Best travel insurance if you have a medical condition 2024

Almost all travel insurers will cover some medical conditions, so don't rule out more mainstream providers.

But the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has created a directory of insurance companies that have a proven specialism in covering people with medical conditions. BIBA has its own directory, which the FCA endorses. Some of these specialise in a specific condition, such as cancer, while others specialise in various conditions.

When we surveyed policyholders who had made use of these directories, most said they had found them to be useful, with nine in 10 saying they had found better prices through them than elsewhere. While this isn't a guarantee you'll find cheap cover that meets all your needs, it does show that the directories are worth trying as part of your search.

Firms listed in the directory may be able to help if:

• You've been refused insurance from other providers because of a medical condition
• You've found that insurers will cover you, but not some of your medical conditions
• Your medical conditions add significantly to the cost of your insurance.

Using a broker

If you're having trouble tracking down insurers online, an alternative is using brokers to search the market.

BIBA hosts a 'find insurance' service, which will put you in touch with brokers that specialise in cover for medical conditions.

• Find out more: BIBA's Find Insurance service

When searching for quotes, you may have answered exactly the same questions over and over. The reason for this is a handful of companies perform the task of 'medical screening' on behalf of most insurance providers.

Medical screening means collecting information from customers about their medical history and turning it into a risk score.

The insurer uses this risk score to help decide if it will cover you and how much to charge. Two insurers may make different decisions about you based on the same screening process and score.

Much of the industry, including leading price comparison sites, use a firm called Verisk to medically screen customers.

You can't assume that subsequent changes in your health will be covered by your policy.

Many policies come with a clause – often referred to as an 'ongoing duty of disclosure' – which means you need to contact the insurer if there are any changes to your health.

Your insurer will reassess the terms of your cover in light of this. It may decide not to change anything about your cover and premiums, but may change the terms by which you're covered (including hiking the premium) or decide it can't cover you.

In the last instance, you should be refunded premiums paid, and should be able to make a cancellation claim if you have to rearrange or cancel your holiday because of the cancelled cover.

Don't delay - If you've failed to report a change in your health at the earliest possible point, the insurer might decline to pay any claim resulting from it.

Technically, a wide range of events could be described as a change in health, from catching a cold to being diagnosed with diabetes.

Insurers have different requirements on what needs to be reported to them – and this can vary depending on the type of policy you buy.

Some insurers don't require you to update them about your health unless you've been advised by your doctor not to travel.

Others require you let them know if your symptoms have led to tests or a medical investigation and others expect you to get in touch if you've received any medical advice. If you have any concerns, check your policy wording or contact the insurer.

If you've had Covid and recovered from it, it's highly unlikely to impact your ability to obtain travel insurance or the price.

The vast majority of insurers will also cover you if you catch it while travelling or test positive and it disrupts your plans.

Most insurers will provide some cover for losses if certain uninsured parties, such as a relative, close friend, travel companion, business partner or person with whom you've arranged to stay falls ill, and you have to change your plans as a result.

There are subtle differences in the criteria set by insurers for when this cover applies, so check the T&Cs if this is of concern to you.

Who counts as 'close family'?

Insurers typically list in their policy documents which relatives count as 'close' and are within the scope of the policy. These include spouses, siblings and parents.

Not all insurers cover nieces/nephews or uncles/aunts within the definition. Similarly, while many cover unmarried partners and inlaws, the close family of unmarried partners won't always be included.

Pre-existing conditions

The insurer is unlikely to pay out claims arising from the ill health of a close friend or relative considered to have been caused by a pre-existing condition.

But how 'pre-existing' is defined depends on the insurer.

With some insurers, a condition, such as a heart condition, is thought of as 'pre-existing' if it predated buying the policy regardless of whether or not the policyholder was aware of it.

With other insurers, the policyholder has to have been aware of the condition when buying the insurance for it to count as 'pre-existing'.

If you feel like you've been caught out by an unexpected clause in your insurance when it comes to claiming, don't be afraid to make a complaint.

Do so in writing (or email) if you can, using the insurer's complaints process.

If the insurer isn't proving helpful, take the matter up with the Financial Ombudsman Service by calling 0800 023 4567 or visiting its website.