Travel Insurance: Should I declare my medical conditions?

If you plan on going away, whether on a European city break or a two-week escape in the Mediterranean, securing Travel Insurance is a crucial aspect of your trip. When arranging cover, you might wonder what medical conditions need to be declared. 

The general rule is to declare any condition you’ve been diagnosed with, are receiving treatment for, or have ongoing symptoms of. This includes both physical and mental health conditions, as failing to declare them could lead to complications with your policy.

Recent research found that 600,000 travellers failed to declare all of their medical conditions on their Travel Insurance policy in the past two years.

Deciding not to declare your pre-existing medical conditions can impact whether you will be covered if you need medical treatment when you’re on holiday.

What Happens If I Don’t Declare Medical Conditions on My Travel Insurance? 

Wherever you go away on holiday, you should arrange Travel Insurance as soon as you book your trip. Declaring any medical conditions, even those that are well-managed, ensures you’re covered for any unexpected events. 

If you don’t declare medical conditions for Travel Insurance, it could affect your ability to make a claim on your policy and leave you without adequate cover for the rest of your trip.

Depending on where you are, this could result in significant out-of-pocket expenses, as healthcare in some countries can be expensive.

Travel Insurance for Medical Conditions FAQs:

Do I need a medical certificate before I can get Travel Insurance?

No, however, we would always advise you to prepare by having full details of your medical history. This will help us give you the most accurate quote. It will also save you time, as you can arrange your cover on one call or online rather than going back and forth to your GP.

Why do I need to declare all of my medical conditions on my Travel Insurance?

No one expects to make a claim on their Travel Insurance. However, the unexpected can happen, so it’s important to ensure you’re covered to minimise the impact of any such claim. If you do need medical treatment whilst you are on holiday, your insurer will normally request a copy of your medical records from your GP. This is then used to cross-reference with the conditions that you have declared on your Travel Insurance policy. If you have failed to let us know about one or more of your conditions, your claim could be rejected, leaving you with an expensive medical bill, or you may be made to pay for part of the claim.

Can I choose which pre-existing medical conditions I want to cover?

No, you must declare all of your pre-existing medical conditions to ensure that your Travel Insurance policy is valid. Sometimes medical conditions can be linked so choosing which ones to cover and which ones not to ignore is not possible.

Do I need to let you know about common medical conditions?

Yes, sometimes your doctor may advise you to take medication for common conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. This may have been prescribed as a preventable measure. However, these should always be declared. As well as manageable conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

I had a heart attack three years ago, do I need to tell you about this?

Yes, heart conditions, strokes and cancer should always be declared on your Travel Insurance, even if you are no longer having any treatment. Pre-existing medical conditions can increase the risk of you needing unexpected medical treatment abroad.

Do I need to update my policy if my medical conditions change?

Yes, if anything changes in relation to your pre-existing medical conditions or if you are diagnosed with a new medical condition or referred for tests, you should let us know as soon as possible so that we can update your policy accordingly and make sure that you are fully covered. This applies to our single trip and annual insurance policies.

What medical conditions do you have to declare for Travel Insurance?

When purchasing Travel Insurance, you should declare all pre-existing medical conditions, including chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease, recent surgeries, psychological conditions, ongoing treatments, recurring conditions such as migraines, past serious health events like strokes or heart attacks, and pregnancy. Failing to declare these could invalidate your insurance.

Arranging your Travel Insurance

Get cover for your pre-medical conditions and compare prices from a panel or leading insurers on our website or alternatively speak to our Travel Insurance experts FREE on 0800 294 2969.

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Find out more information in relation to cover for pre-existing medical conditions.

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