospital to meet us and they actually escorted him all the way home to Newcastle, even taking him into the hospital to make sure everything was OK. It was amazing and meant so much to me.”

So what’s a pre-existing medical condition for Travel Insurance?

A pre-existing medical condition is any illness or injury you have before you buy your Travel Insurance. It could be an ongoing condition, or one you have been treated for in the past. As part of the quote process, we’ll guide you through any relevant questions that may apply. We can then make sure you’re covered if you have a medical emergency abroad.

Some of the most common conditions we cover include:

• Diabetes: More than 4 million people in the UK are living with diabetes . This  can mean some extra consideration is needed when planning your trip.
• Heart conditions: Such as heart disease , heart attack and atrial fibrillation are common and vary in severity, which can impact on how you travel with the condition.
• Circulatory conditions: Issues with blood flow such as stroke , high blood pressure which are still important to declare when quoting for your Travel Insurance.  Even a well-managed condition at home can affect you differently when abroad. 
• Respiratory conditions: Conditions which impact breathing such as asthma , or COPD can mean travelling with specific medication.
• Chronic conditions: There are conditions which can have long-term health impacts on health. These include issues like cancer , epilepsy , multiple sclerosis , disability , Crohn’s disease
• Bone and joint conditions: Issues affecting your bones or joints like arthritis , back problems or osteoporosis can affect how you plan your holiday.
• Other conditions: AllClear covers a wide range of other conditions. These include mental health issues , after-surgery , undiagnosed conditions and gallstones .

Our experts say…

“People often underestimate just how important it is to let us know about their medical conditions. Even if something is minor and controlled at home, changes in climate can affect it. Declaring all your pre-existing conditions helps make sure you have the right cover. With comprehensive cover you can travel with peace of mind, even if the unexpected happens while you’re away.”

Letitia Smith MSc, Travel Insurance expert

What conditions don’t need to be declared?

As part of the quote process, we ask you to declare any conditions that fall within the medical warranty. This is an important part of our medical screening for Travel Insurance. But you may wonder if there are any conditions you don’t need to declare. If you’ve had a cold or flu, but didn’t need to see a doctor or take any prescribed medication, then you don’t need to tell us about it. We also don’t need to know about a complication-free pregnancy or any contraception prescriptions.

How does Medical Travel Insurance work?

Travel Insurance offers financial protection for specific problems you might face on holiday. The medical section of your policy covers the cost of medical care if you become ill or have an accident.

Without Medical Travel Insurance, you’d be liable for any expenses resulting from an unexpected medical emergency when travelling. This means the cost of the ambulance, any doctor’s appointments and any surgeries you might need. Also, the cost of any medication that’s needed to treat you. These expenses can quickly build up and be in the thousands, if not tens of thousands, of pounds.

Here we explain how you would make a claim.

If  you need emergency medical care while abroad:

• Notify us as soon as possible. We’re here to help, so just let us know what’s happened. Ideally, you’ll notify us while you’re still away. In some emergency cases our assistance team may arrange payment directly to the treating hospital or clinic.
• Keep all documentation: Make sure to keep any medical reports, booking forms, receipts, hospital certificates or invoices. These will be needed for your claim. 
• Fill out a claims form when back in the UK.   If you’ve paid any medical costs yourself, you’ll have up to 30 days from the end of your holiday to make a claim. Please be as accurate as possible in your information. This is where you’ll need to provide your receipts, certificates and booking forms. 
• Send it to us. Remember to keep a copy of all the documents you’ve sent us, just in case.
• We’ll do the rest. Our team will get to work and keep you posted with any updates.

For full instructions on how to claim, please read our How To Claim page .

What does AllClear Medical Travel Insurance cover?

SWIPE TO COMPARE POLICIES

* If you buy a policy which includes cancellation cover. / All these figures are per person and per trip.

What’s not covered?

Travel insurance covers  you when abroad (and before you go) and provides assistance in case of unforeseen emergencies However, certain types of claims may not be covered. You should review your policy document carefully before you travel. This will help you to know what benefits you have, and what exclusions apply.

Examples of situations where you may not be covered:

• Travelling against the advice of a medical professional
• If you choose not to travel
• If you have not declared a pre-existing medical condition
• If you are travelling specifically to receive medical treatment abroad

Limitations of GHIC: what they don’t cover

The GHIC has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card means you’ll receive emergency and necessary state healthcare in EU countries as though you were a local citizen. However, the GHIC isn’t a substitute for Travel Insurance. It doesn’t cover you for: the costs of rescue and repatriation (an air ambulance from Spain back to the UK costs the costs of rescue and repatriation (an air ambulance from Spain back to the UK costs £10,000 or more)

• lost or stolen property such as passports, baggage or precious items
• losses from trip cancellation, curtailment and interruption
• extra travel and accommodation costs due to illness
• any medical treatment needed outside of the EU

How to get Travel Insurance for pre-existing medical conditions

Insurance for medical conditions doesn’t have to be hard to buy. If you have serious health conditions you can get specialist insurance from AllClear. Our 3-step quote process is quick and simple and designed to provide you with comprehensive worldwide cover. Here’s how it works.

1 . Get a quote online or by phone

Once you’re ready to start the quote process, the first step is to provide your personal details and information about your holiday and travel plans. This can be completed over the phone with one of our team members or online. 

2. Tell us about your conditions 

As part of the quote process, we’ll run through a medical screening, and ask you some questions about your conditions. This way, we can provide the cover that best suits your needs. As a specialist, AllClear can cover all pre-existing conditions. 

3. Select your level of cover 

Once you’ve completed the medical screening process, you’ll be able to choose the level of cover which best suits your needs. 

How much does Medical Travel Insurance cost?

The cost of Medical Travel Insurance will differ based on a number of factors

• Your medical history: For example, the severity of your condition, whether it is medicated. The medical screening process will answer these questions and determine the level of risk. 
• Your destination: Some places carry a greater risk as they have a more expensive health care system. For example, Travel Insurance for the US will have a higher premium than Travel Insurance in Europe .
• Your age: Travel Insurance has a higher premium as we get older. However, our policies have no upper age limit, and we specialise in Travel Insurance for those in their 60s and 70s .
• Activities: While we cover some activities as standard, you’ll need to pay an additional premium to take part in others – for example, winter sports . 
• Valuables: If you’re taking a lot of expensive items abroad, such as laptops, tablets, phones or cameras, you might want to add gadget cover to your policy.
• Additional cover: You may want to include extra cover for a special type of holiday, such as a cruise or golfing holiday .

How can you reduce the cost of Travel Insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

If you’re concerned about the cost, there are some steps you can take to get cheaper Travel Insurance.

• Consider arranging a shorter trip. Shorter trips mean you’re less likely to claim, as you’ll be travelling for less time. This means a cheaper policy. 
• Consider choosing a destination with lower medical costs. Coverage tends to be pricier when travelling to countries with high private healthcare expenses. The US famously has an expensive healthcare system, so Travel Insurance for the US will be more expensive than Travel Insurance for Europe .
• Consider one policy for the whole year. If you plan to travel two or more times within a year, an Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance policy is typically more cost-effective than securing coverage for every single trip .

The length of your trip and the cost of medical treatment in the country you plan to visit can affect the costs of medical cover. For example, a week’s trip to Milan will be cheaper to cover than a two-week holiday in New York City.

You should never knowingly declare your medical conditions inaccurately.. Doing so may reduce the policy premium, but you would invalidate your cover and leave yourself responsible for all the costs incurred in the event of a claim.

Our expert advice on Medical Travel Insurance…

“Everyone has the right to travel and living with medical conditions shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your holiday. It does help to be prepared and make sure you have comprehensive Medical Travel Insurance. That way, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing you’re covered if the unexpected happens and you need emergency medical assistance while you’re away. It means there will be a 24 hour helpline to help you through a difficult situation.”

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between travel insurance and medical insurance.

Travel Insurance and medical insurance serve different purposes. 

Travel Insurance policies are designed to cover accidents, property loss, cancellations and emergencies while overseas.  Our Travel Insurance policies can cover emergency medical treatment related to pre-existing medical conditions, but not all do. 

Medical insurance focuses on medical cover, usually in your home country, for issues like therapies, treatments, medications and sometimes preventative care. UK residents are entitled to free healthcare from the NHS, so this isn’t needed. However. many people also take out private medical insurance to cover the costs of private healthcare providers.

Is GHIC enough to cover emergency medical expenses when abroad?

The GHIC is not enough to cover your emergency medical expenses when abroad. The UK Government recommends that all travellers from the UK get the recommended Travel Insurance policy for their destination.

It’s important to note that while the GHIC covers you for emergency medical costs, it will not cover you for anything that is not a direct medical cost, such as transport to and from hospital. It also won’t cover you for other holiday mishaps, like lost luggage, delays or cancellations. 

At AllClear, we offer Senior Travel Insurance , so that you can have comprehensive cover at any age, no matter your conditions. So, if you’re looking for Travel Insurance for over 70s or over 60s we can help you!

How much medical cover do you need for Travel Insurance?

Medical care abroad can be very expensive.  For example, a stomach bug treated in a hospital in the USA with return flights home could cost around £100k.

How much cover you need will depend on where you’re going, what you’re doing, your medical history and how long you’ll be travelling for. We’ll use these to work out a policy that will keep you fully protected so you can travel with confidence.

Is there an age limit on Medical Travel Insurance?

No, there is no upper age limit on our Travel Insurance policies, and we can cover all pre-existing medical conditions. The only age limit is on our winter sports cover, which we cannot provide for people aged over 65.

How do you declare medical conditions?

When choosing your policy, you must declare your medical conditions via our medical screening process . This can be done online or over the phone. 

During the medical screening process, we’ll ask you a few questions about your medical conditions. Some example questions we might ask include: 

• What age were you when you were diagnosed? 
• Are you currently undergoing treatment or is any planned? 
• Have you had any surgery, inpatient, or outpatient treatment or any referrals or investigations?
• Have you had any unplanned hospital admissions?

It’s important to declare all pre-existing medical conditions. If you don’t, you may find that your policy is invalidated and you’re left to cover any unexpected medical costs. You’ll need to answer a series of questions relating to your condition(s) when completing your quote.

Can I exclude a medical condition from Travel Insurance?

As part of the quote process, we ask you to declare all of your conditions as part of our medical screening for Travel Insurance. If you’ve had a cold or flu, but didn’t need to see a doctor or take any prescribed medication, then you don’t need to tell us about it. We also don’t need to know about a complication-free pregnancy or any contraception prescriptions.

How to make sure you’re ‘fit to travel’?

If you need to make a claim, you may need a letter from your doctor confirming that you were fit to travel at the time you bought your policy, and the date when you were declared unfit to travel.

Can you still get cover if your medical condition is undiagnosed?

