Travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition or disability

It can be difficult to know where to start looking for travel insurance if you have 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 provider 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.

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.

If shopping around is too exhausting, you can ask an insurance broker 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

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.

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.

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.

The current pandemic has changed travel insurance policies, and what will and won’t be covered.

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.