If you have a medical condition, or you’ve ever had a serious illness, travel insurance can be hard to get. Find out how to get the cover you need at the right price.
Travel insurance directory
There are a number of travel insurance providers who will cover people with health conditions and disabilities. Find a provider using our Travel insurance directory.
Travel insurance if you have a medical condition or disability
It can be difficult to know where to start looking for travel insurance if you’ve a medical condition or disability.
These conditions can include a number of physical and/or mental health conditions which have a substantial and long-term impact on your ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
There are a number of travel insurance providers who cover a great number of health conditions and disabilities; please see our Travel insurance directory.
Insurers will probably want to know details about your health condition or disability, how it might affect day to day activities and any special arrangements which might be needed for yourself or your medical equipment.
What’s considered a medical condition for travel insurance?
Over 65?
You’ll need to declare all existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance.
If you’re not sure whether to declare, it’s important not to assume it’s covered. Always ask your insurance provider, otherwise you risk any claim you need to make being rejected.
Different insurance companies have different definitions. But your insurer is likely to consider any of the following a pre-existing medical condition:
- any condition you’re waiting for an operation on
- any condition that you’re currently awaiting test results for
- any condition, even a minor one, that you’ve seen a doctor about in the past year
- any serious condition – cancer, heart trouble, respiratory problems – you’ve ever had.
If you feel your medical condition is not serious, it’s still worth trying a provider on our Travel insurance directory as well as a mainstream company to compare prices.
Using a travel insurance broker
If you don’t want to shop around for insurance yourself, you can ask an insurance broker, at a cost, to do this on your behalf. You’ll only have to provide your details once, which the broker will send on to several different insurers.
An insurance broker can also support you if you have to make a claim.
You can find an insurance broker through the British Insurance Brokers’ Association
Travel insurance if you’re travelling in the UK
Even if you’re not travelling abroad, it’s still a good idea to have travel insurance.
Most policies include cover for:
- lost or stolen bags
- emergency medical expenses
- the costs of cancelling, delaying or cutting your trip short (some policies will cover if it’s coronavirus-related)
- personal liability, in case you’re sued for damaging property or causing injury.
Find out more in our guide about Travel insurance – what does a good policy look like?
Is travel insurance worth it?
Travelling without insurance, particularly if you have a serious medical condition, could end up far more expensive than the cost of a policy.
It could mean not getting the treatment you need quickly, or being faced with huge medical bills or high costs to get you home.
So, it’s important not to risk travelling without insurance.
What should I do if I can’t get travel insurance?
It might not be possible to get cover for the trip you had set your heart on, either because of age or medical reasons. It might also not be possible to get cover if you’re awaiting a diagnosis for a serious medical condition or a revised diagnosis of a pre-existing medical condition.
However, you might have more chance if you switch:
- to another location – possibly one nearer home, or
- from a multi-trip policy to a single trip.
It’s worth persevering as the risks of travelling without insurance – particularly if you have a medical condition – aren’t worth it.
For contact details of companies who specialise in providing travel insurance for people with serious medical conditions, check our Travel insurance directory.
Most travel insurance policies being issued now will have some sort of coronavirus cover included. But it’s important to always read the terms of the policy carefully.
For example, if coronavirus cancellation cover is included in the policy, this will usually only apply if the policyholder tests positive for the virus. If you have to cancel because you have to self-isolate or are in quarantine, most policies currently won’t pay out.
If you already have travel insurance policy, check the terms carefully to see whether: you’re covered:
- if you test positive for coronavirus before you travel, or
- while you’re on your trip.
Read our full guide on Coronavirus, travel insurance and holiday cancellations
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