Yes. However, It’s important that you understand that you will have no cover relating specifically to your undiagnosed condition(s) for Cancellation, Curtailment (cutting your trip short), Medical Emergency Expenses and costs relating to Home help or a nanny (where offered).

Does Medical Travel Insurance cover prescription medication?

Yes, Medical Travel Insurance covers any prescription medication you might need when abroad, so won’t be left without medication that you might need. 

We suggest you carry extra supplies in case you’re delayed abroad. Subject to airline restrictions, carry your medication in your hand luggage and not in checked-in bags.

It’s useful to travel with a copy of your prescriptions, and a copy of your medication’s medical name, as the brand name may differ in your destination country.  Always check that your medications are not prohibited in the destination you’re travelling to .

Is pregnancy a medical condition for Travel Insurance?

No, pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing medical condition for Travel Insurance. However, any pre-existing pregnancy-related conditions are classed as pre-existing conditions, such as gestational diabetes. 

We will cover claims for emergency medical expenses, or cancellations until the beginning of the 32nd week of your pregnancy (24th week for multiple pregnancies).

Get the most out of your trip with our helpful guides

Where are you visiting.

Explore our helpful guides for tips to ensure you remember everything you need when travelling to one of the below destinations

Which activities do you have planned?

Whether you’re planning a skiing holiday or setting sail on a cruise, remember to add extra coverage to your policy for a worry-free trip.

• United Kingdom
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Winter Sports
• Golf Travel Insurance

2 Based on over 100,000 Trustpilot responses, correct as of March 2024

Written by: Letitia Smith | Travel Insurance Expert Last Updated: 16 April 2024

3 - Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 40,000 reviews as of September 2023.

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Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions

Travelling with a pre‑existing medical condition.

The right travel insurance is even more important.

Travel insurance  is an important part of going away. Whether you're travelling around the UK or going abroad, make sure you and your travel companions are protected with comprehensive cover.

Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers

Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.

What we cover

We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.

We'll cover you if:

• you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
• a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
• you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
• an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
• you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19

What we don’t cover

You won't be covered if:

• you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
• any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
• you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
• the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19

For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page . And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.

Travel insurance with pre-existing conditions

Admiral offers both  Single Trip  and  Annual Travel Insurance  with three tiers of cover to choose from: Admiral, Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum.

Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet .

Make sure you’re covered and fit for travel

Fit for travel means you’re healthy and able to travel without concern. If you’re in any doubt, speak to your doctor. You won’t be covered if your doctor considers you unfit for travel.

Before you buy or renew your cover, you need to state if you or anyone named on your policy has a pre-existing condition. This includes medical conditions you’ve had within the last two years.

You should also let us know if anything changes with your health at any point after taking out the policy.

We need to know about:

• Advice, treatment or prescriptions from a doctor
• Investigation of your health or waiting for diagnosis
• Being on a waiting list for inpatient treatment or knowing you need inpatient treatment

What’s a pre-existing condition or illness?

A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance, whether that’s having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment.

This includes:

• Urinary tract infections
• Heart conditions (irregular heartbeat/angina/heart disease)
• Circulatory conditions (strokes/high blood pressure/high cholesterol)
• Breathing conditions (asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD))
• Gastro-intestinal or digestive conditions (Crohn's disease/IBS)
• Bone or joint conditions (arthritis/gout)
• Psychiatric or psychological conditions (anxiety/depression)
• Terminal prognosis

You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913

Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:

• Declared them all on your policy
• Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
• Paid any additional premium in full

Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.

If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.

For a quote with us, click the green button above.

The MoneyHelper directory

If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.

If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online . (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)

Why do I have to tell my insurer if I have a pre-existing condition?

Having travel insurance for existing medical conditions means you’re fully covered should anything happen on your trip relating to your pre-existing condition.

If you require medical assistance, the experts at the emergency assistance service will be able to advise you on the best care.

Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve declared them all on your policy, received acceptance of this in writing, and paid any additional premium in full. If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information your policy may be invalid, we may refuse your claim or not pay your claim in full.

Claims are also often denied for people who:

• Travel against the advice of their doctor, or don’t seek advice where travel would have been denied
• Travel to receive treatment e.g. an operation in a foreign country
• Fail to take necessary medication e.g. any prescribed medicines or inoculations

Can I get cheap travel insurance with a pre-existing condition or will my price be more expensive?

It’s not impossible to get cheap travel insurance with pre existing conditions, but you shouldn’t sacrifice cover for the sake of paying less.

Your insurance cost usually depends on:

• Number of travellers on your policy
• Where you’re travelling to
• The type of pre-existing condition(s)

I was diagnosed with a medical condition after I booked my insurance – am I still covered?

Yes, usually, if:

• Your doctor says you’re fit for travel
• You've told us about these changes to your health

When you tell us about a new medical condition and we agree to cover it, you may have to pay a bit more.

If you don’t agree with any changes to the terms and conditions, you may get a full or partial refund. If we can’t cover you, you may be able to cancel your holiday if it hasn’t started.

Can I make a claim once I return home?

Claims for medical emergencies should be made while you’re away from home on your trip.

Please call our 24 hour Emergency Assistance Helpline on +44 (0)292 010 7777 before cutting your trip short, going into hospital or incurring medical expenses over £500.

Non-medical claims, for example claiming back money spent, can be submitted when you’re back home. If you’re in any doubt, it’s best to contact us to check, or visit our  Make A Claim  page for more information.

Your questions answered

Is asthma a pre existing condition for travel insurance.

Yes, asthma is a pre-existing condition and must be declared when buying your insurance.

Does travel insurance cover medical expenses?

You’ll be covered up to the limits shown on your policy for any reasonable, necessary costs relating to emergency medical, surgical and hospital treatment. This doesn’t include treatment in a private facility, or anything carried out in your home country after returning home.

Can you get travel insurance with COPD?

COPD is a pre-existing condition and must be declared when buying your insurance.

Can you get travel insurance with cancer?

Cancer is one of the pre-existing conditions you need to declare when buying your insurance.

Can you get travel insurance with HIV?

HIV is one of the pre-existing conditions you need to declare when buying your insurance.

Can you get travel insurance with epilepsy?

Epilepsy is one of the pre-existing conditions you need to declare when buying your insurance.

Does having a pacemaker affect travel insurance?

If you have a pacemaker, it’ll need to be declared to us when you take out the policy (or when you have it fitted if this is done after you’ve taken out the policy). You can still get travel insurance with a pacemaker.

Why do I have to provide my medical details to get a quotation?

Declaring your medical details will ensure you are buying a policy which meets your needs. It’s important you supply accurate and complete answers to all questions as failure to do so could mean your policy is invalid and/or your claim is not paid in full or refused.

Do I need to declare existing medical conditions to get Admiral cover?

Declaring your medical conditions will ensure you are purchasing a policy which meets your needs. It’s important you supply accurate and complete answers to all questions as failure to do so could mean your policy is invalid and/or your claim is not paid in full or refused.

Can I take out insurance if I am currently being diagnosed, under referral, awaiting an operation or haven’t been discharged from outpatient care?

Unfortunately Admiral is not able to offer cover in these circumstances, but there are other specialist insurers who may offer cover for travellers in the above circumstances.

What happens if I need replacement prescription medication when I'm abroad?

Please make sure you take enough medication to last your entire trip and include extra to allow for travel delays that may occur.

If you run out of prescription medication because you were unable to return home as planned because of illness or injury, we will pay for the cost of additional medication (a policy excess may apply).

If your medication is lost or stolen, we'll refund you the cost of replacing it (a policy excess may apply).

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Best travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions

Medical conditions can be a barrier to getting travel insurance - we give you the low-down on getting round it

We've used independent research to list travel insurance companies that offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions. If you're looking for a quote right now, you can compare medical travel insurance here .

Bonus: enter the code ERGHX10 for a 10% discount with Just Travel Cover

Top 8 travel insurance for people with medical conditions

• Just Travel Cover – Gold
• Saga –  Annual Travel Insurance (Note: only available for Over 50s)
• Staysure – Comprehensive
• M&S Bank – Annual Travel Insurance
• InsureandGo – Black
• AllClear – Gold
• Age Co – Annual Travel Insurance (formerly Age UK)
• Covered2Go – Gold

To come up with the list of the best travel companies for medical conditions we compared research on travel insurance with medical conditions from several sources.

First, we looked at the insurer's rating on an independent financial reviewer's site that rates how comprehensive the policies are. Then we looked at Fairer Finance's comparison of different travel insurance providers' performance on customer happiness, trust, transparency, and dealing with claims and complaints.

We also looked at Which?'s rating of each provider, which takes into account customer service, value for money, the clarity of the policy and their competence in dealing with enquiries. We awarded extra points if any of the insurers had won awards.

Finally, we consulted a Which? report comparing the prices offered by a selection of travel insurance companies for four medical conditions (Breast Cancer, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Heart Disease). We awarded points for each one of these conditions that a company would cover.

The travel insurance policies that scored the highest were the ones that performed strongly in all of these categories.

Blue Bear used to be on our list but it dropped out during our last update because it does not have a Which? rating and is not rated by any of the customer service review websites. The Which? report about travel insurance policies that will cover medical condition indicates that it now only covers three of the above conditions.

Others, such as Saga and Staysure, were rated highly on Which and Fairer Finance, but were not included in the Which? report on conditions covered. However, these companies should still provide cover for many pre-existing medical conditions.

Will the insurance companies listed give me the cheapest price for travel insurance?

It's important to bear in mind that these will not necessarily be the cheapest options if you have a medical condition.

In fact, for many medical conditions, it can be difficult to find cheap cover anywhere.

Remember, though, that the cheapest insurance isn't always the best. All the providers on our list should offer a good level of cover for pre-existing medical conditions. With cheaper insurance, you may not get the cover you require.

Is honesty the best policy when it comes to getting travel insurance with medical conditions?

The insurance industry is tough on those with medical conditions, particularly so in travel insurance, as a medical condition means higher costs. It’s frustrating because travellers who are honest and declare every medical detail often face hefty premiums to cover potential medical costs.

This creates a temptation to keep medical information secret and not declare conditions when buying. However, if a claim arises and the insurer discovers the condition when investigating the claim, they may deny payment on the grounds that the traveller was not fully honest when they bought. Unfair as it is, there is little argument against this because the insurer specifies the rules and the traveller agrees to those rules when they buy the insurance policy.

Do I need to declare my medical conditions for travel insurance?

The key is in understanding the rules that each insurer uses to decide if you have to declare a medical condition at all (before they even consider the pricing for that condition). So let’s take a look at what these rules are:

• "Have you ever…" - Insurers specify a number of conditions that you must declare, regardless of when you have had them in your life. These are typically severe physiological conditions such as heart problems, cancer and breathing difficulties, but they can also including psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression.

So what? The important thing is that each insurer has a slightly different list of conditions, so you might find you don’t need to declare something for one insurer, but you will for another.

