travel insurance uk with medical conditions

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• Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions

Travel insurance for medical conditions

Quick and easy medical screening.

Includes Medical Assistance Plus

Emergency medical and repatriation costs covered

Make sure you have the right medical travel insurance

If you have an existing medical condition, it's important to get the right treatment when you're abroad. And having the right cover's important too.

Treatment for an unexpected illness can quickly run into the thousands of pounds. But with the right insurance, you'll know you're covered.

Cover for common medical conditions

Diabetes can range from mild to serious, which can affect your overall health. Our travel insurance covers all these levels. We look at the how severe your disease is, where you're travelling to and if you have any other health issues

Asthma can range from mild to severe. It can also be linked to other respiratory problems. It’s important to have the right travel insurance for asthma. We'll check your asthma on a case-by-case basis to see whether we can give you the right cover

Heart conditions

From high cholesterol to high blood pressure , we want to help you enjoy your trip. We'll consider any heart conditions you have and try to help you find cover that will give you protection should you fall ill abroad

Post Office Travel Insurance covers most pre-existing medical conditions. Get a quote today to see if we can cover you

Get a quote online or by phone

When you choose Post Office for your medical travel insurance, all you have to do is answer a few questions. We can either take you through your medical screening online or over the phone

Tell us everything we need to know

Tell us about the conditions you have and any medications you’re taking. Include everything you know to help us get the right cover in place for your specific needs. Or there's a risk you might not be protected if you have a problem while on holiday

All medical conditions considered

We’ll do our best to provide you with cover. But if you have a serious pre-existing medical condition we can’t offer cover for, check the Money and Pensions Scheme (MaPS) directory of companies that may be able to help or call them on 0800 138 7777

Medical Assistance Plus: 24/7 holiday health support

Have peace of mind when you travel knowing that health professionals are just one click away.

Medical Assistance Plus, powered by Air Doctor, comes free with all our travel insurance policies (1). It gives you access to outpatient medical support while you’re away.

Through the service you can book an in-person or video consultation with a doctor. You can also get prescriptions delivered to your nearest pharmacy.

We’ll send you an SMS reminder about the service the day before you travel (for single-trip and backpacker cover) or the day before your policy begins (for annual multi-trip cover).

Ehic or Ghic aren't always enough

UK citizens travelling in EU countries can access some state-provided healthcare there for free or at a reduced cost.

You'll need a UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) or, if it’s still in date, a European Health Insurance Card (Ehic). It’s important to remember that:

• Neither card covers any extra cost to return you to the UK or for a relative to stay or fly out to be with you
• In a medical emergency you may have no control over the hospital you are taken to. Or if the closest hospital you can be taken to may be private. Medical travel insurance may be able to cover some of the cost for you
• The Ehic no longer provides access to healthcare services in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

We’ll look after you if you’re ill abroad

If you're taken ill on holiday and end up in hospital, our emergency medical assistance team can be contacted to help you.

We'll look for facilities available to provide the treatment and care you need. We may be able to get you home. And we may be able to pay towards your medical costs.

Conditions and exclusions apply. For full details of what's included with your cover, check our policy documents .

Ready to get a quote?

Let’s find the protection that’s right for your travels. Get a quote for Post Office Travel Insurance

An award-winning provider

Best travel insurance provider.

Post Office won a ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ award at the Your Money Awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023

Post Office won a “Best Travel Insurance Provider” award at the British Travel Awards in 2023

Defaqto 5-star rated cover

Our travel insurance policies with premier level cover are Defaqto 5-star rated

Common questions

Does post office travel insurance cover coronavirus.

At Post Office, we work hard to provide cover that’s right for you and any pre-existing medical conditions you’re living with. And we know coronavirus is still a worry for many people living with such conditions.

All Post Office Travel Insurance policies include a level of cover for trip disruption. This also includes problems due to the Covid-19 virus. Check if there any warnings from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)  about where you plan to visit. If not, then we'll cover the costs of emergency medical expenses or getting you back home if you fall ill on your trip.

Check what’s covered as standard for Covid-19 on our policies. You can add extra cover for coronavirus-related problems with our trip disruption upgrade option.

Sometimes the FDCO will advise only essential travel to a certain place. If you make a trip to somewhere like this, we'll only cover a claim if the cause isn’t linked to the reason for the FCDO advice. This applies even if you've bought an optional trip disruption upgrade. You may be able to travel with full cover if we authorise, in writing, that your trip is essential before you depart. To find out more, please email [email protected]

What is considered a medical condition for travel insurance?

It's important to tell us the full details of any medical conditions you have, or any medication you're taking. This is so we can make sure the travel insurance we offer you fully covers you for your trip.

When you apply, we’ll ask the following medical questions. If the answer is “yes” for you or anyone listed on the policy, you’ll need to complete a medical screening.

• Have you been prescribed medication in the last 2 years, whether you’re taking it or not? This includes tablets (including morphine-based painkillers), inhalers or injections
• Do you currently routinely visit a GP, hospital or clinic for check-ups/consultations or treatments? This includes annual reviews or reviews once every 2 years for a condition
• Are you visited by a doctor, nurse or carer for check-ups or treatment (including changing dressings)?
• Have you been admitted into hospital or undergone surgery in the last 2 years?
• Have you received treatment for heart, stroke or respiratory-related illness in the last 2 years?
• Are you currently waiting for any consultations, referrals or results from tests/investigations, or on any waiting lists?

We'll check the condition and then let you know if we have a policy to suit your needs, and if any additional premium needs to be paid.

Do I have to declare medical conditions for travel insurance?

Yes, it's very important to tell us about your pre-existing medical conditions. If there's something you don't tell us about when you apply for travel insurance, you might not be fully covered when you go away. We must agree in writing to cover these conditions, and you may need to make an additional payment.

What will I be asked during the medical screening?

The questions we ask you in your medical screening will depend on the conditions you have. We’ll also ask about your recent medical history.

If you've had had any issues recently, we'll ask more questions about:

• Treatments you've had
• Medicines you've been given
• Surgery carried out
• Any planned treatments

We may have further questions after these.

What does medical travel insurance cover?

Medical travel insurance covers you for your existing medical conditions. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you may be more at risk than a healthy person. This type of insurance can offer a higher level of cover if you have a condition that means you need extra care after an accident.

We offer a policy that considers all medical conditions to give you the level of cover that you need.

This can include:

• Any medical expenses
• If you need to be flown home
• Being taken to a different hospital if the one you’re in isn’t suitable for your condition

Do I need an Ehic or Ghic?

If you’re travelling within the EU, it’s important to take your existing European Health Insurance Card (Ehic). Check if it's still in date. If it's about to expire, you can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) .

With the card you can get emergency and necessary state healthcare in EU countries. The care will be free or at a reduced cost. But there are certain things they don't cover, such as medical repatriation. So it's important to have travel insurance too.

Please remember that the Ehic no longer covers healthcare for UK nationals in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

• Read more travel insurance FAQs

Need some help?

Travel insurance help and support.

For emergency medical assistance, to make a claim, find answers to common questions about our cover or get in touch:

Visit our travel insurance support page

Travel insurance policy types

Single-trip cover.

• Cover for a one-off trip in the UK or abroad 
• Perfect for one-off trips or longer holidays of up to 365 days (2)
• No age limit 

Annual multi-trip cover

• Cover for multiple trips for a 12-month period 
• 31-day trip limit, with extensions available up to 45 and 60 days
• Available for everyone aged up to 75 years 

Backpacker cover

• Cover for a one-off trip up to 18 months
• Option to return home for up to 7 days on 3 occasions
• For people aged 18 – 60 wanting to travel the world for a gap year or career break

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About our travel insurance

Post Office® Travel Insurance is arranged by Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited.

Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 630318. Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited are registered in England and Wales. Registered numbers 2154540 and 08459718 respectively. Registered Office: 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7ER. Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trademarks of Post Office Limited.

These details can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority website and searching by Firm Reference Number (FRN).

(1) Medical Assistance Plus is not available for trips taken in the UK, only for international travel. The service allows up to 3 separate medical events per person, per policy and for each medical event up to 3 appointments per person listed on the policy. All appointment charges are covered by your travel insurance policy. You will not need to pay any excess fees for this service.

