logo

Superfast Broadband for £26 per month for 18 months + £50 cashback

Shop now

Compare pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance

Compare cheap quotes for pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance. And get up to *£33 cashback.

pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance
pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance

Compare up to 30 providers to get a cheap pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance quote

1
Get quotes

Take time to enter details about yourself and your intended travel plans. Using that information, we’ll provide you with a variety of quotes best suited to your needs.  

2
Compare

We will provide you with access to a comparison of travel insurance quotes from the UK’s most reputable providers.

3
Get paid

Choose the best travel insurance for you. Sit tight. Wait for your cashback. Please note that it can take up to 8 weeks from the end of your policy for your cashback to be paid.

Why compare travel insurance here?

It’s important when taking out travel insurance that you tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions you have (such as diabetes or cancer). Depending on your condition, you may be advised to take out a specialist insurance plan as opposed to a standard package.

Buying holiday insurance with medical conditions doesn’t have to be complicated. When you compare quotes at Quidco, we recommend only the most trusted and reliable insurance companies and will give you up to *£33 cashback. 

What is pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance?

If you take out a standard travel insurance policy but you do not tell your insurer about a pre-existing medical condition you have, you will run the risk of your policy being void if you make a claim relating to your condition.

This means that you would be responsible for any costs incurred abroad. The better alternative is to be transparent with your insurer (they will likely increase your premiums to meet the rise in risk) or simply seek out a specialised travel insurance policy that is set up to cover pre-existing conditions. 

With a specialised policy, the protection you receive will be built around your particular condition and the likelihood that you might make a claim relating to the condition. Of course, you’ll also receive the standard cover that all travel insurance policies provide.

How does pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance work?

You will be asked a series of questions regarding your health and medical history, and you may even be required to carry out a medical exam (depending on the severity or nature of your condition). With this information, insurance providers are able to produce a quote that best suits your circumstances and risk level. It’s important that your answers are as accurate as possible so that the level of cover you receive is adequate.

What exactly is considered a pre-existing medical condition?

If you are unsure whether or not a condition you have qualifies as pre-existing, take note of the following. A pre-existing medical condition is an illness or injury that exists before, or also at the time that you take out an insurance policy. 

Here’s a list of some of the more common pre-existing medical conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • Cancerous conditions
  • Heart, liver, kidney, circulatory or cerebral conditions
  • Asthma and other respiratory problems 
  • Terminal conditions
  • Stroke or central nervous system disorders
  • Psychological issues (non-physical conditions like anxiety or depression should be disclosed to your insurance provider)
  • Joint and bone inflammation
  • High blood pressure

What does pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance cover?

A pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance policy will cover you for the following:

Cancellation of your trip

If your condition has forced you to cancel your trip, holiday insurance with a medical conditions policy will cover you for related costs. It will also cover you for other things like redundancy, bereavement, falling seriously ill or a legal obligation to serve jury duty.

Overseas medical costs

You will be covered against overseas medical costs that are both unrelated to your condition and related (providing that you told your insurer about your pre-existing condition before or at the time of taking out insurance). 

Repatriation

If your condition has made it that you have to return home for treatment, your insurer will provide you with cover.

Curtailment

Curtailment is when you’ve already left for your trip and perhaps even arrived at your destination but you are forced to cut your trip short and return home because of an emergency. Check your policy to see what reasons you’re covered for, but you will almost certainly receive cover from a pre-existing condition travel insurance policy if it is your condition that has caused the emergency. 

Luggage and other personal belongings

It will vary from policy to policy, but most travel insurance policies (pre-existing medical condition policies included) will cover you for lost, damaged, or stolen luggage and personal belongings. Check your policy to see exactly what you are covered for. 

What do I need to know before taking out travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions?

Buy travel insurance as soon as you can after booking your trip

Don’t wait until the last possible minute to take out travel insurance. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you could have to cancel your trip before you’ve even done your packing. Should a crisis situation arise and you’ve not bought travel insurance, you could end up significantly out of pocket. Take out a policy as soon as you can after booking your trip. 

If you’re over a certain age, consider age-specific policies

Most travel insurance providers offer policies for specific age groups, with coverage relating to those age groups. For example, you can get over 60s travel insurance with medical conditions plans, just like you can get over 70s travel policies and travel insurance for over 80s with medical conditions. 

Be sure to tell your insurer about your pre-existing medical condition

It’s vital that you tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical condition you have, and that you’re as accurate as you can be when providing additional details around your medical history. All this information influences the cost of your premiums and the level of cover you can receive.

Make sure you have appropriate or additional cover if you’re participating in winter sports

Most mainstream insurance providers have separate policies for winter sports or for that matter any sports considered ‘extreme’ or high-risk. If you’re not covered for these and you make a claim relating to an injury sustained on the ski slopes, you will not be covered and your policy may even be voided. 