• "Have you recently…" - There are many conditions that do not fall into the ‘have you ever…’ category above – such as Crohn’s disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Epilepsy. For these conditions, insurers will ask whether you have had any symptoms, treatment or medical consultations ‘recently’.

So what? The important thing to consider here is ‘recently’ means within the last 1 year for some insurers and within the last 2, 3 or even 5 years for others. So if your condition last troubled you 3 years ago, you could find an insurer where you wouldn’t even have to declare it. It is worth noting too that many insurers will count taking any medication as part of a condition, so if you're still on medication from a condition you suffered from 10 years ago, you'll probably still have to declare it.

• Terminal - sadly many insurers will not accept a terminal prognosis.

I had a medical condition 3 years ago. Do I still need to declare it?

It depends.

Different pre-existing medical conditions travel insurers will treat conditions differently. For instance, the insurer AllClear requires you to declare if you have had been diagnosed with any medical conditions that you're taking medication for in the last 5 years. However, Avanti will only require you to declare it if you have had the condition in the last two years. This could be true for specific conditions, too.

Sometimes psychiatric and psychological conditions are treated differently.

Remember that insurers usually include follow-up appointments and ongoing medication in their definition of having a condition; so if you recovered from a transplant operation 10 years ago but are still taking medication, you probably need to declare the transplant.

The right insurer for you depends on your personal circumstances. There are a large number of conditions aside from the few mentioned above that need to be declared if you are purchasing travel insurance, and different insurers may have different definitions of 'having a condition'. Make sure you read the policy documents thoroughly before making a decision and, if you can't find the information you're looking for, call the insurer and ask.

Are there any other options?

If you feel like all the forms you have to fill to get quotes from the different providers look the same, you have a point.

They all use a Healix based scoring system for medical conditions, which means both the questions and the way the quotes are calculated are very similar (although of course, the premiums do vary).

One of the few exceptions to this rule is World First, who use a non-Healix system, and therefore may produce different results (although, if you have been refused cover before, there is no guarantee you will be accepted through World First).

Some banks also offer travel insurance either separate from your current account or included in a bundle deal. Some may offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions. For instance, First Direct says it may be able to provide cover for some pre-existing conditions if you declare them before you purchase.

Much the same as with dedicated travel insurance companies, you must declare any pre-existing medical conditions before you take out the policy. If you don't, you may not be able to claim successfully. It's best to read the policy documents of the travel insurance provided by your bank to see if you are covered for pre-existing conditions.

The final word on getting travel insurance with medical conditions

Always err on the side of caution and contact the insurer to be certain of the rules they are laying out and how they apply to your own situation. Honesty is the best policy to make sure you have the cover you need. It pays to understand the rules.

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Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions

Age co travel insurance covers 99% of pre-existing conditions..

On this page, you’ll be able to find:

• Examples of conditions we have covered in the past
• What to expect when applying for cover
• How to report your conditions

You’re on the right track. We’re just taking you to the AllClear website for a quote

Age Co Travel Insurance is provided by our trusted partner, AllClear. You’ll be able to get a quote easily through their site. Please note: terms & conditions, privacy notice and cookie policy will differ from Age Co’s. If you’re happy to leave the Age Co website, simply click ‘continue’ and you’ll be taken to the relevant AllClear page.

Age Co is 100% owned by Age UK and gives its profits to the charity. In the last 5 years Age Co has donated more than £12m to Age UK

Conditions Covered by Age Co Travel Insurance, provided by AllClear

Our team have carefully selected AllClear as our Travel Insurance provider, to help further our mission to deliver quality protection for anyone with a medical condition. AllClear offers specialist medical travel insurance. They have looked after over 3.5 million travellers worldwide and approved 1,300 different pre-existing conditions.

Age Co Travel Insurance will cover you for medical emergencies, safeguarding against unexpected medical bills and offering support should any health issue arise while you are away.

Here are examples of medical conditions we may provide coverage for:

Your policy documents contain information about the features, exclusions and limitations of Age Co Travel Insurance, provided by AllClear. If you’re an existing customer, you can find further information related to your insurance via our dedicated section .

Policy Document

Gold Product Information Document IPID

Gold Increased Excess Product Information Document IPID

Gold Excluding Cancellation Product Information Document IPID

Gold Plus Product Information Document IPID

Gold Plus excluding cancellation Product Information Document IPID

Platinum Product Information Document IPID

Declaring any conditions

When getting a travel insurance quote, it’s important that you declare all your known medical conditions. This can be done either through our health screening process or over the phone. As you start a new quote, you’ll automatically be asked a set of questions, as part of our screening process. These help us to determine how your medical conditions might affect the likelihood of a claim being made, as well as gauge the cost of any treatments that might be required while you are away. Need help declaring your conditions? Simply get in touch with the general enquiries team by calling:  01708 339 059

Get in touch

Join us online

Call for free

What is specialist medical travel insurance?

Looking at the market, many travellers are worried they might not find coverage that takes into consideration their pre-existing medical conditions. Some policies may only offer protection against accidents and emergencies. However, with specialist coverage, your medical history won’t hold you back from finding the right insurance for your upcoming trip.

Age Co Travel Insurance is provided by AllClear, who pioneered specialised medical coverage in the UK. Together, we offer four key benefits to better protect those with pre-existing conditions.

• Cover for pre-existing conditions while away.  Age Co Travel Insurance has cover for up to unlimited emergency treatment, including treatment for ongoing medical issues.
• Protection against cancellation due to a medical event.  You can be covered for up to £25K, should a trip need to be cancelled after a medical incident or complication related to your health.
• Repatriation costs, if medically necessary. Alongside the costs associated with emergency medical treatment, Age Co Travel Insurance can also step in to protect against bills relating to transport home after an event. For example, if an air ambulance is required, this cost could be covered. 
• Always on hand to help.  On your travels, you’ll have access to 24-hour medical emergency assistance - giving you peace of mind and the confidence to explore

Travel insurance that gives back

Age Co Travel Insurance not only helps you get the medical support you need, our coverage also includes protection against:

• Travel delays
• Theft of your personal belongings
• Legal liabilities
• Damage to mobility aids or sports equipment

With a range of cover levels to choose from, you can tailor your policy and find the right level of protection for your next big trip. What’s more, as we’re 100% owned by Age UK , you’ll be helping us to support older people in need. Last year, our customers helped us give back £4 million to the charity.

What does medical travel insurance not cover?

While specialised insurance can provide a wide range of protection, there are some claims which may not be covered. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend reviewing your policy document carefully before your holiday begins. This way you can travel in full confidence, knowing exactly what benefits you have. 

As an example, here are some scenarios which could invalidate an insurance claim:

• Travelling against the advice of a healthcare professional
• Failure to declare any or all pre-existing medical conditions
• Going abroad specifically to receive medical treatment or tests

How can I get cheaper travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

Firstly, it’s important to remember that a cheap premium isn’t always the best option - especially if you have a pre-existing condition. As with all insurance, you want to find a balance between a fair price and getting proper protection. If you want to get the best value for your money, consider these tips:

• Consider annual cover as this can be more cost-effective over a 12 month period if you have multiple trips planned.
• Review your excess and review how much you’re comfortable paying. The higher the excess, the lower the premium tends to be.
• Look at your holiday plans, as going away for a long period or selecting a destination with high healthcare costs (such as the USA) can raise the price of your policy.

Frequently asked questions

If you’re not transparent with your insurance provider and fail to tell them your full medical history, you may find yourself running into problems, should you need to make a claim. In the event of a medical expense, your insurer will likely investigate to see if any pre-existing condition was part of the cause. Should they find you failed to disclose something, the claim could be rejected and the costs left for you to manage. Given that medical expenses can reach up to seven figures, this isn’t a risk worth taking.

This will depend on the provider. While some may have upper age limits in place, Age Co Travel Insurance policies don't have an age limit. What’s more, as advocates for later life, we’ve carefully selected AllClear as our travel insurance provider because we believe their product suits the needs of older travellers.

Where you choose to travel will have a big impact on the cost of your policy. This is due to two factors. Firstly, each country has their own pricing system for healthcare. In cases like the USA, using a medical facility can be quite expensive, so your insurer will be mindful of this when costing your premium. Alongside the cost of healthcare, a travel insurance provider will also be mindful of local diseases. Some areas put you at a higher risk of infection, which is why tropical countries, where malaria is prevalent, tend to impact the cost of your policy.

After you’ve taken out a travel insurance policy, if you’re diagnosed with a new medical condition, it’s important to let your provider know. They may be able to adjust your coverage to take this new development into account. And while this may increase the price of your premium, not disclosing any medical conditions, can run the risk of voiding your protection. Therefore, to be safe, get in touch with your insurer as soon as you can.

Whether you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), it’s still recommended that you take out travel insurance for your next trip. This is because medical travel insurance not only covers state-funded healthcare treatment, it also extends to private hospitals and repatriation costs too. Not to mention, travel insurance also covers your personal possessions, liability charges, and any unforeseen cancellations or delays.

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Age Co Travel Insurance is provided by IES Limited, trading as AllClear, which is registered in Gibraltar company number 117274. Registered Office: 1st Floor, Portland House, Glacis Road, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA. IES Limited is licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission number FSC25393 and trades into the UK on a freedom of services basis, FCA FRN 824283. IES Limited will contribute to Age Co a percentage of the premium (excluding IPT) from every Age Co Travel Insurance policy sold. Age Co is 100% owned by Age UK and gives its profits to the charity. Age Co Travel Insurance is administered by AllClear Insurance Services Limited, registered in England No. 04255112. Registered Office: AllClear House, 1 Redwing Court, Ashton Road, Romford, RM3 8QQ. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority firm reference number 311244. AllClear is a registered trademark.

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by user | Mar 2, 2024 | Travel Insurance

Martin Lewis Travel Insurance with Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Travel insurance is vital to planning any trip, providing peace of mind and financial protection against unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage. However, finding suitable travel insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions can be daunting. Martin Lewis, a renowned financial expert and founder of MoneySavingexpert.com, offers valuable insights and guidance on navigating travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions. This comprehensive guide will explore Martin Lewis’s recommendations, tips, and strategies for securing appropriate travel insurance coverage while managing pre-existing medical conditions effectively.

Quick Links

Understanding pre-existing medical conditions, challenges faced by individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.

• Martin Lewis’s Tips for Travel Insurance with Pre-existing Medical Conditions
• Why Consider Martin Lewis’s Views?

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Martin Lewis's Tips for Travel Insurance with Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Why consider martin lewis's views.

Before delving into Martin Lewis’s advice on travel insurance, it is essential to understand what constitutes a pre-existing medical condition. In the context of travel insurance, a pre-existing medical condition is any illness, injury, or medical condition for which you’ve received treatment, medication, or advice from a healthcare professional before purchasing your travel insurance policy. This includes chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and cancer, as well as acute conditions such as recent surgeries or injuries.

Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions face unique challenges when obtaining travel insurance coverage. Many standard travel insurance policies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions or impose strict limitations and exclusions, leaving travellers with medical conditions vulnerable to financial risk and uncertainty. Additionally, individuals with pre-existing conditions may encounter difficulties finding affordable coverage or may be subjected to high premiums and excesses, making travel insurance prohibitively expensive.

Martin Lewis offers practical advice and strategies for seeking travel insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Here are some critical tips from Martin Lewis:

Declare Your Medical Conditions The most crucial step when purchasing travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions is to accurately and honestly declare all relevant medical conditions when applying for coverage. Failing to disclose pre-existing conditions can invalidate your policy and leave you uninsured in the event of a claim. Be thorough in providing details about your medical history, including any medications you’re taking, treatments you’ve received, and any recent changes in your health.

Look Around for Specialist Providers While many mainstream insurers may offer limited coverage or high premiums for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, there are specialist providers and niche insurers that cater specifically to this market. Take the time to research and compare quotes from specialist insurers who specialise in providing comprehensive coverage for travellers with pre-existing conditions. Websites such as MoneySavingexpert.com offer comparison tools and resources to help you find suitable coverage at competitive rates.

Consider Medical Screening Some travel insurance providers offer medical screening services as part of the application process, allowing you to provide detailed information about your pre-existing conditions and receive a personalised quote based on your health profile. Participating in medical screening can help insurers assess your risk more accurately and may result in lower premiums or more comprehensive coverage tailored to your needs.

Look for Policy extensions Specific travel insurance policies offer optional extensions or upgrades that enhance coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. These extensions may include increased coverage limits, reduced excesses, or additional benefits such as cover for medical repatriation or emergency medical expenses related to your pre-existing conditions. Be sure to inquire about available policy extensions and carefully review the terms and conditions to determine if they meet your needs.

Consider Annual Multi-trip Policies If you travel frequently throughout the year, consider purchasing an annual multi-trip travel insurance rather than a single-trip policy. Annual policies typically provide coverage for multiple trips within a specified period and offer convenience and cost-saving opportunities for frequent travellers. When selecting a yearly policy, check if coverage for pre-existing medical conditions extends to all trips or if there are any limitations or exclusions based on trip duration or destination.

Review Policy Exclusions and Limitations Before purchasing travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions, carefully review the policy exclusions and limitations to understand what is covered and what is not. Pay close attention to any specific exclusions related to your medical conditions, such as restrictions on certain activities or treatments. If you have concerns or questions about the policy terms, seek clarification from the insurer or consult a qualified insurance advisor.

Consider EHIC or GHIC Coverage If you’re travelling within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), consider obtaining a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or its successor, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). EHIC and GHIC provide access to state-provided healthcare services in EU and EEA countries, including necessary medical treatment for pre-existing conditions at reduced or no cost. While EHIC and GHIC are not substitutes for travel insurance, they can complement your coverage and provide additional peace of mind while travelling in Europe.

Considering Martin Lewis’s views on travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions is crucial due to his expertise and reputation as a financial expert. Martin Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingexpert.com, offers valuable insights and guidance on navigating the complexities of travel insurance, particularly for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. His advice is grounded in extensive research, experience, and a deep understanding of the insurance industry, making it a reliable source for travellers seeking comprehensive coverage. By heeding Martin Lewis’s recommendations, travellers can make informed decisions, find suitable insurance policies tailored to their needs, and ensure adequate financial protection while travelling with pre-existing medical conditions.

Securing appropriate travel insurance coverage with pre-existing medical conditions may require careful planning, research, and consideration of various factors. By following Martin Lewis’s advice and implementing practical strategies, individuals with pre-existing conditions can find suitable coverage that meets their needs and provides financial protection while travelling. Remember to declare all relevant medical conditions accurately, shop around for specialist providers, consider policy extensions and upgrades, and review policy terms and exclusions carefully before purchasing coverage. With the right approach and guidance, travellers with pre-existing medical conditions can enjoy worry-free travel and confidently explore the world.

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova, Republic of; North Korea, Democratic People's Rep; Russia; Israel

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Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

What's the Best Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?

You may think that a pre-existing condition means anything you’re being treated for at the time you purchase your travel insurance. The definition is actually broader than that. Allianz Global Assistance defines a pre-existing medical condition as:

An injury, illness, or medical condition that, within the 120 days prior to and including the purchase date of your policy:

• Caused a person to seek medical examination, diagnosis, care, or treatment by a doctor;
• Presented symptoms; or
• Required a person to take medication prescribed by a doctor (unless the condition or symptoms are controlled by that prescription, and the prescription has not changed).

It’s important to know that the illness, injury, or medical condition does not need to be formally diagnosed in order to be considered a pre-existing medical condition.

Let’s consider a few scenarios:

• Sudden, debilitating pain in an arthritic knee forces you to cancel your planned trekking tour of Iceland. Because you consulted your doctor about knee twinges three months ago, it’s considered a pre-existing condition.
• While sightseeing in Shanghai, you suffer a mild heart attack. Because you were diagnosed with coronary heart disease three weeks before purchasing travel insurance, this is considered a pre-existing condition.
• You were diagnosed with lupus many years ago, but it’s been in remission. You feel pretty good when you book your cruise to Bermuda, except for some fatigue and a rash. Then the Caribbean sun triggers a serious lupus flare, sending you to the hospital. Because you had symptoms when you booked your trip, this is considered a pre-existing condition.

2. Travel insurance requirements for covering pre-existing medical conditions 

If you’re dealing with a pre-existing medical condition, that does not mean you can’t get travel insurance, or that you shouldn’t travel at all. You just have to read the insurance policy documents very carefully to make sure you meet all the requirements. As Conde Nast Traveler puts it , “it’s best not to make assumptions. Returning home in pain is bad enough. Don’t intensify it by unnecessarily paying thousands of dollars you could use on your next trip.”

Certain Allianz Global Assistance plans can include pre-existing medical condition coverage as long as you:

• Your policy was purchased within the time frame specified in your plan (usually 14 days of the date of the first trip payment or deposit.) In other words, don’t dawdle! Buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, so you don’t forget.
• Are a U.S. resident.
• Make sure you’re medically able to travel on the day you purchase the plan. Don’t assume you’re cleared to travel just because you feel OK that day. If you’re living with a chronic condition, or if you’ve recently had surgery or cancer treatment, it’s wise to get written approval to travel from your doctor.
• On the policy purchase date, insure the full non-refundable cost of your trip with Allianz Global Assistance — including trip arrangements that will become non-refundable or subject to cancellation penalties between the policy purchase date and the departure date. Make sure you include your airfare, hotel reservations, tour bookings and any other nonrefundable costs when you’re insuring your trip. If you incur additional non-refundable trip expenses after you purchase your policy, you must insure them with us within 14 days of their purchase. If you do not, those expenses will still be subject to the pre-existing medical condition exclusion.

3. What’s excluded from travel insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions

While most pre-existing conditions are covered by Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance, there are a few exceptions. Mental and nervous health disorders and normal pregnancy aren’t covered, for instance. If you want to make sure your particular condition is covered, speak with an insurance specialist before you buy.

Also, check the cap on trip costs. For the OneTrip Prime Plan , for instance, the total cost of your trip must be no more than $50,000 per person.

Why Allianz Global Assistance offers the best travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions 

If you have any kind of chronic health problem, travel insurance can save your vacation — or even your life. The best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions is the OneTrip Prime Plan from Allianz Global Assistance, which includes abundant coverage for covered emergency medical expenses overseas (up to $50,000). You also get emergency medical transportation benefits up to $500,000 to travel to the nearest appropriate medical facility or to return home. This is huge, especially if you suffer from a serious condition that might require advanced treatment. The OneTrip Premier Plan doubles these amounts.

Travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance also can include trip cancellation and interruption benefits to reimburse you for non-refundable trip payments, in case you have to cancel your travel because of your covered pre-existing medical condition or another covered reason. You also get personalized, one-on-one help in emergencies from our hotline staff. Every day they help travelers who are suffering medical emergencies, lost documents, travel delays and other crises, all around the globe. But, our hotline experts say, the toughest thing they deal with is having to tell a customer who’s seriously ill that their pre-existing medical condition's not covered. That’s why it’s so important to follow the rules and meet the requirements.

Have questions about how to choose the best travel insurance for your covered pre-existing medical condition? Call our travel insurance advisers anytime at 1-866-884-3556. Travel happy!

Related Articles

• Trip Cancellation Insurance: Covered Reasons Explained
• When Does Travel Insurance Cover Existing Medical Conditions?
• Travel Insurance 101: Covered Illnesses

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Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Travel Insurance

What is a pre-existing medical condition.

It is a condition of this insurance that you will not be covered under Section A – Cancellation or curtailment charges, Section B – Medical, repatriation and other expenses, or Section C - Personal accident of this policy for any claims arising directly or indirectly from any pre-existing medical condition that you have unless the pre-existing medical conditions that you have are included in the list of No Screen Conditions shown in this section and the words in brackets apply to you.

A Pre-Existing Medical Condition means:

• Any respiratory condition (relating to the lungs or breathing), heart condition, stroke, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy or cancer for which you have ever received treatment (including surgery, tests or investigations by your doctor or a consultant/specialist and prescribed drugs or medication);
• Any medical condition for which you have received surgery, in-patient treatment or investigations in a hospital or clinic within the last twelve months, or for which you are on a waiting list for or have knowledge of the need for surgery treatment or investigation at a hospital, clinic or nursing home;
• Any medical condition for which you are taking prescribed drugs or medication;
• Any medical condition for which you have received a terminal prognosis;
• Any medical condition that you are aware of but for which you have not had a diagnosis.

ACCEPTED MEDICAL CONDITIONS

We automatically cover many Pre-Existing Medical Conditions as standard. See the ‘No Screen Conditions’ list below. You do not need to contact us if all of your Pre-Existing Medical Conditions are included in this list and the words brackets apply to you. If you have questions relating to these accepted conditions, please email [email protected] or call +44 (0)1353 699 082 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. Alternatively, if you are unsure whether your condition is covered by our No Screen Conditions list, please complete the Enquiry Form and email it to [email protected] and we will advise whether it is included.

Changes in your circumstances

If after taking out this Insurance you become aware of any circumstances that may give rise to a claim such as changes in your health or that of a person on whom this insurance may depend (e.g. a close relative) you must contact us and tell us about the changes as soon as reasonably possible and prior to any trip on [email protected] .

Medical Screening Service

ASUA Screening customer helpline: +44 (0) 1689 892 260

Quote: Globelink

E-mail: [email protected]

Office hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays)

No screen conditions

You do not need to contact us if all the pre-existing medical conditions that you have are included in this list and the words in brackets apply to you and the condition has been stable and well controlled for the last 12 months on GP administered medication and have not required a hospital admission or referral to specialist because of a worsening of your condition.