For any online appointments or where the appointment was held at your accommodation, where a prescription is issued, you will need to pay for any medication and claim upon your return home. No excess will be applied for any prescription charges. If your appointment takes place at a clinic and they have a dispensing chemist, you will not need to pay for your prescription and all charges will be covered by your policy at the point of appointment. If there is no dispensing chemist at the clinic, you will either be given a prescription, or the prescription will be sent to a chemist by the treating doctor, and you will need to pay for any medication and claim upon your return home.

If your medical situation needs to be handed over from an outpatient case to an inpatient case and requires hospital admission, you will be handed over to our emergency medical assistance team in the UK. For any inpatient cases, no excess will be applicable.

(2) For economy, standard and premier policies, the single-trip policy will cover you for one trip up to:

365 days for those aged up to and including 70 years

90 days for those aged between 71 and 75 #

31 days for those aged 76 years and above

Telephone Hours

Opening Hours

• Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 8pm
• Sat: 9am - 5:30pm
• Sun: 10am - 5pm
• Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 8:00pm
• Sat: 9:00am - 5:30pm
• Sun: 10:00am - 5:00pm

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 policies will only cover you for medical issues due to accidents and emergencies unrelated to any pre-existing conditions. So if you’ve had a hospital appointment, visited a GP or taken any medication in the last two years, you’ll need specialist Travel Insurance for your medical conditions.

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 for up to unlimited 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 £15K if you need to cancel your holiday because of your medical condition, or a complication related to it.

Repatriation costs, if medically necessary. 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.

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 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.

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.”

In our 2023 Annual Survey, over 84% of you said you’d be travelling with one or more medical conditions 4 , making comprehensive cover essential.

What our Customers Say

What our customers say.

With over 110,000 reviews on Trustpilot, it’s easy to see what our customers think about AllClear.

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 I nsurance?

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 and help you ensure you’re covered if you need treatment abroad.

Some of the most common conditions we cover include:

Diabetes: More than 4 million people in the UK are living with diabetes , which 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 such as 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 cover a wide range of  other conditions, including mental health issues , after-surgery , undiagnosed conditions , 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 all of your conditions as 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.

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 £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

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 looks after you when abroad (and before you go) 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.

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.

Call us or go online for a quote. As a specialist, AllClear can cover all pre-existing conditions.

Tell us about your condition. As part of the quote process, we’ll run through a medical screening, and ask you some questions about your conditions.

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 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.

Consider choosing a destination with lower medical costs. Coverage tends to be pricier when traveling to countries with high private healthcare expenses.

If you plan to travel two or more times within a year, an annual policy is typically more cost-effective than securing coverage for each 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.

One thing you should never do is to 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between travel insurance and medical insurance.

A standard Travel Insurance policy is only designed to cover accidents and emergencies rather than elective treatment or continuing treatment of chronic conditions. Both types of cover are available for single trips and as Annual Multi-Trip Insurance .

How much does Travel Medical Insurance cost?

We consider a number of factors when calculating the premium (price of the policy).

These include the destination you’re travelling to. Spain , the United States and Canada are among the more expensive countries for medical expenses.

Other factors are: the length of your trip; the type and severity of your medical conditions ; your age and the level of benefits being offered to you. 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.  A stomach bug treated in a hospital in the USA with return flights home could cost around £100k.

At AllClear, a medical holiday insurance policy offers up to unlimited cover for emergencies and repatriation.

Is there an age limit?

No. Our policies have no upper age limit, whatever your health conditions. Only our optional winter sports cover is limited to those 65 or under.

How do you declare medical conditions?

You’ll need to answer a series of questions relating to your condition(s) when completing your Insurance quote. You can do this via our website or over the telephone. These conditions may incur an additional premium.

Some of the questions we might ask will be about your:

Investigations

Treatment or surgery

Medical appointments

Recent hospital admissions

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?

We need to know the name of your medical condition. If you have a currently undiagnosed condition you’ll need to wait until your GP or consultant has given you a diagnosis. Then you can get a quote.

What about your prescription medication?

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.

Also, it’s useful to travel with a copy of your prescriptions. Always check that your medications are not prohibited in the destination you’re travelling to.

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.”

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

Written by: Letitia Smith | Travel Insurance Expert Last Updated: 19 January 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.

Reviewed by Kay Greveson, Clinical nurse specialist and Chair of IBD Passport charity. Kay is a qualified independent nurse prescriber and has been an IBD specialist nurse since 2005. Kay’s research interests include travel health and IBD.

2 – From 100,000+ Trustpilot reviews as of January 2023. 4 – AllClear Annual Survey. January 2023. 3,901 responses.

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Medical Travel Insurance

Finding you the right travel medical insurance.

Our panel of specialist providers are here to help, whatever your condition. If you're looking for the best travel insurance for medical conditions, then we have a vast range of options to cover almost any medical condition. You may think that it would be harder to get travel cover after having medical treatment or if you’ve got a long medical history, but we are here to help. With medical cover for conditions like osteoporosis, breast cancer, diabetes, and many more, we can make sure you're travelling safely. With a selection of options including single trip travel insurance and multi-trip cover, browse our medical travel insurance quotes and read more below.

Ever wondered if you need to declare allergies on holiday insurance with medical conditions? Find out all you need to know about allergy travel insurance and get specialist cover here.

Angina Travel Insurance

We compare angina travel insurance UK-wide from specialist providers, to help you find the right policy for you and your trip. Get started today.

Angioplasty Travel Insurance

Planning a trip? We’ve teamed up with specialist insurance providers to help you find the right cover for your angioplasty. Get a comparison quote today.

Compare anxiety travel insurance quotes from over 30 specialist travel insurers to find the best deal for you. Compare and buy online today.

Compare asthma travel insurance deals to find the most suitable cover at a competitive rate. Cover is available for people with mild to severe asthma.

Atrial Fibrillation

If you’ve been asking ‘can I get travel insurance with atrial fibrillation?’ the answer is ‘yes’. Find specialist atrial fibrillation travel insurance here.

Back Problems

Find the best travel insurance for those with back problems. Compare quotes in minutes today.

Breast Cancer

Compare quotes for breast cancer travel insurance from over 30 specialist providers. Get yours online today!

Use our comparison tool to find travel insurance as a cancer patient or if you have a history of cancer.

Cardiomyopathy

Ever wondered if you need to declare cardiomyopathy on travel insurance? Find out all you need to know about cardiomyopathy travel insurance and get specialist cover here.

Compare COPD travel insurance form over 30 specialist providers today with Medical Travel Compared.

Crohn's

Instantly compare Crohn’s Disease travel insurance quotes from 30 specialist providers or read our guide to Crohn’s insurance.

If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, compare policies from 30 specialist providers all in one place to find the right holiday insurance for you.

Travelling with diabetes? Use our free online comparison tool to find great value full coverage travel insurance today.

Looking for disability travel insurance? You can easily compare travel insurance for people with disabilities today.

Find epilepsy travel insurance in minutes with our free comparison tool! Compare cover from over 30 leading medical travel insurance providers.

Compare quotes for gallstones travel insurance. A single application for specialised pre-existing condition travel insurance including gallbladder surgery.

Heart Conditions

Struggling to find travel insurance to cover your heart condition? Find specialist cover for a variety of heart conditions from over 30 providers.

Got the all-clear from your doctor to fly? Finding hernia travel insurance is easy with Medical Travel Compared. Get started today.

High Blood Pressure

Travelling with high blood pressure? Use our free online comparison tool to find travel insurance with cover for high blood pressure.

Compare HIV travel insurance from a range of specialist travel insurance providers to find the best deal.

Lung Cancer Travel Insurance

We’ve teamed up with specialist insurance providers to help you find the right cover for you and your condition. We compare medical travel insurance for those with lung cancer so you don't have to.

Compare lupus travel insurance quotes from specialist UK insurers all in one place.

Lymphoma Travel Insurance

Compare travel insurance quotes for those with lymphoma with Medical Travel Compared. We’ve teamed up with specialist insurance providers to help find the right cover for those living with lymphoma.

Mental Health

Compare mental health travel insurance quotes from over 30 specialist providers to find the best deal for you today. Find cover for a variety of mental conditions.

Multiple Sclerosis

Find and compare travel insurance from over 30 specialist providers who can cover MS.

Osteoporosis

Ever wondered if you need to declare osteoporosis on travel insurance? Find out all you need to know about osteoporosis travel insurance and get specialist cover here.