If you’re planning a cruise, seek additional cover

While most standard travel insurance policies will provide adequate cover for cruises (generally, loss/theft of belongings etc), they may not provide cover for things like itinerary changes, missed departures, and cabin confinement. If you plan to embark on a cruise while on your holiday, we recommend you seek additional cruise coverage. 

Make sure you have a GHIC card if you’re going to Europe

Now that we’ve left the European Union, the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) you’d have taken to European trips with you will no longer work. The replacement solution is the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card), which works on the same premise. It will help you with overseas medical costs which can be very expensive. 

Decide whether you need single trip or multi-trip

If you’re going to travel just one time (or, at most, twice) during a year then you should seek out single trip travel insurance policies. If you plan on taking several trips in one year, multi-trip travel insurance is the recommended option. Choosing the right one for you will ensure you receive the cover you need for as long as you need it. 

Make sure you’re covered for the area you’re travelling to

Most insurers break down their travel insurance by location, such as Europe or worldwide. However, just as many choose to be more specific with their locations so wherever you’re heading be sure to check if your insurer has location-specific policies. Some areas will pose more of a risk than others, so it pays to double-check.

How to make your travel insurance cheaper

There are a few ways that you can reduce the price you pay for your travel insurance. If you have a pre-existing medical condition you’ll likely find you pay more than others without a condition, so you will understandably want to make things cheaper where you can. 

Take note of the following:

  • Volunteer to pay a higher excess. By offering to pay more in excess, your insurer may reward you with a cheaper deal since you’re less likely to make a claim. 
  • Think about single-trip or multi-trip policies. We mentioned it earlier, but it’s one of the best ways that you can cut costs. If you pay for more insurance than you need, you’re actively losing money if you don’t use it. 
  • Compare insurance quotes. Because we recommend trusted and reliable insurers, you can rely on the process of comparing quotes. Plus, we’ll give you up to *£33 in cashback. Add this onto the savings you could make from comparing and you can make some real savings. 

COVID-19 update

With regard to COVID-19, most travel insurance plans will not cover cancellations for travel bans caused by COVID. However, if you catch COVID and you cannot travel, you should be covered. If you or a family member can’t travel because you have COVID, you’ll receive cover as long as you’re not travelling against government advice. 

If you’ve been or a family member has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace, you’ll find that some policies will cover you but some will not. Check the details of your policy or simply ask your insurer for confirmation. 

If you cannot travel because of government restrictions at home or abroad, most providers will not cover you. Again, there may be some exceptions so it always pays to double-check. 

If you do not feel safe or comfortable travelling but there are no restrictions in place to stop you, you will not be covered. This is called ‘disclination to travel’ and is never covered by insurers.


Compare pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance quotes and get cashback

By comparing different policies and insurance companies, Quidco Compare can provide access to cheap pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance quotes with up to *£33 in cashback. Simply work out the type of cover you need for your trip, then use the comparison tool to get instant quotes and find the ideal travel insurance.

Pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance FAQs

What pre-existing medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance?

We’ve included a comprehensive list at the top of this page. Some pre-existing conditions include physical issues like high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes and mental issues like anxiety and depression. 

Will I get approved for travel insurance with a medical condition?

As long as you inform your insurer about your condition, you should always be able to gain approval and receive adequate travel insurance.

How much is travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

This depends on the nature and severity of your condition and the insurer you choose, and it’s not always possible to produce a cost estimate because costs will vary.

Can I get travel insurance if I’m pregnant?

Because pregnancy is not classed as a pre-existing medical condition, it does not need to be disclosed to your insurer. If you have a pregnancy-related emergency while you’re away, most standard travel insurance plans should cover you.

We recommend that you take a note from your doctor when travelling. The note should state at which point of your pregnancy you are at and any other relevant information regarding your health.

Is travel insurance more expensive if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Because a pre-existing condition increases the level of risk and likelihood that you will make a claim, it is generally more expensive than standard policies. However, you will not save money by choosing not to disclose your condition to your insurer.

If you do not disclose your condition and you make a claim relating to it, most insurers will void your claim, leaving you to pay for (often expensive) overseas medical bills.

What if I am waiting for a condition to be properly diagnosed?

If you are awaiting a diagnosis or test results before travelling, we recommend that you wait until you have any condition confirmed. The vast majority of insurance companies will not provide you with travel insurance for pre-existing travel insurance without proven confirmation.

Useful information

*Based on a couple aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, taking annual multi-trip cover for Europe. Cover starts on 4th March 2022 and ends on 3rd March 2023. Prices correct as of 3rd March 2022.

If you're struggling to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPs) also provides a list of specialist insurers on the MaPs directory website – or you can call the British Insurance Brokers Association on 0370 950 1790. https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/insurance/travel-insurance-directory