Stable and well-controlled’ means the condition has been controlled by medication administered by a medical practitioner and you have not required a hospital admission or referral to a specialist as a result of a worsening of your condition within the last 12 months.

These pre-existing conditions are covered by the normal terms of the policy

• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Any disabilities impairing mobility, vision or mental health providing an insured person is accompanied by an appropriate carer for when any assistance is required
• Arthritis - Juvenile, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid or Psoriatic arthritis, Reiter’s Syndrome, Rheumatism. (There must have been no hospital admissions within the last 12 months. The arthritis must not affect the back more than any other area of the body. The insured person must not be taking more than 2 medications. The insured person must not require any mobility aids, other than a walking stick. There must have been no dislocations or any joint replacements. The insured person must not be awaiting surgery. The insured person must have no lung problems/respiratory disorders.)
• Allergies (limited to Rhinitis, Chronic Sinusitis, Eczema, Food intolerance & Hay Fever)
• Asthma (providing it was diagnosed before age 50, and the insured person is taking/using no more than 2 medications)
• Bells Palsy
• Benign Positional Vertigo
• Bladder Infection
• Breast Cancer/Prostate Cancer (provided the insured person: -was diagnosed more than 12 months ago; -has not had any chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the last 12 months and the cancer has not spread outside the breast or prostate at any time; -in the case of cancer of the prostate the insured person must have a PSA of 3.0 or less)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Coeliac Disease
• Congenital Blindness
• Corneal Graft
• Cystitis (provided no ongoing treatment)
• Diabetes (providing there have been no complications such as impaired kidney function, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, leg or foot ulcers, retinal damage, nerve damage, leg or foot amputation, liver damage).
• Dry Eye Syndrome
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) –  (provided you were diagnosed more than 12 months ago; and you are currently stable and well controlled on anti-coagulant (blood thinning) medication (such as Warfarin) taken purely as a DVT preventative and not related to any heart related condition). -If you are being treated as a result of a pulmonary embolism or have been prescribed anti-coagulants as a result of being at high risk of blood clots due to an abnormal heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) or because of a mechanical heart valve or similar cardiac device or having a blood clotting disorder (such as thrombophilia) or as a result of a recent operation then there is no cover under this policy.
• Enlarged Prostate (benign only)
• Essential Tremor
• Folate Deficiency
• Fungal Nail Infection
• Gallbladder Removal (no complications)
• Gastric Reflux
• Hiatus Hernia
• High Cholesterol: Providing you have not been diagnosed with any heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, peripheral artery/vascular disease, stroke or kidney disease.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy - HRT
• Hypertension - High Blood Pressure: Providing you have not been diagnosed with any heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, peripheral artery/vascular disease, stroke or kidney disease.
• Hypotension - Low Blood Pressure (Must not be associated with any underlying condition)
• Insulin Resistance
• Macular Degeneration
• Meniere’s disease
• Osteoporosis - Osteopenia, Fragile Bones (There must have been no broken bones within the last 5 years)
• Pernicious Anaemia
• Raynaud Disease
• RSI (Repetitive strain injury/Tendinitis)
• Tonsillitis
• Underactive or Overactive Thyroid

If you are aware of a Pre-Existing Medical Condition that is not included in the 'no screen conditions' list above:

1. You can proceed and arrange cover with standard terms and accept that anything related to the pre-existing medical condition/s is excluded.

2. You will need to seek alternative travel insurance providers who will advise if your condition can be covered, at what price and any changes that may apply to their terms.

Please note: If you are purchasing an Already Travelling  Policy the Screening Service (Option 2) does not apply to you , as we are unable to offer cover for any pre-existing medical conditions other than the No Screen Conditions List.

It is a condition of this policy that you will not be covered under Section A – Cancellation or curtailment charges, Section B – Emergency medical and other expenses, Section C – Hospital benefit and Section D – Personal accident for any claims arising directly or indirectly from:

a) At the time of taking out this policy:

• Any pre-existing medical condition that you have unless all pre-existing medical conditions are included in the list of NO SCREEN CONDITIONS* shown above and the words in brackets apply to you
• Any medical condition for which you have received a terminal prognosis
• Any medical condition you are aware of but for which you have not had a diagnosis
• Any medical condition for which you are on a waiting list for or have knowledge of the need for surgery, treatment or investigation at a hospital, clinic or nursing home
• Any medical condition affecting you, a close relative or a close business associate that you are aware of, that could reasonably be expected to result in a claim on this policy unless you have been given our agreement.

b) At any time:

• Any medical condition you have which a medical practitioner has advised you not to travel (or would have done so had you sought his/her advice), but despite this you still travel
• Any surgery, treatment or investigations for which you intend to travel outside of your home area to receive (including any expenses incurred due to the discovery of other medical conditions during and/or complications arising from these procedures)
• Any medical condition for which you are not taking the recommended treatment or prescribed medication as directed by a medical practitioner
• You travel against any health requirements stipulated by the carrier, their handling agents or any other public transport provider.

If your health changes after the start date of your policy and the date your travel tickets or confirmation of booking were issued, you must telephone our customer helpline shown on your schedule to make sure your cover is not affected. You should also refer to What is not covered – applicable to all sections of the policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance.

You should declare all medical conditions which aren't included in the No Screen Medical Conditions list.

How much medical travel insurance do I need?

There is no fixed recommended sum. Globelink policy options cover between £5,000,000 - £10,000,000 Emergency Medical Expenses. A large number of pre-existing medical conditions are covered for free on Globelink travel insurance policies. If you have a condition, which isn't included in the No Screen Medical Conditions list, you must declare it to our Medical Screening Helpline and they will advise whether your condition can be covered, whether an additional premium applies, or any changes to the policy terms and conditions.

What is a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance?

A pre-existing medical condition for Globelink is any medical condition that you already have, or have symptoms for. See https://www.globelink.co.uk/general-information/medical-and-health/pre-existing-medical-conditions.html for full definition and details.

What does travel medical insurance cover?

Travel medical insurance usually covers emergency medical expenses and repatriation for unforeseen medical emergencies including illness and accidents while abroad. A number of pre-existing medical conditions are automatically for free by Globelink. All policies provide you with 24-hour medical emergency assistance if you fall ill, have an accident, or have health issues abroad.

Where to buy travel medical insurance?

Globelink offer travel medical insurance policies, which cover over 50 pre-existing medical conditions for free.

For reliable Travel Insurance, simply complete 5 quick & easy steps. Pay with your Visa, MasterCard, or PayPal and receive your policy documents by email in seconds.

• News on Pre Existing Conditions

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance pre existing conditions.

Going on holiday is often the highlight of the year. We spend hours looking over internet sites, reading reviews, picking hotels, booking trips and the excitement reaches fever pitch until we are just about to click ‘BOOK NOW’ and the dreaded ‘Do you need Travel Insurance’ question raises its head.

If you are in perfect health this is not an issue, you have many choices in where to source cheap, quality travel insurance but if you have a pre existing medical condition obtaining travel insurance can become a real issue. This can lead to people not going on holiday due to the cost of the travel insurance or risking their whole financial future by travelling without cover.

This guide will not only look at the types of insurance available to people with pre-existing medical conditions but will also look at the most effective ways of obtaining your cover and some pitfalls to avoid and some tricks of the trade to keep your costs down and avoid paying over the odds.

IN THIS GUIDE:

• More info on our Top Picks
• Quick tips on finding the best deal.
• Types of Travel Insurance.

How do medical conditions affect travel insurance?

Do i really need cover, why is it so dear, do i really need to tell them about my illness, can i exclude cover for my illness, tricks of the trade.

• What about the E111

Where can I buy it from?

Please read all the article before making a selection

Mild/moderate/severe Pre Exisiting Conditions:

Just Travel Cover*

Medical travel compared*, world first, medical travel insurance*.

Very Severe Pre Existing Conditions:

E111 Card Top Up Insurance:  

• EHIC Plus Expand

Europe Plus Cover

Want to exclude your Pre Existing Conditions ?

IN A RUSH? JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GET A COMPETITIVE QUOTE?

Top specialist travel insurance brokers for pre-existing medical conditions, just travel cover.

online and telephone quotes for wide range of illnesses including serious and even terminal prognosis. www.justtravelcover.com*

Medical Travel Compared

Complete your medical details once and you will then receive online quotes for travel insurance for pre existing medical conditions from over 40 insurers. www.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk*

World First offers cover for a wide range of Travel Insurance for pre existing conditions policies and looks at the medication you take to control these conditions. www.world-first.co.uk

Offering cover for over a 1000 different medical conditions, with competitive prices. Phone Quotes available on 0330 880 3601 please quote PREMED. Medical Travel Insurance

For more serious conditions

All clear travel.

All Clear cover over 1300 medical conditions and they have no upper age limit. www.allcleartravel.co.uk

Clear2Go is offers travel insurance for more serious medical conditions including secondary cancers and some terminal conditions. If your pre-existing condition is in the serious category we would recommend ringing Clear2Go on 0800 999 3333 quoting PREMED rather than using their online quote system. Clear2Go Travel Insurance

Quick tips on finding the best deal

Do you already have travel insurance cover you know about.

This may sound obvious but if you have an existing travel insurance policy ask them first about your medical condition to see if they are able to cover you for a reasonable cost. We have seen many times over the years people asking for numerous quotes from pre-existing conditions specialists only to ask their existing insurers at the last minute and be offered very competitive rates.

Do you already have travel insurance that you DON’T know about?

Again, almost as obvious but not quite! Many people have ‘Packaged’ Bank Accounts where they pay a monthly fee in exchange for a number of additional benefits. Often these benefits include travel insurance and they are often underwritten in such a way that they offer immediate cover for a range of named pre-existing medical conditions. It could well be that you already have travel insurance in place AND it already covers your pre existing medical condition so CHECK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. (see Tricks of the Trade below for more details)

Approach a Specialist for Pre-existing medical conditions

In years gone by this was a real pain. You would have to ring dozens of insurers one by one, tell them your medical history and wait for a quotation. This is no longer the case and it can all be done online. Simply enter your medical conditions once and you will receive quotes from dozens of insurers. See below for our Where can I Buy it from section.

If you have a very serious condition it may however pay dividends to ring the providers to discuss your exact personal details as they often have schemes available that are not accessible via their online quotation systems.

Travelling to Europe?

If you are travelling to a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) make sure you are in possession of an EHIC card. This will give you access to that countries health system. This may however all change dependent on how BREXIT pans out. Read this useful BREXIT guide for the latest info.

To apply for a EHIC card please follow this link . Applying for a card is free but please be aware that THIS IS NOT TRAVEL INSURANCE and will not cover you for items such as cancellation, lost luggage, repatriation etc. It is however possible to add to the cover that the EHIC card provides by using EHIC Plus Expand or if your medical conditions are more serious Europe Plus Cover .