For those with existing heart conditions, like having a pacemaker - here’s how to find the right travel insurance for people with medical conditions like heart conditions.

Pre-existing Conditions

Save time and money on travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions. Use our comparison tool to compare medical travel insurance cover.

Prostate Cancer

Discover the best travel insurance for prostate cancer at the best prices from over 30 specialist providers. Compare and buy online today!

Skin Cancer

Compare skin cancer travel insurance quotes from 30 leading providers. Find and buy the best deals online today.

Getting travel insurance after a stroke has never been easier. Compare stroke travel insurance quotes from specialist providers all in one place.

Are you still unsure about what travel insurance for health conditions you should be choosing for your condition? Get in touch or request a quote and we can compare travel insurance for medical conditions, so you don't have to. We endeavour to find you the best cheap travel insurance for your medical condition, so don't hesitate to get in contact.

A pre-existing is any medical condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before applying for a travel insurance policy. For some conditions, we'll need to know if they have ever been present, whilst for others if they occurred within a certain period.

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.

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!

You can send your question to  our team , or visit our help centre on Covering Your Conditions .

You can send your question to  our team , or visit our help centre on Adding Your Conditions .

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• Help and Support
• Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance with medical conditions

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).

Getting the most out of your trip

Going anywhere nice.

Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.

Travel insurance that suits you

Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.

Family Travel Insurance

Student travel insurance, travelling while pregnant, travel insurance over 65, travelling with medical conditions, travel insurance upgrades.

Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.

Cruise Travel Insurance

Ski travel insurance, gadget travel insurance, adventurous sports insurance, single trip insurance, annual trip insurance.

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Compare Travel Insurance & Get A Policy Tailored To You from the UK’s Best Travel Insurance Provider

We know how important holidays are, and how important Travel Insurance can be if you need it – especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions.

That’s why we are dedicated to helping you find the right Travel Insurance policy, with the right support – just in case the unexpected happens. So whether it’s a well-deserved week in the sun or a round the world cruise, we’ve got you covered.

We know that every traveller and every holiday is different – that’s why we work with a number of insurers, many with no age limit, to help you find cover that is tailored to your own needs, whether you’re 18 or 80 and wherever you’re going next.

Single Trip

Get insured quickly and easily for a one-off trip up to 365 days, starting any time in the next 18 months – including cover for Coronavirus . Whether you’re planning a staycation, a week in sizzling sunshine or a long stay overseas, our single trip policies have no age limit so make sure you’re protected with the right Travel Insurance .

Annual Multi Trip

If you are planning to travel more than once a year, then taking annual multi trip Travel Insurance could save you money. You can cover yourself or the whole family on an annual policy, so get the flexibility to travel where you want, when you want and as often as you want without worrying about arranging cover every time you go.

We know it’s not nice to think about something going wrong on your cruise, but that’s what Insurance is for. Get peace of mind while you’re at sea with our specialist cruise Travel Insurance , including missed port departure, cabin confinement and cruise interruption cover. All ages and pre-existing medical conditions considered.

Pre-existing

Did you know the majority of Travel Insurance claims are paid to support people in need of emergency medical treatment abroad and that the average claim is more than £1,300? We work with a number of insurers specialising in cover for hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions so you can travel with peace of mind .

Why Use Just Travel Cover?

Five-star rated policies.

You can choose the bronze, silver or gold cover from each insurer and they’re all rated by Fairer Finance with five star cover available.

No Upper Age Limit

We believe everyone should be able to travel, regardless of their age – that’s why we will provide a quote whatever your age, on single trip and annual policies.

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Compare prices from a range of specialist insurers in a few moments and choose a policy that meets your individual circumstances.

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Since 1999 we have helped more than 1,000,000 passengers find insurance they can rely on.

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You can see details of some of our memberships below, including the Armed Forces Covenant, proudly supporting those who serve or have served.

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What cover do you need?

Do you need cover.

The excitement of booking your holiday can often overhaul the important factor of protecting yourself while you have fun. Before you dive too deep in thought about what you'll be doing while away enjoying yourself, make sure you spend a little bit of time to consider whether you should purchase travel insurance, the last thing you want is to have to pay out the enormous costs for medical treatment while abroad.

Medical Travel Insurance keeps things simple for you, just declare your medical conditions and we return you a panel of quote that can help cover you. This ensures your security while you're on holiday.

We have a large range of pre-existing medical conditions that we cover everyday, such as; diabetes, arthritis, asthma, cancer, strokes, epilepsy, high blood pressure and heart conditions, as well as many more. So if you have a health condition you are worried about in your medical history its worth getting a travel insurance with medical conditions quote now and seeing if you can cover yourself with medical assistance for whilst your away.

Our team are fast to adapt if you have something that doesn't match our pre-existing conditions, providing you with alternatives or maybe some customised cover, perhaps tailored medical expenses or baggage cover.

Medical Travel Insurance and you

We've helped thousands of people over the years allowing them to go on holiday with peace of mind that their medical condition is covered, enjoying your holiday is what's important to us, don't let the thought of falling ill due to your pre-existing medical conditions hold you back. Be it travel disruption cover to medical cover whilst your away our essential travel insurance can help you with the cover you need.

With travelling be a huge part of peoples lives, we understand that finding cover with a medical condition can be extremely frustrating. That's why we have made it as simple as possible for you to get cover and enjoy your holiday.

Our medical travel insurance covers over 1000 different medical conditions, with competitive prices on each of the policies containing any of our listed conditions across all our cover type; single trip, annual multi trip, winter sports, cruise and golf cover. Simply request to get a quote now , enter your travel dates, location, and a few details about yourself before heading to our online medical screening portal to complete medical screening for every traveller needing their medical conditions included. Once finished, click to get prices and see what options we have for you.

Our medical process

Many people do not actually need to go through all of our medical process so we ask some simple questions first to find out if you need to. If you need to, it's not too difficult we have a search function allowing you to find your conditions.

After finding your condition you then answer some questions about it. We will take care of the rest and ensure you get coverage for that condition, if for some reason we cannot cover a condition we will alert you to this.

Multiple conditions are just as easy. Once you have finished one, simply search for another and answer the questions relevant to that. This can be done with as many conditions as you have. When you are done you will get your quote.

Common medical conditions

More than 3 million people in the UK are diagnosed with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Standard holiday insurance tends to exclude cover for pre-existing medical conditions, and this can include diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, you will need to disclose it when applying for travel insurance to ensure that you are protected for your trip. Click here to learn more.

Epilepsy affects different people in different ways, and it’s important that your travel insurance is tailored around your specific needs. Standard travel insurance tends to exclude cover for pre-existing medical conditions, and this can include epilepsy. Our simple system will allow you to declare it and choose a product that will cover your needs. Click here to learn more.

Many people who have, or have had, cancer, aren’t affected in their ability to travel, and going on holiday can be a good way to relax. If any problems arise from your cancer whilst on holiday, travel insurance can protect you. Travel insurance for cancer can cover you should you need to cancel or curtail your trip, if you require emergency medical attention, or for the costs to get you back home. Click here to learn more.

If you need us, contact us.

0330 880 3601 [email protected]

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need Medical Travel Insurance?

The cost of medical care abroad can reach the hundreds of thousands which is not ideal for those trying to enjoy themselves on holiday. If you need assistance with a pre-existing medical condition and have not been covered or have not declared it, then all costs would need to be paid somehow, no matter the cost.

Should I get an annual or single trip?

If you are planning to take more than one holiday in a year, an annual travel insurance policy could work out cheaper. Single trip travel insurance will cover you for the exact duration of your holiday.

Can you cover winter sports and activities?

We can indeed cover your winter sport activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, however if you have medical conditions please be sure to use our system to notify us as you will not be covered if you fail to disclose a condition that may be relevant.

Is our medical travel insurance a specialist cover?

This is not specialist cover, you will be covered for cancellation, baggage cover, travel disruption and much, much more as per the standard travel insurance policies offer. Medical can be included within these options sometimes without any additional premium (depending on the condition) regardless of whether its for the policy holder or any additional family members.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, disability or injury for which you have received either medication, treatment, medical advice or symptoms before you purchase your travel insurance cover. These will need be declared during the medical screening process either online or via our UK based call centre, more detailed questions maybe asked on individual conditions which need answering before a quote can be provided.

