Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

You can get travel insurance with a medical condition, but you must declare it, and you may need a specialist insurer. If you have been refused cover or quoted a very high price, the free MoneyHelper travel insurance directory lists firms that specialise in serious medical conditions.

What counts as a pre-existing condition

A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, injury or symptom you already have, or have had, when you buy the policy. Each insurer has its own wording, but the questions usually ask about:

anything for which you take prescribed medicine, including tablets for blood pressure or cholesterol
anything you have seen a GP, consultant or hospital about in a set period (often the last two years)
heart, circulation, breathing and psychological conditions, and cancer, however long ago
symptoms that have not been diagnosed yet, and tests or treatment you are waiting for

People are often surprised that well-controlled, everyday conditions count. If the question covers it, declare it.

Watch out: if you leave a condition off and later need to claim, the insurer can reduce the payout or refuse it altogether, even if the claim seems unrelated. A medical bill abroad can run to many thousands of pounds. Saving a little on the premium is never worth that risk.

How medical screening works

Once you say you have a condition, the insurer takes you through "medical screening": a set of follow-up questions online or over the phone. Typical questions are how many medicines you take, whether you have been admitted to hospital recently and whether your treatment has changed.

At the end the insurer will do one of three things:

cover the condition at no extra cost;
cover it for an extra premium; or
exclude it, meaning the policy will not pay for anything linked to that condition, or decline to quote.

Have your list of medicines and the dates of any hospital visits in front of you. A repeat prescription slip is a handy reminder of names and doses, and a pill organiser helps you keep to your routine while you are away. Answer for everyone on the policy, and keep a copy of the answers you gave.

The MoneyHelper travel insurance directory

MoneyHelper is the free, government-backed money guidance service. It runs a directory of travel insurance firms that specialise in covering people with serious medical conditions. It was set up after the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), found that people with conditions such as cancer were struggling to find affordable cover.

How it works

It is a list of specialist firms, not a price comparison site and not an insurer. You contact the firms yourself for quotes.
The firms listed are authorised by the FCA and have to meet the directory's entry conditions.
You can filter the list, for example by your age, the type of trip and where you are going.
It is free to use, online at the MoneyHelper travel insurance directory. If you are not online, ring MoneyHelper on 0800 138 7777 and ask for details of firms on the directory. Check the number and opening hours on the MoneyHelper website, as they can change.

Under FCA rules, an insurer that declines you, excludes a condition or adds a large medical loading to your price is expected to tell you about the directory. If nobody mentioned it, you can still use it.

The directory does not rank the firms or tell you which is cheapest, and neither do we. Get several quotes and compare the cover as well as the price.

Changes to your health after you buy

Read the "change in health" section of your policy. Most insurers want to be told if, between buying the policy and travelling, you get a new diagnosis, a change of medication or a referral for tests. This matters most with annual policies, where a booking may be made months after the screening.

The insurer may carry on as before, charge more, or exclude the new condition. If it will no longer cover a trip you have already booked, ask whether you can claim for cancellation.

Travelling with medicines and equipment

Carry medicines in your hand luggage in their original packaging, with a copy of your prescription.
Take more than you need in case of delays.
Some medicines are restricted in other countries. Your pharmacist can advise, and the NHS website has guidance on travelling with medicines.
Check that the policy covers mobility equipment. A wheelchair or mobility scooter may need to be listed, and hiring equipment at your destination can be simpler than flying with your own.

For questions about whether you are fit to travel, speak to your GP, practice nurse or specialist. We cannot give medical advice.

Keeping the cost down

Compare a single-trip policy with an annual one. See travel insurance for over-60s.
Consider Europe rather than long-haul. Destination has a big effect on price.
Ask what difference a higher excess makes.
If you are a couple, price two separate policies as well as a joint one. One person's condition can push up a joint premium.

Common questions

Do I have to declare a condition I had years ago?

It depends on the question asked. Some conditions, such as heart problems and cancer, are often asked about with no time limit. Read each question carefully and answer exactly what it asks. If in doubt, declare it or ring the insurer and ask.

I am waiting for test results. Can I still get cover?

Many insurers will not cover an undiagnosed condition, and some will not quote at all until you have a diagnosis. Tell the insurer and get its answer in writing. The MoneyHelper helpline can talk you through your options.

What if I think I have been treated unfairly?

Complain to the insurer first. If that does not settle it, the Financial Ombudsman Service can look at the complaint for free. Citizens Advice can help you put the complaint together.