Please bear in mind that although a BREXIT deal has bee agreed and the continuation of the EHIC card is part of the deal (under a new name) the detail is still a little unclear so please bouble check with gov.uk and your chosen insurer for exact details before prurchasing any cover.

Please see our Tricks of the Trade  below for more details.

Types of Travel Insurance

Luckily buying travel insurance isn’t rocket science and most policies are reasonably similar. There are however some pitfalls you need to look out for and of course you should always check the level and type of cover is suitable.

Annual or Single Trip Policy

Normally for someone in perfect health you can generally say if you take more than two holidays per year it is better to take out an annual policy.

This however may not be the same if you have a pre existing medical condition as the insurer will look at how likely your condition is to produce a claim over the next 12 months. It is therefore worth getting quotes for an annual policy and individual trip policies to see which is most cost effective.

Free Cover with Credit cards  

As a general rule THIS IS NOT TRAVEL INSURANCE. This usually covers you for death and maybe certain injuries if you have an accident while actually travelling on a plane, train, coach etc. You still need a ‘proper’ travel insurance policy if you want to be correctly covered.

Free Cover with your holiday

You may have received free travel insurance cover from your Travel Agent or holiday company. If you have a pre-existing medical condition you need to carefully check the cover. Most ‘free’ policies will exclude either all or most pre-existing conditions.

 EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)

If you are travelling to a country in the European Economic Area (dependent on the BREXIT outcome) you should apply for a EHIC card as it will give you access to that countries equivalent of the NHS.

It will not however pay for any private treatment so you need to make sure you visit a hospital or Doctor who is available with the EHIC card (your friendly tour rep will probably send you to a private Doctor/Hospital so beware).

The card also doesn’t cover you for cancellations, lost luggage and many other items that a travel insurance policy does. It is a very useful Card but again IT IS NOT TRAVEL INSURANCE.

PLEASE NOTE: There is (slightly) more clarity regarding the future of the EHIC card after 1 January 2021. Please read the following excellent article on Money Saving Expert for more details and also refer to gov.uk.

Please see our Tricks of the Trade  below to see how you can top up your EHIC cover.

Most travel insurance policies will ask you to declare any medical conditions. Some insurers will have a list of certain conditions that are automatically covered without the need to declare them.

When you declare a pre-existing condition to an insurer they will ask you a number of screening questions and your answers will be ‘scored’ by the system. The more points you score the higher the eventual premium will be.

Unlike life insurance it is highly unlikely that the insurer will write to your Doctor or request a medical. They will believe what you tell them and price the policy accordingly.

In the event of a claim they may well then write to your Doctor to make sure you answered the screening question correctly so it is vital you are honest and fully declare your medical history. If you are unsure if something is relevant tell them.

The Insurer will then make a decision on the level of risk you pose eg. If you fall ill while away what could it potentially cost them? Do you have the type of illness that would require a long stay in hospital, specialist treatment, flying home in an air ambulance?

Some insurers simply don’t want the risk and will either decline cover or demand a very high premium. Other Insurers will want to take the risk and try and price competitively to secure the business. Hopefully we can help you find the latter and find you a Travel Insurance for pre existing conditions. 

Insurance is there to pay for the unexpected. If you can afford the unexpected then maybe you don’t need insurance but you may still consider it good value.

If you fall ill or have an accident on holiday the costs can very quickly mount up.

In 2016 the average medical travel insurance claim was for £1200. Not too bad you may say. I prefer not to pay it but it wouldn’t be a financial disaster.

However, there was also a claim for £760,000 for medical bills for a Brit travelling in America. I guess that would put a hole in most people’s wallet.

Remember many countries do not have an NHS like ourselves. Imagine the cost of falling ill, being transported by a private ambulance to a private hospital to be treated by a team of specialist surgeons before recovering in a private bed for 10 days and then being flown back to the UK by Air Ambulance accompanied by a specialist crew.

Your call!  

My holiday only cost £600!

We have heard this said so many times over the years. “My holiday only cost £600 but they want £800 to insure me, it’s ridiculous”

The insurers aren’t really bothered what your holiday cost as that is only really relevant if you have to cancel the trip. Yes they would prefer to pay out £300 for a budget holiday than £5000 for a luxury one but this is small potatoes to what really concerns them……. Medical expenses.

If you have recently had a serious illness and have been in and out of hospital and there is a chance that your pre-existing condition may flare up again you have the potential to cost the Insurers a huge amount of money.

Even if your medical condition is stable, if there is a risk of a flare up and a requirement for specialist treatment and maybe repatriation to the UK the Insurer will want to be compensated for taking that risk.

It is not unusual for medical claims to run into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Yes, if you want to be properly covered.

The Insurer will base their premium for your policy on the information you give them in their medical condition questions.

If you don’t tell them about your pre-existing condition or you don’t tell them the full story then the quotation may be cheaper but it won’t reflect the true risk.

If you then make a claim the Insurer is in their rights to contact your Doctor to make sure the information you supplied was truthful and complete. If it wasn’t they can legitimately reject your claim.

You can however choose to exclude the cover for your condition. If this is of interest read on.

On certain policies you can. On others you can’t.

Some Insurers will expect you to declare all your medical conditions and will then offer you a premium to cover all these conditions. It is then your choice to accept the quotation or reject it.

Some Insurers such as Citybond will allow you to declare a pre-existing medical condition and then give you a price to cover that condition. If you decide you don’t like the price then you can still have the cover but that condition will not be covered.

Please bear in mind that cover will also be invalid for any claims that relate to the excluded condition eg, You declare diabetes but decide to exclude cover for diabetes. You then travel on holiday and have a heart attack and the Insurer successfully argues the heart attack was more than likely due to your diabetes then they would not have to settle the claim.

You should think very carefully about excluding any conditions and the possible financial impact. 

Here are a few tricks that we have gathered over the years that may result in cheaper premiums for your travel insurance.

Packaged Bank Accounts

  Many banks offer current accounts that include a package of extra benefits in return for a monthly cost.

Typically, these benefits include items such as Car Breakdown Cover, Mobile Phone Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and also Travel Insurance.

Generally, we are not huge fans of packaged accounts as you may be paying for cover that is not needed or duplicated elsewhere however sometimes their Travel Insurance policies offer a surprising benefit, cover for certain existing medical conditions at no extra cost.

Example : First Direct  offer a Packaged Account called First Directory. The cost of the account is £15pm but it includes Mobile Phone Insurance, Breakdown Cover and Worldwide Travel Insurance.

  The Travel Insurance automatically covers an extensive list of pre-existing medical conditions with no extra cost or the need to declare the condition. These conditions include Diabetes (with no complications for example retinal, kidney or nerve damage), Asthma, IBS, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol.

If we run a quick quote for a family travel insurance through Medical Travel Compared for an equivalent policy where one of the adults smokes and has high blood pressure and raised cholesterol the cost for the year is over £230 which makes the £15pm from First Direct look like great value considering the additional benefits of Breakdown Cover and Mobile Phone Insurance.

As ever you need to check the policy carefully and make sure it is suitable for your needs and that you look for any specific clauses relating to medical conditions. Look out for general ‘Catch All’ clauses such as “Are you aware of any reason that may result in your holiday being cancelled” and make sure if you are in any doubt you ring the insurer for clarification.

Other Banks that offer packaged accounts include Halifax , Nationwide , Co-op , Nat West and HSBC . We will at a later date do a review of all the Travel Insurance relating to these accounts.

Existing Insurer

If you already have existing Travel Insurance you must tell them as soon as you develop a new medical condition. Many people assume that their existing insurer will be very expensive and immediately try and source their cover elsewhere.

We have known many instances when an existing insurer has actually covered a new condition for a very reasonable cost, so make sure you give them the opportunity to quote for your business. The worst scenario is that they provide a high quote but at least it then gives you a benchmark of the premium you need to beat.

EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) Top Up Schemes  

Most people have heard of the EHIC, formerly known as the E111, is a free card that entitles travellers to state-provided healthcare or emergency treatment within the European Economic Area (EEA) country they are visiting. So basically, if you fall ill you are treated by that countries NHS equivalent as if you were a resident of that country. You can apply for a free card here .

This is good, but it is not a substitute for Travel Insurance as it does not cover you for items such as holiday cancellation, lost luggage, rescue and repatriation. For example, if you need to be air lifted from a mountain, or are unable to board a commercial flight and need a private flight back to the UK, travel insurance would be necessary to avoid an enormous bill.

You can however increase the scope of your EHIC cover with a private Top Up policy. This will add the ‘Travel Insurance’ benefits but keeps the cost very low as the Insurer does not cover most of the medical side as this is covered by the EHIC.

Top Up Plans are offered by EHIC Plus Expand  but this only includes certain named pre existing medical conditions , all other conditions are excluded.

If your medical conditions are not named on the EHIC Plus Expand policy then you should consider the Europe Plus Cover.  Please check the details of their medical screening requirements . 

NOTE: Due to leaving the EU the terms of the EHIC card may alter. The most up to date information can be found at gov.uk. We would also suggest you read the excellent information at Money Saving Expert and speak to your insurer for clarification before purchasing a policy.

What about the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or E111

For details of the EHIC and how to increase the level of cover it offers please read the Trick of the Trade  section above.

The choices for where to buy travel insurance are huge.

In years gone by if you had a pre-existing medical condition it was very difficult to obtain comparison quotes and ensure that you had competitive cover. Now, with the introduction of technology it couldn’t be much easier. With many travel insurance websites you simply enter the details of your medical conditions online and they will automatically provide you with a quote and some will even provide comparisons from numerous companies.

As a general rule we would suggesting trying the options in this order and keep working through Steps One to Five until you have the quote and cover you are happy with:

Check to see if you already have travel insurance cover..

Don’t forget to check to see if you have Travel Insurance through your bank account or house insurance (if you are paying a monthly fee for your account it could well be included).

If you have cover, check your documents (or ring your provider) and ask if your pre existing conditions are already automatically covered (this will be unlikely unless your condition is very mild).

IF THIS DOESN’T PROVIDE SATISFACTORY COVER CLICK ON STEP TWO

If you do have an existing Travel Insurance policy but it doesn’t automatically cover your pre existing medical conditions then you will need to ring their medical screening line.

The number for this will either be in your policy documents or on their website.

When you ring the Screening Line tell them you wish to declare a medical condition and they will ask you some medical screening questions and then advise if they can offer cover and how much it will be. At the very least this will provide you with a benchmark to compare other premiums.

IF THIS DOESN’T PROVIDE SATISFACTORY COVER CLICK ON STEP THREE

Next try online comparison sites that cater for Pre-Existing Conditions.