Does your travel insurance include cover for Covid-19?

We can confirm all of our policies now provide Covid cover for Medical and other Expenses outside of the United Kingdom if you contract Coronavirus (COVID-19) whilst abroad. Some of our policies now also offer other additional Coronavirus (COVID-19) benefits. The policies that offer the additional cover are clearly marked where we display our prices along with the full terms and conditions.

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Helping you make the most out of your money

Searching Money Mentor . . .

The best travel insurance providers.

Updated March 26, 2024

In this guide

If you’re looking to escape the UK winter, or if you’re saving your holiday for the height of summer, you may wish to consider travel insurance. We explain what travel insurance is and some of the best policies on the market for your holiday.

In 2022, UK residents made 71 million visits abroad. This was over three times the amount made in 2021, when COVID restrictions kept many people at home. 

So if you’re part of a growing number of people spending time abroad, have you considered travel insurance? By taking out one of these policies you could be protected for lost baggage, delayed flights, and medical emergencies abroad among other unforeseen events.  

In this article we explain:

• What is travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover?

The best travel insurance.

• Travel insurance and medical conditions

Read more: Passport renewal costs and waiting times

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance covers the cost of unforeseen events and mishaps that either stop you from going on holiday or affect you while you’re away.

Depending on the policy, travel insurance might cover you for:

• Medical bills if you suffer illness or have an accident while you’re away
• Cancellation of your trip for reasons outside of your control
• Lost or stolen baggage

Policies are usually relatively inexpensive and can give you the peace of mind that your costs will be covered if something bad happens while you are on holiday.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), a trade body, the average claim on travel insurance in 2022 was a little over £970. So while travel insurance won’t stop bad things from happening, but it can prevent you from having to find the money to pay for unexpected costs even after you return from your holiday.

Read more: Ten budget travel tips

Many people opt to take out travel insurance to cover potential medical care while away.

Every week, 3,000 Brits need emergency medical treatment while abroad, according to the ABI. But travel insurance isn’t just about covering medical costs. It can protect you against a range of unplanned events:

• Cancellation or trip interruption for reasons outside your control
• Missed transport or delayed departure for reasons outside your control
• Personal injury and death, including medical evacuation
• Lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money – check if your home contents insurance covers you
• Accidental damage or injury caused by you

Does travel insurance cover cancelled flights?

Most travel insurers provide a basic level of cover for cancelled flights. Aviva’s travel insurance, for example, will pay out if your flight is cancelled due to an airport shutdown.

If your airline cancels your flight then you should claim a refund directly with them, so your travel insurance could cover other costs such as hotel bookings, vehicle rentals, and other possible excursions.

What are my rights during strike action?

If your flights are cancelled because air staff are striking, which they have over last summer, you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. But for this to apply, customers must have been given less than 14 days’ notice.

It also depends on whether the airline was at fault or not: so if it’s the airline’s staff who are striking, you should be entitled to compensation.

If you’re worried that your flights might be delayed or cancelled, you should also check your travel insurance policy.

Some policies cover you for a cancelled or delayed flight, provided you took out the policy before the strikes were announced.

But if you haven’t yet bought your insurance, you may be out of luck. This is because most insurers won’t cover you for strikes which were already known about.

Read how travel insurance could catch you out.

Below we’ve listed some of the best travel insurance providers on the market, all of which were nominated in Times Money Mentor awards 2023.

Times Money Mentor award winning cover

Best for over-50s

Post Office

Best for those with pre-existing medical conditions

Best for those wanting substantial medical cover  

Best for a range of unique add-ons

Looking for a new holiday destination?

Make sure to visit Times Travel for your holiday inspiration this year. From palm beaches in Fiji to the beautiful Italian coastline, Times Travel caters to all different tastes. Unlike other parts of the site, you also don’t need a subscription to enjoy their high-quality content.

Another notable provider

Despite not winning a nomination at the Times Money Mentor awards, this provider also offers a decent level of cover:

Switched On

The best travel insurance for cruises.

If you’re thinking about taking a cruise, it’s important to take out special additional cover such as a cruise insurance to protect you.

Cruise insurance is normally offered as an add-on to travel policies, and protects you if you:

• Miss connections to reach the departure
• Fail to get back on board after planned stops
• End up being confined to your cabin

Though if you want a dedicated travel insurance policy for a cruise, here’s an option to consider:

Just Travel Cover*

Best for cruise holidays

The best winter sports cover

If you’re planning a skiing and snowboarding trip then it’s important you have insurance that will cover you if you’re involved in an accident on the slopes.

Most travel insurers will offer winter sports cover as an optional add-on to their regular cover and will protect you if you:

• Need to be airlifted off the slopes or rescued and need medical treatment
• Turn up and there’s no snow
• Can’t start skiing and snowboarding because of avalanche risk
• Find out your equipment – such as skis, snowboard and boots – has been stolen

It’s difficult to predict what the next ski season will look like. But if you’re booking now and want cover for the essentials, here’s a policy to factor into your calculations.

InsureandGo*

Best for winter sports

What should a basic travel policy cover?

When shopping for travel insurance, you should ensure your policy comes with the following seven things as standard:

1. Medical expenses

This covers the costs of any emergency medical and surgical treatment while you’re away.

It usually costs more for cover in the US as medical bills can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Any treatment that can wait until you get home is not usually included.

Most policies offer cover of £1 million for medical costs in Europe. This is usually £2 million in the US.

2. Repatriation

This is where you might need to be evacuated from the country you’re visiting.

Repatriation usually happens when you need to get back home to the UK in the event of a medical emergency and is usually covered as standard in most travel insurance policies.

3. Cancellation/curtailment

This covers any travel and accommodation costs you have paid for and can’t use or claim back.

You need a good reason to cancel your trip, so make sure you double check the terms and conditions of your policy.

4. Missed departure

This covers your extra accommodation costs and travel expenses should you miss your departure due to situations outside your control.

It usually includes your car breaking down or being involved in an accident. Leaving home at the last minute won’t count.

This covers you for delays to your travel plans, such as severe weather conditions.

Delays known about before (such as strikes) won’t be covered.

6. Baggage cover

This should cover you if your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.

You might need extra cover for gadgets or valuable possessions as there are usually limits on separate items.

Losses need to be reported within a certain time frame and you must have a written report from your airline if it loses your baggage.

7. Personal liability cover

This should cover you if you are liable to pay damages due to:

• Accidental bodily injury to someone
• Or for loss or damage to someone else’s property
• Claims made by family members or employees won’t be covered

Choose a smooth private healthcare journey with Saga Insurance

• Easy access to a specialist

• Fast tests, scans and treatment

• Comfortable hospital stay

Get a Saga Health Insurance quote

For people over 50. Saga Health Insurance is a unique product designed by us specifically for our customers, and it’s only available through us. Together with our underwriter, Bupa Insurance Limited, we are committed to providing high standards of quality and service. 

What extra cover can you buy?

To provide a peace of mind you might be able to add the following onto your policy too:

• Wedding cover – If you’re travelling abroad for a wedding, some providers might include an add-on which covers damage to your possessions. If you think you need something more comprehensive, then consider a separate wedding insurance policy
• Gadget insurance – While you’re abroad you may wish to cover your laptop, phone, or tablet from theft or damage
• Golf equipment cover – Planning to tee off abroad? Then consider cover for moving your clubs overseas. This type of add on includes cover for your equipment if it is lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged

Read more: Is credit card travel insurance any good?

What is not covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance won’t cover you for a risk that is known about.

For example, if you have a long-standing medical condition that means you can’t go on holiday, your insurer might not cover you for the cancellation costs.

Insurers also won’t cover you if you have to cancel your trip for reasons within your control. For example, if you miss your flight because you woke up late, your claim is likely to be rejected.

Travel insurance is also unlikely to cover you if you have been irresponsible. For example, if you leave your valuables in your hold luggage then your policy won’t cover you if these items are damaged.

Each travel insurance policy will have specific things it won’t cover and this will vary depending on the provider. So it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully.

What types of travel insurance can you buy?

