Can you still get affordable travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition?

What counts as a pre-existing condition for travel insurance?

A pre-existing condition is any health issue you were aware of, diagnosed with, or receiving treatment for before you took out your travel insurance policy. This includes conditions that are well-managed and stable — not just serious or recent problems.

You typically need to declare things like:

• Heart conditions, including angina, previous heart attacks, or stents
• Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• High blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Cancer, even if you are in remission
• Respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD
• Mental health conditions including depression and anxiety
• Recent surgery or planned procedures

If you are not sure whether to declare something, declare it anyway. The cost of a higher premium is far less than having a claim refused when you most need it.

Why does it matter so much to be honest with your insurer?

This is where many people come unstuck. Research by the Association of British Insurers found that only one in five people understood they need to declare a pre-existing condition when buying travel insurance. If you do not disclose a condition and then need medical treatment abroad related to it, your insurer will almost certainly refuse the claim.

When you make a claim, insurers can — and do — request access to your medical records. A trip to hospital in Spain for a heart episode when you never declared your angina will not be paid out, potentially leaving you with bills running into tens of thousands of pounds.

The good news is that declaring honestly rarely means being refused outright. More often, it means a higher premium, or that the specific condition is excluded while everything else is covered. You can then decide whether that arrangement works for you.

How have the rules changed in 2026 — and what are you now entitled to?

If an insurer cannot offer you cover at all, or if your condition adds more than £200 to your premium, they are now legally required under rules overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to direct you to one of two specialist directories. This trigger point was raised from £100 to £200 in January 2026, meaning only people who genuinely need specialist help are referred — but when they are, the referral is mandatory.

The two directories are completely free to use, and you can also contact them directly without waiting to be referred by an insurer:

• British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) — call 0370 950 1790 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm). They can connect you with specialist brokers experienced in complex medical cases.
• MoneyHelper — call 0800 138 7777 (free). This is the government’s Money and Pensions Service, and their directory lists insurers who specifically cover travellers with medical conditions.

Which insurers specialise in covering people with health conditions?

A number of insurers focus specifically on travellers with pre-existing conditions and do not impose maximum age limits on new customers. These include AllClear, Staysure, Saga, Just Travel Cover, Free Spirit, InsureandGo, and Co-op Insurance. This matters because some mainstream insurers quietly stop accepting new customers once they reach 65 or 70, so checking the small print is essential.

If you are in your 60s, the picture is more reassuring than many people realise. Research by Which? found that a 60-year-old still has access to around 94% of the annual multi-trip policies available on comparison sites. Even at 79, there are typically more than 100 single-trip policies to choose from. Access does narrow with age, but it is far from disappearing.

For comparing specialist options, try Medical Travel Compared (medicaltravelcompared.co.uk) alongside mainstream comparison sites. It focuses specifically on policies for people with medical conditions and often surfaces deals that standard sites miss.

How can you bring the cost down without cutting the cover you actually need?

Premiums for people with pre-existing conditions can feel steep, but there are genuine ways to reduce them without taking on unnecessary risk:

• Get a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) — this replaced the old EHIC card after Brexit and entitles you to medically necessary treatment in EU countries at local cost. Many insurers will offer a lower premium if you hold one, because it reduces their potential bill. Apply free at GHIC.org.uk.
• Consider single-trip cover if you only travel once a year — annual multi-trip policies save money for frequent travellers but not if you only go away once.
• Raise your excess — agreeing to pay more yourself in the event of a claim usually brings the premium down noticeably.
• Strip out add-ons you will not use — gadget cover, car hire excess insurance, and winter sports cover all add cost. Only pay for what is genuinely relevant to your trip.
• Check MoneySavingExpert — their travel insurance guide for people with medical conditions is updated regularly and highlights the best-value specialist deals.

What practical steps should you take before you travel?

Once your cover is in place, a few simple steps will make any potential claim much smoother:

• Keep all medication in its original packaging and carry a letter from your GP explaining what it is and why you take it — particularly important if you travel with injectable medication or controlled drugs.
• Make sure your GHIC card is current before you leave. Renewal is free and takes minutes at GHIC.org.uk.
• Save your insurer’s 24-hour emergency assistance number in your phone before you travel — not after something has gone wrong.
• Tell your insurer straight away if you receive a new diagnosis or change of treatment between buying the policy and travelling. Failing to update them can invalidate your cover just as surely as not declaring in the first place.
• Know your NHS number — some overseas emergency helplines and hospitals will ask for it when arranging repatriation or verifying your cover.