There are now many of these sites and a lot of them use the same Insurance Providers, ones which we have experience with who have a good reputation are:

• Cover a wide range of conditions including some terminal conditions.
• Telephone quote-line also available on 0800 458 9614.
• Provide quotes from over 40 companies.
• Provide quotes based on a medication assessment.
• Telephone quote-line also available.
• For more serious conditions.
• No upper age limit
• Telephone quote-line also available. 
• Clear2Go is offers cover for more serious conditions including secondary cancers and some terminal conditions. If your pre existing condition is in the serious category we would recommend ringing Clear2Go rather than using their online quote system.
• Telephone quote-line also available on 0800 999 3333 quoting PREMED

IF THIS DOESN’T PROVIDE SATISFACTORY COVER CLICK ON STEP FOUR

If after following Steps 1-3 you still haven’t found suitable affordable cover then consider Steps 4 and 5 but BEWARE these steps will not give you comprehensive cover.

This step is only valid if you are travelling within the european economic area (eea).

Consider an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) Top Up Policy. This will add the ‘travel insurance’ benefits to your EHIC card such as cancellation, luggage cover, repatriation etc.

For more information on these policies and their limitation please see our  Tricks of the Trade  section above.

EHIC Plus Expand 

• Provides cover for certain named, mild, pre existing conditions ( click to view )
• Any unnamed conditions are excluded
• If your condition is not named please consider Europe Plus Cover
• Medical screening required for pre existing conditions ( click to view )

This obviously only works if you have a valid EHIC card so make sure you have one and it hasn’t expired. You can  apply for a free new card here .

IF THIS DOESN’T PROVIDE SATISFACTORY COVER CLICK ON STEP FIVE

You can opt to have travel cover but exclude your medical condition. This obviously has potentially huge financial risks but it is an option for your consideration.

Many Insurance policies do not allow this scenario, you either accept their costs to cover the pre-existing condition or they won’t offer you insurance. Citybond however will happily provide you with a price for cover with the condition and allow you to exclude it if the cost is prohibitive.

See the section Can I exclude cover for my illness? above.

We hope you have found this guide helpful. As ever please make sure you check policy cover and wording before you buy to make sure that it suits your needs. This site should only be used as part of your own research to find the most suitable contract. We hope this allowed you to find Travel Insurance for pre existing conditions.

QUICK QUOTE

The Quick Quote button is there for visitors who do not feel they have the time or motivation to read the whole article on a particular subject. They just want to be put in touch with a company that offers the product and won’t rip them off!

By clicking the Quick Quote buttons you will not necessarily receive an instant online quote but you will be immediately taken to the providers website.

We would always recommend reading the whole article on the subject you are interested in as there may be a more suitable provider for your particular circumstances, however we are also confident that in most cases the Quick Quote provider will offer good value for money.

• Single Trip
• Annual Multi-Trip
• Winter Sports & Ski
• Collision Damage Waiver
• Sport & Leisure
• Medical Conditions
• Travel Insurance for Non-UK Residents
• Group Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance for Couples
• Covid-19 travel insurance
• About Our Travel Insurance
• Holiday Cancellation Insurance
• Emergency Medical Assistance Cover
• Emergency Medical Cover for Travel Insurance
• Repatriation Insurance
• Baggage Cover
• Travel Insurance for Under 18s
• Comprehensive
• What's Covered
• Excluded Vehicles
• Range Rover
• Car Hire Excess Insurance
• Policy Information
• File a Claim
• Insurance Glossary
• Coronavirus - Annual Multi-trip Policy

From 5th May 2021 we are temporarily unable to offer travel insurance to cover people’s pre-existing medical conditions, while we make improvements to the booking engine of our website.

We want to make it as easy as possible for people with medical conditions to get the protection they need when they are travelling. While global travel is somewhat reduced during the current COVID-19 situation, we believe that now is the time to make these improvements.

However, this is just a temporary measure. In the near future we will be able to offer travel insurance to people with pre-existing medical conditions on all of our policies once more. Policies purchased before 5th May 2021 aren’t affected and your cover won’t change.

In the interim you may be able to obtain an alternative travel insurance policy to cover pre-existing medical conditions by contacting one of the providers  featured in the MoneyHelper  directory  of specialist travel insurance providers for people with serious medical conditions. Do take time to study and compare the terms and conditions to ensure you have the cover you need. To contact the Money Advice Service for further details of the directory

Call: 0800  13 8 7777 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or

Email:  [email protected]

Travel insurance for people with medical conditions

What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you may have previously found travelling abroad worrying. But help is now at hand. Relax and enjoy your holiday knowing you’re properly covered, with travel insurance which covers numerous pre-existing medical conditions from Allianz Assistance.

Pre-existing conditions are medical conditions that existed before you bought an insurance policy. You may have received treatment (including surgery, tests or investigations by a doctor or a consultant/specialist and been prescribed drugs or medication) for these conditions. Our travel insurance policies with medical conditions included cover a number of pre-existing conditions depending on their severity, including:

• Heart conditions

You can check to see if we're able to cover your pre-existing medical condition by getting a quote today. Below is some more information about our products, for which Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit the policy information hub for full details.

Can I still get travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions? 

Having a pre-existing medical condition shouldn’t mean that you’re unable to travel. When you opt for travel insurance with medical conditions included, your cover works in the same way as a traditional travel insurance policy does. Additionally, your policy will cover care costs for any medical condition you may have had in the past or suffer from currently.

If you’re ill while you’re abroad after taking out a policy, we can look after you. Before you take out your Single Trip or Backpacker policy, we’ll ask you a series of health-related questions (please note that our Annual policy doesn’t cover any pre-existing medical conditions).

You’ll need to disclose all your medical history, including recurring injuries or illnesses, on-going or lifelong conditions, previous surgeries and any conditions you are currently suffering from. Remember that if you don’t declare a pre-existing medical condition or provide inaccurate information, you won’t be covered by your insurance. So, if in doubt, declare.

It is important to note that a travel insurance policy with pre-existing conditions included does not act as a private medical insurance policy, and only gives cover for emergency medical treatment in the event of an accident or unexpected illnesses occurring during your journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you’re buying travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions included, it’s important to give us as much information as possible. This means that you also need to tell us about conditions you have, just in case. This way, you can go away knowing you’ll be covered for any unexpected flare-ups.

There are many medical conditions that are routinely managed using medicine and other forms of treatment. Some conditions are controlled so successfully and have such a minimal effect on lifestyle that it’s possible to forget they exist. For this reason, some people believe they do not have to declare them, or consider them too trivial to mention when applying for holiday insurance. The following are some examples of common conditions that are often overlooked, but need to be declared:

• High blood pressure
• Respiratory problems
• Inflammation of joints
• Neurological conditions (for example stroke or epilepsy)
• Treatment and conditions related to cancer (usually within the last five years)

It's very important that you tell us about any existing medical conditions you have when you apply for holiday insurance with medical conditions included. This is because it’s unlikely that we will pay any claim for medical expenses, trip cancellation or cutting short a trip if it relates to a medical condition that you have not told us about (and that we have agreed to cover).

Please note that for the purposes of travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions, you should also tell us about any mental health or psychiatric conditions you may have, such as anxiety or depression. By telling us about all of your pre-existing mental and physical conditions, we can tailor your policy to you, and make sure you have the cover you need in case something doesn’t quite go to plan.

If you fail to declare a medical condition, your claim could be rejected, and you may be forced to pay any medical bills yourself. No matter how minor your medical condition is, it’s always worth declaring. 

Sadly, travel insurance which covers pre-existing medical conditions doesn’t cover everything. For example, a travel insurance policy from Allianz Assistance does not cover anyone travelling:

• Against medical advice or anyone who is not deemed fit to travel on the planned trip.
• To obtain and/or receive any elective surgery, procedure or hospital treatments.
• Knowing they will need medical treatment during the trip.
• If they’ve been told they have a terminal condition.

In addition, we do not cover you for any directly or indirectly related claims that arise from a pre-existing medical condition, unless the condition has been declared and accepted by us.

You can get a quote for travel insurance which covers pre-existing conditions to see if we’re able to cover you. You can also read our  policy documents  online to see the full cover and exclusions. If there is anything you don’t fully understand, please get in touch. 

When you’re booking travel insurance policies with medical conditions included, it’s important to know that pregnancy is not considered to be a pre-existing medical condition. But, there are certain things that you should be aware of before you  travel while pregnant .

Firstly, you should consult your doctor before you book your holiday to make sure they’re happy for you to travel. You should also check with your carrier’s policy on travelling whilst pregnant, because different restrictions will be in place depending on whether you choose to travel by plane, boat or coach. For example, most airlines will not allow you to fly after 36 weeks of your pregnancy. 

• An indirect medical claim is referred to as a medical problem that is more likely to happen because of another medical problem you already have. For example, if you suffer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other lung diseases, you are more likely to get a chest infection. Similarly, if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, you are more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke and, if you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to break or fracture a bone. 

When you take out holiday insurance with medical conditions included, you will not be covered for any directly or indirectly related claims arising from the health of a travelling companion, someone you were going to stay with, a close relative or a business associate if, at the time your policy was issued:

• You were aware they have been receiving medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility for a medical condition in the last 12 months.
• You were aware they have been awaiting medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility or have been under investigation for a medical condition.
• You were aware that a doctor had diagnosed them as having a terminal condition, or that their medical condition was likely to get worse in the next 12 months.

It’s easy to declare your pre-existing medical conditions with our medical screening process; simply click ‘Get a Quote’ and select your type of cover ( Single Trip  or  Backpacker ), before filling in some basic information about you and your trip.

You’ll then be asked to declare your conditions. To do this, all you need to do is type the first three letters of the condition into the box and select your condition from the dropdown menu. Once you’ve declared all of your conditions, check the information you’ve provided and press ‘Finish.’

If you have any questions about the medical screening process or you’re unsure what pre-existing conditions are not covered, please call us on 0371 200 0428 (from 9am to 5pm - Monday to Friday). 

Sadly, if you fail to declare a condition, you won’t be covered.

At Allianz Assistance, we want to do everything possible to make sure you’re covered for your trip, which is why we need you to provide us with as much information as possible during the medical screening process. This then allows us to create a holiday insurance policy with all your pre-existing medical conditions covered. If you’re in doubt, please declare your condition. 

Choose the perfect policy for you, with a range of cover options available

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Seniors

Backpacker Travel Insurance

Sports & Leisure Insurance

Cruise Travel Insurance

Insurance types for specific destinations.

Worldwide Travel Insurance

Europe Travel Insurance

Need help? Call us on: 0371 200 0428

Make a claim, policy documents.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition that we are unable cover under our own policies, you may be able to obtain an alternative travel insurance policy through one of the providers  featured in the MoneyHelper  directory  of specialist travel insurance providers for people with serious medical conditions. Do take time to study and compare the terms and conditions to ensure you have the cover you need. To contact the Money Advice Service for further details of the directory

Call: 0800 138 7777 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or Email: [email protected]

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Foreign travel insurance

If you’re travelling abroad, it's important to take out appropriate travel insurance before you go.