There are two main options to choose from when taking out a travel insurance policy:

• Single trip — covers you for one trip of a specified length only
• Annual multi-trip — covers you for all your trips for one year (if you travel a lot this can work out cheaper than lots of single policies)

You need to make sure that either option of travel insurance covers you for where you are going, such as:

• Europe only
• Or the more expensive, worldwide policies (these either include or exclude the US)

But check first which exact countries providers include in their policies. For example, some policies include Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt in their Europe insurance.

There is also specific travel insurance for backpackers, which offers extra cover for those who are likely to be away for an extended period of time or travelling to multiple destinations.

Also bear in mind that if you are doing any extreme sports like skiing or going on a cruise then you might need to buy an add-on.

When should I take out travel insurance?

It’s usually best to take out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip.

While many people think of travel insurance as something that covers problems while they are away, some policies cover you for issues, accidents and illnesses that stop you from being able to travel.

Cancellation is one of the main reasons that people claim on a travel insurance policy. If the cancellation happens before you have bought insurance then you wouldn’t be able to claim.

How much should I pay for travel insurance?

Your travel insurance premium will depend on a range of factors such as your age, health, type of policy, and destination. This is why an average travel insurance premium will likely be meaningless, so make sure to do your research and get a quote from several different providers before deciding on a policy.

Do I need travel insurance?

Unlike car insurance, travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement. However, it does come with a host of benefits such as cover for medical expenses.

We’ve already listed the benefits of having protection for unexpected medical costs above, and it remains pertinent if you’re travelling abroad and won’t have access to the NHS. According to the ABI, there is one recorded case in 2022 when a traveller in Thailand contracted a serious blood infection which needed intensive medical treatment. The bill eventually came up to £250,000 which was paid in full by their travel insurance provider.

Also consider that some visa applications require you to have a suitable travel insurance policy in place before you apply. If you’re applying for a Schengen visa to travel Europe you’ll need a policy in place which covers medical expenses up to €30,000 during your trip.

FAQs: Travel insurance and medical conditions

Many people solely take out travel insurance to protect themselves from medical expenses. According to the ABI, the average medical claim on travel cover is more than £1,300. Notoriously in the US, these figures run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds.

So below we’ve answered some of the most common medical related questions on travel insurance:

Q. Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Some insurers do provide cover for pre-existing conditions. However, it is vital that youflag these conditions during the application stage. If you don’t it could invalidate your policy.  

Q. Do you need to tell your travel insurance provider if you have a new medical condition?

If there is a significant change to your personal health then you’ll need to inform your travel insurance provider. This includes being diagnosed with a new long-term illness.

Failure to do so could invalidate your policy.

Q. Can you get travel insurance if you’re over 75 with medical conditions?

Yes. In fact, there are some providers on the market which tailor their policies towards an older demographic. For example, Saga has dedicated policies for over 50s and 70s.

* All products, brands or properties mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback, and are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. This article contains links from which we can earn revenue. This revenue helps us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. For more, see  How we make our money  and  Editorial promise

Important information

Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.

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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.

Other products

Car Insurance

Defaqto 5 star rated Car Insurance that covers against misfuelling, accidental, and malicious damage. Plus, a range of Optional Extras to suit your needs.

Home Insurance

Whether you need Buildings Insurance, Contents Insurance or both, we can help keep your property protected. With a choice of Silver or Gold cover available, you can find a policy fit for you.

Motor Breakdown

Discover Motor Breakdown with 3 levels of protection, which include doorstep, roadside and European assistance to keep you on the move.

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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Best travel insurance UK 2024 guide

We all deserve a break now and then. And the last thing you want to think of when booking your holiday is something going wrong. But it’s better to be prepared than caught off guard. That’s why you should always consider travel insurance when going on a trip.

But how can you find the best travel insurance policy for your needs? Read our guide below to find out more.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance protects you financially if your trip away doesn’t go as planned and you incur unexpected expenses for delays, losses or medical treatment.

All travellers can benefit from travel insurance. But travel insurance is particularly important if you are going on an independent trip without a tour operator, because if something goes wrong, you will have no other help.

There are three main types of travel insurance:

• Single-trip cover: this is the most typical form of travel insurance, covering you for a one-off trip or holiday. There will be a time limit on the cover that can range anywhere between one month and 365 days
• Annual multi-trip cover: this allows you to make multiple trips, or have multiple holidays, in a 12-month period, all under the same travel insurance policy. There may be a cap on how long each individual trip can be
• Long stay, or backpacker, cover: this is normally used for around the world trips, gap years, and longer cruises, and can last for up to 18 months

To find the best UK travel insurance, compare policies before you go to ensure you get the right coverage for you and the specific trip you’re planning.

How to find the best travel insurance policy

When comparing policies to find the best travel insurance for your trip, you should consider: 

• Type of cover you need
• Excess (how much you’ll be expected to pay out yourself before the policy will cover you)
• Amount of medical coverage, and why pre-existing conditions aren’t included
• Limit on baggage claims
• Coverage for specific sports and activities
• Any potential rewards and discounts
• Add-ons, such as gadget insurance

Best travel insurance deals and discounts

Looking for the best travel insurance deals from the best travel insurance companies? In most cases, the easiest way to find the best travel insurance deals is to use a comparison website. Travel insurance comparison websites let you compare costs and coverage side by side to find the best UK travel insurance.

The four main comparison websites – Moneysupermarket, Comparethemarket, Confused.com and GoCompare – also often have certain deals and discounts when you buy travel insurance from them, offering some of the best travel insurance deals on the market.

Moneysupermarket : Find the same deal for less, and it will price match and give you a choice of a £20 gift card. Only on annual travel insurance.

Comparethemarket : Two for one cinema tickets with Meerkat Movies and savings at restaurants when you dine out or order pizza in with Meerkat Meals, as well as 25 per cent off coffee and pastries at Caffè Nero every day of the week through the Meerkat app.

(In November 2023, Confused.com and GoCompare had no deals or discounts for travel insurance).

Price is obviously a big consideration when you are looking for the best travel insurance – you’ve probably already spent a lot on your holiday. But you may be able to get much better coverage for just a few pounds extra, so it’s worth scrolling down the comparison site’s list of providers before buying.

Medical costs abroad will undoubtedly be the biggest expense you face if you fall ill abroad, so don’t scrimp on those.

Then think about your next biggest expense (probably cancellation/interruption of your trip) and make sure that you have high-value coverage for that.

If you find you can get much higher coverage (the maximum amount you can claim per type of claim, such as medical or baggage) for not very much more money, go for the slightly more expensive option.

Going direct

Comparison sites won’t always find you the cheapest deals, however. For example, Direct Line offers some of the best travel insurance with Covid cover and is not on comparison websites.

Some of the best travel insurance companies also offer discounts for buying directly from them, as follows:

Bundled coverage options

When looking for the best travel insurance for your holiday, it can make sense to buy a bundle of coverage under one policy.

Comparison websites will often offer add-on gadget cover, winter sports cover or cruise cover all under the one policy. If you need that extra cover, it is typically cheaper to buy your travel insurance this way rather than as separate policies.

What is covered by travel insurance?

The best travel insurance companies will offer you comprehensive coverage across all types of claims. It’s easy to compare the best travel insurance deals using a comparison website.

Medical coverage

This covers you for medical expenses you incur if you become ill or have an accident while away. The best UK travel insurance will have a high level of medical coverage.

For example, medical coverage will pay for any necessary treatment if you come down with severe food poisoning or you fall through a window and have to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.

• Avoid hefty bills or debt for medical assistance outside the UK
• Access better treatment – for example, at private vs public hospitals
• Often, as long as you declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests, you are covered if you fall ill during your trip (check policy exclusions)
• Even the best travel insurance companies will likely charge you more if you have a pre-existing medical condition
• You might have to pay part or all your medical expenses first, then claim on the policy afterwards
• Even the best travel insurance companies do not cover events that happen after you have consumed alcohol excessively or taken recreational drugs or other substances

Trip cancellation/interruption

This insurance pays out the cost of your missed trip if you have to cancel or cut your holiday short due to unforeseen circumstances.

For example, cancellation insurance would normally pay out if you broke your leg just before you were due to travel and had to cancel your trip.

Interruption insurance would cover you if you had to come home early for certain reasons beyond your control – for example, if the area you were staying in was engulfed in wildfires.

• Money you would have lost on pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses is paid to you under the policy
• It can be especially valuable if the trip you are planning is very expensive, as this is money you would lose if you couldn’t go
• You’ll usually only be covered if your trip is cancelled or cut short for specific reasons listed in your policy
• You usually won’t be covered if you miss your flight because you are held by customs or cancel because of a work issue or a pre-existing medical condition that is not covered

Baggage cover

This insurance covers the cost of replacing your luggage if it is lost or stolen.

For example, if an airline loses your luggage in transit or your suitcase is stolen from your hostel while you’re away, you can make a claim for the cost of replacing its contents.

You may also be able to claim for costs related to baggage delay if the airline temporarily misplaced your baggage.

• You can claim for the actual cash value of your belongings or the cost of replacing them (whichever is less)
• High-value items, such as jewellery or sports equipment, can be very expensive to replace without travel insurance
• Standard policies usually place per item and total limits on claims.
• If you are taking very expensive items away, check your policy carefully to ensure that you’re covered (and potentially get a separate policy)
• Some items could be covered by your home insurance policy, so check your policy carefully to see what is any isn’t. It’s also important to note that, should a lost item be covered by both policies, you can only claim once; an attempt to claim twice would be considered fraud

Personal liability

This insurance covers you if you are held responsible for harming another person or damaging their property.

For example, it covers you in situations where you cause serious damage to your holiday accommodation or accidentally stumble into someone else, causing them to need medical treatment.

• The cost of defending yourself in a legal case or repairing/replacing damage could be extremely costly without travel insurance
• Your travel insurance company will take over dealing with a foreign legal system
• You’re covered for the cost of any compensation (up to certain limits)

Limits: 

• Not all travel insurance provides personal liability as standard
• Policies may exclude personal liability while you partake in adventure activities
• Claims related to you committing a crime or damage by wilful negligence won’t be covered
• You likely will not be covered if you admit liability or make an offer to pay before talking to your insurer

Finding the best travel insurance with Covid cover

Looking for the best travel insurance with Covid cover? Many travel insurance policies now include cancellation cover for reasons related to Covid. This often applies within two weeks of being due to travel, according to the Association of British Insurers, but individual policies can vary.

To make a claim, insurers often require proof in the form of a medically approved positive Covid test. A lateral flow test or self-diagnosis is usually not accepted.

What Covid-related cover to look for

The best travel insurance with Covid cover should include the following:

• Cover if you can’t start your trip because you tested positive for Covid before travelling
• Cover if you or family members cannot return home because you/they test positive for Covid during the holiday
• Cover for additional costs, such as alternative flights, accommodation and Covid tests
• Cover if you cannot reach your final destination during transit due to Covid-19

Travel insurance providers with comprehensive Covid cover

Looking for the best travel insurance providers with Covid cover? Most travel insurance policies now offer some kind of Covid cover, but Churchill, Direct Line, M&S and Aviva have some of the most comprehensive offerings, with cover for cancellations and expenses related to Covid.

• Covid covered as standard on travel insurance policies
• Cover for trip cancellations if you, a close relative or a travelling companion is diagnosed with Covid-19 or another pandemic disease
• Cover if you or a person you’re planning to stay with must quarantine (abroad or in the UK)
• Cover if you can’t use pre-booked and pre-paid accommodation affected by Covid-19
• Cover for quarantine or where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel within 28 days of departure
• Cover for emergency medical expenses abroad due to Covid-19

Direct Line

• Cover for travel to a destination where the FCDO is advising against all but essential travel 
• Cover for medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 while you’re away 
• Cover for additional accommodation and transport if you have to quarantine due to Covid
• Cover for cancellation costs if you or a close relative get Covid-19 before you go
• Cover for quarantine or if the FCDO changes its advice after you book your trip
• Cover if you have to cut your trip short if the FCDO changes its country advice unexpectedly

• Cover for emergency medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 during your trip
• Cover for unrecoverable costs up to £6,000 if you must cancel your trip or return early, including if you have to self-isolate or quarantine before you travel due to Covid-19
• Cover for if you need to cancel your trip due to a positive Covid-19 test or if the FCDO advise against travel to your destination in the 31 days leading up to your trip
• Providing you haven’t travelled against FCDO advice, you’ll also be covered if you catch Covid-19 while abroad

• Coverage of up to £5,000 per person if you must cancel your trip due to getting Covid (you’ll need to provide confirmation and evidence of a positive test result)
• Cover for Covid-related emergency medical treatment and expenses while away
• Cover if you unexpectedly need to quarantine, including extra travel and accommodation costs to get home (provided a return trip was booked) 
• Cover for costs for any accommodation and excursions unused due to getting Covid where the costs can’t be recovered elsewhere
• No cover you if you travel against FCDO advice*
• No cover if you can’t travel because you don’t meet the entry requirements of a country (such as having had Covid vaccinations)*

* It’s worth noting that these clauses are not unusual and the majority of providers will have something similar

Tips for selecting the best UK travel insurance packages

Need some help picking the best UK travel insurance packages to make sure that you get the best travel insurance deals? Here are some tips for picking the best policy features for you.

Coverage limits

When looking for the best travel insurance companies to go with, check coverage limits. These are the maximum amounts your travel insurer will pay if you need to claim. You’ll see when you compare travel insurance policies that coverage limits vary for each type of claim and between policies.

The government-backed MoneyHelper website recommends that the best UK travel insurance should have the following minimum coverage for each type of claim:

• Medical: £1m or more for travel to Europe and £2m or more for the US
• Cancellation/interruption: £2,000 or more
• Missed departure: £500 or more
• Delay: £200 or more
• Baggage cover: £1,500 or more
• Personal liability cover: £2 million or more

Deductibles/excess

Deductibles, also known as the excess, is the amount you have to pay out of your own pocket before your travel insurance will start paying for your claim.

You have to make a trade-off when it comes to choosing the excess and the best travel insurance policy for you.

The lower the excess on a travel insurance policy, the better for you if you have to claim because you will have less to pay from your own pocket (or, more often, deducted from your claim).

But lower excess travel insurance policies are more expensive because the insurer knows it has more to pay out if you claim. Higher excess policies are cheaper, but you’ll have more deducted from your claim.

An exclusion on a travel insurance policy is an event the policy will not cover you for.

Common exclusions on a standard travel insurance policy may not be obvious. According to the ABTA – The Travel Association, these include:

• Incidents that occur after drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs
• Theft of unattended possessions
• Sports, extreme sports and activities such as skiing, white water rafting and bungee jumping
• Medical treatment resulting from existing medical conditions you have not declared or conditions preventable by vaccine or advisable medication, such as antimalarials
• Medical costs if you stay abroad after your doctor says you are fit to return to the UK
• Strikes and industrial action if it was known when you booked your trip
• Rescheduled flights where the airline has cancelled and then rescheduled your flight
• Travel to destinations where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel

To get the best travel insurance deals, one way around some of these exclusions is to buy add-ons for adventure activities. In addition, make sure to declare all pre-existing conditions and keep an eye out for any travel disruptions before you book.

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or medical conditions you have and are aware of before you travel.

Travel insurance companies will ask you to disclose any pre-existing conditions. If you use a comparison website, it will be among the first questions you’re asked before it shows you quotes. It’s important to be honest.

Some travel insurance companies, but not all, will offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions, while others will offer cover but exclude any claims arising from that medical condition. This will depend on the person being covered and the medical condition.

Most price comparison websites include an option to show insurers who do offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, so that would be a good place to start.

The following are likely to be considered pre-existing conditions you should disclose, according to the government-backed MoneyHelper website:

• A condition where you are on a list for an operation
• A condition where you are waiting for test results
• Anything you have been to the doctor about in the last year, including minor things
• Any serious conditions you’ve ever had – for example, cancer, heart trouble, respiratory problems or a mental health breakdown

A good tip for everyone, but especially if you have a pre-existing condition, is to buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. If your condition gets worse and forces you to cancel your plans, you’ll be covered from the day the policy starts.

On family group policies, the cost will be determined based on the riskiest traveller (according to insurers), which could be someone with a pre-existing condition or an older individual. In this case, it is often cheaper for the group for that person to get a separate policy.

Add-on options

Add-ons are extras you can purchase in addition to a standard travel insurance policy. They cost a bit more, but you may find you’re not covered without them. 

Gadget insurance

This covers things that a standard policy may not, such as your mobile phone or laptop. If these items are covered, you may find the claim limits are far less than the cost of replacing them.