If you travel internationally you should buy appropriate travel insurance before you go. If you already have a travel insurance policy, check what cover it provides for coronavirus-related events, including medical treatment and travel disruption, and any planned activities such as adventure sports. If you are choosing a new policy, make sure you check how it covers these issues.

If you do not have appropriate insurance before you travel, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of pounds.

For example:

You should buy your travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your trip. Read the small print, and familiarise yourself with any exclusion clauses for the policy.

When you travel, make sure you take your insurance policy details with you, including the policy number and your insurer’s emergency assistance telephone number. Share your policy details with people you’re travelling with and friends or family at home, in case they need to contact your insurance company on your behalf.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) represents over 200 insurance companies. Read ABI’s advice on travel insurance , including how COVID-19 can affect it, and their guide on choosing the right travel insurance policy .

In addition to making sure you have appropriate insurance, you should check and sign up to travel advice for your destination.

What to consider when you buy travel insurance for you and your family

• emergency treatment and hospital bills can be expensive. Check whether your policy covers treatment in public or private hospitals
• emergency transport, such as an ambulance, is often charged separately to other medical expenses, and emergency travel home on medical grounds can also be expensive
• pre-existing medical conditions: declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests so that you are covered if anyone gets ill during your trip. Failing to declare something may invalidate your travel insurance
• all activities you may undertake on holiday, such as sports or adventure tourism (you may need specialist insurance for some activities). Also consider all the places you intend to visit, even if you are in transit, in case anyone needs emergency treatment in another country
• cruises generally require an additional level of cover because it is more difficult to get to hospital for treatment. Check the booking conditions of the operator you plan to sail with
• repatriation costs if you or a family member die abroad
• getting home after medical treatment if you cannot use your original ticket
• reasonable costs for a family member or friend to stay with you, or travel out to accompany you home, if required
• 24-hour assistance helplines to offer support and advice about appropriate treatment
• COVID 19 cover for if you or family members cannot return home because you/they test positive for COVID during your travel. Check your insurance covers additional costs such as alternative flights, accommodation and COVID tests. You should also check your insurance provides cover if you cannot reach your final destination during transit due to COVID-19
• within Europe, some insurers may waive any excess on medical treatment if you use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Check the terms of your policy or contact your insurer to see if this is the case. EHIC and GHIC allow you to access state-provided medically necessary healthcare within the EU and Switzerland on the same terms as residents of these countries. Note that EHIC and GHIC are not alternatives to travel insurance as they do not cover any private medical healthcare costs, repatriation or additional costs such as mountain rescue in ski resorts. Find out more about the EHIC and GHIC, including how to apply for one free of charge
• ATOL is a consumer protection scheme for air holidays and flights, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) . Some insurance policies do not provide cover for when airlines or suppliers go out of business. Choose an ATOL-protected holiday or a travel insurance policy that includes airline or supplier failure cover

Policy exclusions

Check how an insurance policy covers:

• alcohol and drugs: most travel insurance policies do not cover events that happen after you have drunk excessive alcohol or taken recreational drugs or other substances
• high risk destinations: many travel insurance policies will not cover travel to a high risk destination where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel or all travel. Check your policy wording and the relevant country travel advice pages before booking your trip and buying insurance
• mental health conditions: some policies may exclude cover for treatment related to a pre-existing mental health condition. For more guidance see foreign travel advice for people with mental health issues
• age restrictions: check whether there are any age-related restrictions if you are buying an annual policy. The Money Advice Service provides guidance on how to choose the right level of cover, get the best deal, and make a travel insurance claim. It also has specific guidance for travellers over the age of 65 or with pre-existing medical conditions
• sports such as bungee jumping, jet skiing, winter sports or skydiving: these are not usually included in standard policies. Use of quad bikes and hire of mopeds is also usually not covered
• driving overseas: check Driving abroad . If you’re hiring a car, check what cover the hire company provides. If you are driving your own vehicle, check your motor insurance policy to see what it covers
• terrorist acts: most policies offer only limited cover for terrorist acts. As a minimum, make sure your policy covers you for emergency medical expenses and travel home if you are caught up in a terrorist attack. Some travel insurers offer policy add-ons to provide additional cover if there is a terrorist attack in your destination. This may include cancellation cover, if your destination is affected by a terrorist attack before your trip and you decide you no longer wish to travel
• other incidents: some policies only offer limited cover for claims related to or caused by a natural disaster (such as an earthquake or tropical cyclone) or civil unrest. You may also not be covered for some claims that arise from an incident (such as strikes or other industrial action) that was known publicly when you booked your trip and/or bought your travel insurance policy

Insurance for extended periods of travel

‘Long-stay’ travel insurance can cover extended periods of continuous travel. Check carefully the maximum duration allowed in any policy you consider buying to ensure that it meets your needs.

Make sure that the entire policy meets your needs, including specific activities and work (paid or unpaid) you may undertake.

Insurance if you live abroad or go for work or study

Travel insurance is not intended for permanent residence abroad. If you live overseas, or you’re planning to move to a different country to live, work or study, you should consider your insurance needs carefully. Local law may require you to have medical insurance, including as part of a visa application.

Read the healthcare guidance in the Living in guide for the country where you live to ensure you have the right healthcare arrangements for your circumstances.

You can buy private medical insurance for UK expatriates. You can also buy insurance from local providers overseas. You should always check policies carefully, including seeing whether you could transfer medical cover if you re-locate to other countries in future.

Support for British nationals abroad

Support for British Nationals Abroad explains how the FCDO can provide support to British nationals if things go wrong abroad.

Reviewed and updated guidance in full.

Updated guidance on using an EHIC or GHIC to access healthcare in Switzerland.

Updated to reflect new rules for travelling to amber list countries.

Updated COVID-19 section on new rules for international travel from 17 May.

Updated to reflect current COVID-19 travel guidance

New link to the declaration form for international travel (for England), from 8 March.

Edited grey box at top of page to provide further information on requirements coming into affect from 15 February

From 15 February you will need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel if you arrive in the UK from countries on the travel ban list.

Updated with new requirements coming into effect from 4am on 18 January 2021.

Updated with information on pre-departure testing for everyone travelling into England and Scotland.

Updated to reflect latest UK COVID-19 restrictions.

Updated the section on travel to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, to reflect changes from 1 January 2021.

Updated ‘Travel to the EU’ section to reflect that UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) will still be accepted in EU countries, with different guidance for people travelling to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from 1 January 2021.

Updated COVID-19 travel guidance

Updated to reflect the latest Tier-based COVID-19 rules for England

Updated to reflect the 5 November national restrictions for England relating to travel

Updated EU travel section with information on EHIC validity

New information on making sure your travel insurance covers you for coronavirus-related events

Update to contents including addition of new segments; travel insurance after starting travel or changing your plans, making a travel insurance claim, other financial protection and if you’re not covered.

Added information on financial protection of package holidays.

Information on the use of European Health Insurance cards (EHIC) in the event of a no deal added to the EU Exit update section

EU Exit update with advice on checking insurance coverage when travelling to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.

Content and format changes

Inclusion of Association of Travel Insurance Intermediaries (ATII) information.

Updated information on travel insurance

First published.

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Experts warn of six travel insurance mistakes UK holidaymakers frequently make

N ew data from GoCompare has highlighted that almost a third of all UK holidaymakers wait until they day they jet off to pick up a travel insurance policy, but experts have warned that leaving it to the last minute can be incredibly risky.

While you can secure insurance up until the point you leave the house for your holiday, failing to do so in good time could mean that you miss out on vital coverage elements.

And there are a number of other mistakes that people make when taking out travel insurance. Thankfully though, the experts at Which? have highlighted six of the most common to help tourists avoid pitfalls when it comes to picking the perfect policy.

• Read more: Expert issues warning as searching certain words and phrases on Google could see you get scammed

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1) Don't wait until the last minute -

Which? warn that leaving your policy purchase to the last minute could mean that you end up missing out on certain coverage elements. Cancellation cover, for example, is unlikely to be included if you're securing a policy hours before you fly.

Meanwhile, GoCompare also warn that last-minute insurance could exclude cover for pre-existing conditions. Which? say: "Buying earlier not only means you have more cover, however. You also have the time to shop around for the best cover for the destination you're travelling to and your circumstances."

2) Never buy when you're already abroad -

If you forget to take out cover before embarking on a holiday, most policies are likely to be void and will leave you unable to claim in the instance of an emergency. However, there are some limited options that can be explored if you've left it too late to secure a deal. GoCompare say that people can buy specialist post-departure insurance which provides the same level of cover as a standard travel insurance policy.

This is only available from select smaller companies though, so you'll end up with less choice and may pay more than you would for a standard policy. You may also have to wait 24, 48 or 72 hours before coverage starts too in an anti-fraud measure to stop people taking out policies after a problem has already incurred.

3) Declare your conditions -

Which? say: "It can be tempting not to mention pre-existing medical conditions when buying a new travel insurance policy. That's because they can push up the cost of premiums or mean you can't make any claims that relate to the condition. In March 2023 we surveyed 2,458 policyholders with a medical condition or a history of one, and 36% reported problems buying cover.

"Expensive premiums were the most common complaint. But lying about your health issue could result in your travel policy being invalidated and means you have to cover the cost of any medical expenses needed on your trip yourself. In some cases, costs can quickly escalate to tens of thousands of pounds."

4) Don't exceed policy limits -

While many people will lay on golden beaches for a fortnight while on holiday, others may want to take part in exciting activities. But beware that not all sports are covered by standard travel insurance. While many policies will cover you for cycling, diving, kayaking and water sports, they may not allow you to claim for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.

You'll usually have to buy an add-on for this. Which? also warn that hiking may not be covered because long-distance walks in remote areas and reaching high altitudes increase the likelihood of needing urgent medical help or assistance - like an air ambulance.

5) Your trip could be too long -

Annual policies may make people assume that they are covered for any length of trip - but this is not the case for a number of insurers. Many will put a time limit on how long they will cover per trip - usually 31 days - so if you want to travel for more than a month you'll have to take out a long stay policy.

Beware though that this type of policy will not cover multiple trips, just one long getaway.

6) Special cruise cover -

Many tourists won't realise that you need specialist insurance when travelling on a cruise. These are designed to cover problems at sea or missed port departures. The policy is often mandatory, and a cruise operator may refuse boarding without it. Thankfully though, you can often buy an add-on to a normal policy for this, or take out a specialist policy altogether.

On getting the best policy for your needs, Which? say: "As always, the first step is to shop around for the best deal. Price comparison sites allow you to view multiple travel insurance quotes at a glance and also include policies for high-risk countries. The main ones for insurance are Compare the Market, Confused.com, GoCompare and MoneySuperMarket.

"Once you've found a deal that is right for you, check how Which? reviewed the provider and policy . Finally, check the policy wording carefully before you buy, as well as any general exclusions and conditions."