Before you add this option to your travel insurance, check your home insurance policy, because you may already be covered.

Winter sports/adventure activities

Riskier activities, such as skiing or white water rafting, often require extra holiday insurance because insurers think that you are more likely to need to make a claim doing these things.

Winter sports/adventure activities cover is worth getting, or you may find you are not covered for medical expenses if something goes wrong.

Standard travel insurance is generally meant for land-based holidays so you’ll need to opt for a specialist cruise policy if your holiday is a cruise.

European FCDO travel advice extension

Most standard travel insurance policies are invalid if you travel when the FCDO advises against “all but essential travel”.

This add-on allows you to travel to Europe with a valid travel insurance policy, even if the FCDO has advised against it.

This can be an expensive add-on, but if you really must travel to a risky area, you will need this extension in order to make sure you have cover.

Best holiday insurance summary

Choosing the right travel insurance is an essential part of enjoying peace of mind while you are on holiday.

When looking for the best travel insurance deals, don’t just pick the cheapest policy. Instead, look for the cover limits that match your requirements. For example, baggage cover of £5,000 isn’t worth having if your baggage is worth £1,000; cancellation cover up to £10,000 isn’t worth having if your holiday cost you £2,000.

The easiest way to compare the best travel insurance is usually by using a travel insurance comparison website.

Think about the sort of activities you’ll be doing while you’re away. You may need extra holiday insurance for things such as winter sports or scuba diving or if you are going on a cruise.

Be honest about any pre-existing conditions when buying your travel insurance, or you won’t be covered if you have to claim.

The best travel insurance is a safety net for you and your family to enjoy your trip away stress-free, knowing that you’re covered for everything from medical expenses to cancellations if things go wrong.

Frequently asked questions about the best travel insurance UK packages

Is travel insurance necessary for domestic travel within the uk.

Even where medical costs in the UK are covered by the NHS, a sudden illness could lead to other expenses, forcing you to cancel your trip, the costs of which travel insurance would cover.

Lost or stolen luggage and broken gadgets or other claims for damage can just as easily occur in the UK as abroad.

What is annual travel insurance, and is it a good option for frequent travellers?

Annual travel insurance is a policy that covers you for multiple trips away within any 12-month period. It is often cheaper than buying a separate policy for each trip if you are planning to go away multiple times in one year.

Annual travel insurance is also useful if you are planning a long trip visiting several countries, as often insurers require you to buy travel insurance before you leave the UK rather than abroad mid-trip.

Are there any travel insurance companies that specialise in certain types of trips or travellers?

Specialist travel insurers cater to specific groups of people. It can make sense to seek out travel insurers that cover your needs.

Adventures Insurance, Sports Cover Direct and Snowcard tailor their travel insurance to those who enjoy activity holidays and extreme sports, for example.

Senior travellers are the focus of policies from All Clear, Avanti, Co-op Insurance Services, Free Spirit Flex, Good 2 Go Extra, Goodtogo Insurance, Saga, Staysure and Total Travel Protection.

Insurers offering business trip cover include Allianz, Direct Line, Coverwise and Insure & Go.

How do I make a claim with my travel insurance company?

To claim on your travel insurance while you are away, make sure that you take your policy number with you and the emergency number for your insurer. If you are travelling abroad, take any international numbers too.

Call your insurer as soon as you realise you need to make a claim. Keep all receipts and medical expense forms. If you are travelling with other people, make them aware of your policy details and the insurer’s phone number in case they need to call on your behalf.

To make a claim when you return home, check the following:

• You haven’t left it too late to make a claim
• What you’re claiming for is covered
• The excess is not more than the value of your claim (if so, it’s not worth claiming)

Notify your insurer as soon as possible for a claim form, send it back fast and keep a copy of it. You should also include copies of paperwork to support your claim, such as receipts or medical certificates (keep copies of the originals in case your claim is queried or refused).

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a freelance journalist, editor, and producer. She has a wealth of consumer finance experience, having written about money matters and business for over 15 years.

During her tenure as a freelance writer, she has worked for ITN, Wired, and The Sunday Times, as well as financial institutions such as Aegon, the Chartered Insurance Institute, and Pension Bee, where she’s presenter of the Pension Confident Podcast.

Laura has previously held roles at The Times, where she was the Acting Editor of Times Money Mentor, The Telegraph as a senior finance reporter and was the co-host of the It’s Your Money Podcast, which was renowned for making complex finance issues accessible, and The Financial Times, where she worked as a News Editor. Laura has also worked at CNN, Politics.co.uk, and as a producer at Radio 5 Live.

Connor Campbell

Connor Campbell is an experienced personal and business finance writer who has been producing online content for almost a decade. 

Connor is the personal finance expert for Independent Advisor, guiding readers through everything they need to know about car insurance and home insurance. From how much it costs to the best insurance providers in the UK, he’s here to help you find the right policy for your needs. 

In his capacity as writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet , Connor explored a number of topics close to his heart, such as the impact of our increasingly cashless society, and the hardships and heroics of British entrepreneurs. His commentary was featured in sites such as The Mirror , the Daily Express and Business Insider . 

At financial trading firm Spreadex, meanwhile, his market commentary was featured in outlets such as The Guardian , BBC , Reuters and the Evening Standard . 

Connor is a voracious reader with an MA in English, and is dedicated to making life’s financial decisions a little bit easier by doing away with jargon and needless complexity.

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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

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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]

Key benefits of travel medical insurance

• Travel medical insurance coverage
• Who needs medical travel insurance?

Choosing the right travel medical insurance

How to use travel medical insurance, is travel medical insurance right for your next trip, travel medical insurance: essential coverage for health and safety abroad.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Travel medical insurance covers unexpected emergency medical expenses while traveling.
• Travelers off to foreign countries or remote areas should strongly consider travel medical insurance.
• If you have to use your travel medical insurance, keep all documents related to your treatment.

Of all the delights associated with travel to far-flung locales, getting sick or injured while away from home is low on the savvy traveler's list. Beyond gut-wrenching anxiety, seeking medical treatment in a foreign country can be exceedingly inconvenient and expensive.

The peace of mind that comes with travel insurance for the many things that could ail you while abroad is priceless. As options for travel-related insurance abound, it's essential to research, read the fine print, and act according to the specifics of your itinerary, pocketbook, and other needs.

Travel insurance reimburses you for any unexpected medical expenses incurred while traveling. On domestic trips, travel medical insurance usually take a backseat to your health insurance. However, when traveling to a foreign country, where your primary health insurance can't cover you, travel medical insurance takes the wheel. This can be especially helpful in countries with high medical care costs, such as Scandinavian countries.

Emergency medical evacuation insurance

Another benefit that often comes with travel medical insurance, emergency medical evacuation insurance covers you for any costs to transport you to an adequately equipped medical center. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is often paired with repatriation insurance, which covers costs associated with returning your remains to your home country if the worst happens. 

These benefits are for worst-case scenarios, but they might be more necessary depending on the type of trips you take. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is helpful if you're planning on traveling to a remote location or if you're traveling on a cruise as sea to land evacuations can be costly. Some of the best travel insurance companies also offer non-medical evacuations as part of an adventure sports insurance package.

It's also worth mentioning that emergency medical evacuation insurance is required for international students studying in the US on a J Visa. 

Types of coverage offered by travel medical insurance

The exact terms of your coverage will vary depending on your insurer, but you can expect most travel medical insurance policies to offer the following coverages.

• Hospital room and board
• Inpatient/outpatient hospital services
• Prescription Drugs
• COVID-19 treatment
• Emergency room services
• Urgent care visits
• Local ambulance
• Acute onset of pre-existing conditions
• Dental coverage (accident/sudden relief of pain)
• Medical care due to terrorist attack
• Emergency medical evacuation 
• Repatriation of mortal remains
• Accidental death and dismemberment

Travel medical insurance and pre-existing conditions

Many travel insurance providers will cover pre-existing conditions as long as certain conditions are met. For one, travelers need to purchase their travel insurance within a certain time frame from when they placed a deposit on their trip, usually two to three weeks. 

Additionally, travel insurance companies usually only cover stable medical conditions, which are conditions that don't need additional medical treatment, diagnosis, or medications.

Who needs travel medical insurance?

Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry. As such, it pays to consider your potential healthcare needs before taking off, even if you are generally healthy. Even if well-managed, preexisting conditions like diabetes or asthma can make a medical backup plan even more vital.

Having what you need to refill prescriptions or get other care if you get stuck somewhere other than home could be essential to your health and well-being. That's without counting all the accidents and illnesses that can hit us when away from home.

Individuals traveling for extended periods (more than six months) or engaging in high-risk activities (think scuba diving or parasailing) should also consider a solid medical travel plan. Both scenarios increase the likelihood that medical attention, whether routine or emergency, could be needed.

In the case of travel via the friendly seas, it's also worth considering cruise trip medical travel insurance . Routine care will be available onboard. But anything beyond that will require transportation to the nearest land mass (and could quickly become extremely expensive, especially if you're in another country).

Like other types of insurance, medical travel insurance rates are calculated based on various factors. Failing to disclose a preexisting health condition could result in a lapse of coverage right when you need it, as insurers can cancel your policy if you withhold material information. So honesty is always the best policy.

Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry. As such, it pays to consider your potential healthcare needs before taking off, even if you are generally healthy. Making the right choice when shopping for travel medical insurance can mean the difference between a minor hiccup in your travels and a financial nightmare. 

When a travel insurance company comes up with a quote for your policy, they take a few factors into consideration, such as your age, your destination, and the duration of your trip. You should do the same when assessing a travel insurance company. 

For example, older travelers who are more susceptible to injury may benefit from travel medical insurance (though your premiums will be higher). If you're traveling for extended periods throughout one calendar year, you should look into an annual travel medical insurance plan . If you're engaging in high-risk activities (think scuba diving or parasailing), you should seek a plan that includes coverage for injuries sustained in adventure sports.

Travel medical insurance isn't just for peace of mind. If you travel often enough, there's a good chance you'll eventually experience an incident where medical treatment is necessary.

Before you submit your claim, you should take some time to understand your policy. Your travel medical insurance is either primary (you can submit claims directly to your travel medical insurance provider) or secondary (you must first submit claims to your primary insurance provider). In the case of secondary travel medical insurance, a refusal notice from your primary insurance provider, even if it does not cover medical claims outside the US, is often required as evidence of protocol.

On that note, you should be sure to document every step of your medical treatment. You should keep any receipts for filled prescriptions, hospital bills, and anything else documenting your medical emergency.

As many people have found out the hard way, reading the fine print is vital. Most travel insurance policies will reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you fall ill with a severe condition, including illnesses like COVID-19. 

Still on the fence about whether or not medical travel insurance is worth it ? It's worth noting that many travel insurance plans also include medical protections, so you can also protect against trip cancellations and other unexpected developments while obtaining travel medical insurance.

While short, domestic trips may not warrant travel medical insurance, it may be a good idea to insure longer, international trips. You should also consider travel medical insurance for trips to remote areas, where a medical evacuation may be expensive, and more physically tasking trips.

While shopping for travel medical insurance may not be fun, a little advance leg work can let you relax on your trip and give you peace of mind. After all, that is the point of a vacation. 

Medical travel insurance frequently asked questions

Trip insurance covers any unexpected financial losses while traveling, such as the cost of replacing lost luggage, trip interruptions, and unexpected medical expenses. Travel medical insurance just covers those medical expenses without the trip interruption or cancellation insurance.

Travel insurance companies usually offer adventure sports as add-on coverage or a separate plan entirely. You'll likely pay more for a policy with adventure sports coverage. 

Many travel medical insurance policies now include coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses and treat it like any other illness. However, you should double-check your policy to ensure that is the case.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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• Main content

How to get travel insurance despite underlying medical conditions

• Those declaring medical conditions paid 56% more than those without
• Concern that these groups are not being directed to specialist firms  

Millions of holidaymakers are being priced out of travel insurance because of underlying illnesses or for simply being old, new research suggests. 

These groups are not being properly directed to specialist insurance brokers despite rules being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2021 to help those who fall into these categories, Which? says. 

It comes as insurance bosses are set to give evidence to the Treasury Select Committee this afternoon. 

The FCA rules require travel insurance providers to direct customers with pre-existing medical conditions to a directory of specialist firms that provide this type of insurance. 

Which? found that of just over 4,000 people who took out an annual travel insurance policy in the past two years, the median price paid for those declaring medical conditions was £150 - 56 per cent more than those without conditions. 

Graeme Trudgill, executive director of the British Insurance Brokers' Association, said: 'The travel insurance market has changed since the pandemic with far less insurance capacity available. 

'It is also the case that more people have been unable to have regular medical checks because of the impacts of Covid, contributing to the frequency and size of claims after travel fully reopened.'

One individual with well-controlled diabetes said they were paying roughly four times what they would be charged if they did not declare their condition, which they described as 'unfair'.

More than a third of those with a pre-existing medical condition said in the last three years, they had encountered problems buying travel insurance because of their condition.

This includes expensive premiums, insurers declining to cover their conditions and issues when claiming.

Tom Marsland, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: 'Life costs more when you're disabled, and that includes essential costs like travel insurance. With spiralling inflation, these costs have only gotten worse.  

'Sky high premiums can make it really difficult for disabled to find insurance they can afford. Sometimes disabled people are denied cover altogether.

'Disabled people must be able to get affordable insurance like anyone else. There needs to be much more transparency around pricing and how risk is being assessed.

'We want insurers, regulators and the government to work together to make sure disabled people are no longer being unfairly penalised.'

Age is also a factor when it comes to paying higher premiums, with the biggest hikes seen for travellers aged 75 or older, even if they are in good health. 

The median price paid for annual cover by those aged 75 or older was £300 - 65 per cent (or £118) higher compared with customers aged 65-74 (£182), and more than double the amount paid by those aged 55-64 (£142).

Older travellers are also more likely to have medical conditions, which means premiums are often bumped higher still.

'Unfortunately older people and people living with medical conditions do claim more often, this alongside rising medical claims costs, inflation, exchange rate challenges and holiday prices has affected premiums,' Trudill said. 

This suggests rules introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2021 to help 'signpost' specialist travel insurers are only having a limited impact.  

Seven per cent of people say they have skipped buying insurance because of the high costs - leaving them without crucial protections should things go wrong while away.

Trudgill said: 'Insurers need to assess the likelihood of an insured person becoming ill before they travel, causing cancellation or while they are away and needing treatment overseas.'

Who is to blame?  

A spokesman from Which? said 'We're concerned that price comparison sites aren't directing travellers with medical conditions to specialist directories. 

'But there's also a wider issue with insurers more generally offering policy cover for older travellers or those with medical conditions.'

A spokesman from Compare the Market, said: 'Our process is compliant with the FCA's signposting rules, and we clearly display the need to provide accurate answers throughout. 

'We always strongly encourage customers to be completely honest in their disclosures to ensure the best possible chance of being successful if they ever need to make a claim.'

A spokesman from the Association of British Insurers, a trade body for UK insurance companies, said: 'Our members work hard to ensure competitively priced products are available to as many people as possible. 

'As part of the long-standing signposting agreement, if an insurer is unable to offer you cover, they automatically refer you to an alternative provider who can help. 

'This process is currently under review and we are working closely with the FCA to understand how it is working and any improvements that could be made.'

How to find the right cover if you are older or have a medical condition

Try directories

Fewer than half of respondents to the Which? survey who had difficulty buying insurance because of their medical condition in the last three years had tried a specialist directory.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association have specialist directories for customers with medical conditions.

Most people who used these directories were offered better prices from firms listed on them than they were elsewhere.

Check the cover

Read the policy and what cover it will provide carefully as you may find you are paying for things you do not need. 

The cheapest policy may not always offer best value for money.

Check the policy wording to see which items on your cover wishlist are explicitly mentioned or excluded. Contact the insurer if anything appears unclear.

Declare medical conditions you want covered

If you do not tell your insurer about your medical condition - whether they're a mainstream firm or one from a specialist directory - then it's unlikely to be covered.

If you are in any doubt about the insurer's position, contact them.

Push back if your insurer gets a claims decision wrong

Some 43 per cent of customers whose claims weren't fully paid were not given a reason why. 

If your insurer refuses to pay out, you are entitled to a clear explanation. If this is not satisfactory, make a complaint in writing.