Travel insurance with medical conditions

If you develop a new medical condition after taking out insurance, you should let your provider know as soon as possible - and definitely before you travel. They might be able to cover you still, but you might have to pay extra.

In most cases, travel insurance includes cancellation cover, so if a new diagnosis means you can no longer travel, your travel insurance might cover your trip costs.

Typically, yes. We’ll ask about any treatments you’re receiving when you’re answering our medical questions in the quote form.

You might also have to declare medications when going through customs or security. This might involve showing a valid prescription or letter from your doctor, so make sure you have those to hand.

Pregnancy isn’t usually considered a medical condition by insurers, so you don’t usually have to declare it. But, you should declare any pregnancy-related conditions like gestational diabetes.

It’s also worth noting that most insurers will only cover pregnancy up to 37 weeks (or 32 if you’re having twins). They also won’t cover routine pregnancy care or planned labour abroad. But, they might cover unplanned labour.

You can read more about travelling while pregnant.

Yes - the GHIC (or EHIC, if you still have one) isn’t a replacement for travel insurance. Although they’re worth having, they don’t guarantee free healthcare.

Travel insurance covers more circumstances than the GHIC, including baggage cover, or travel disruption cover.

It’s also useful to remember that some insurers require you to use a GHIC alongside travel insurance when accessing medical care abroad.

Yes, they can. Common reasons claims are refused include:

• Travelling to receive elective treatment abroad. Travel insurance tends to only cover emergency, or unplanned, medical care. So, if you’re planning to undergo treatment abroad, you’ll have to pay for this yourself. This usually includes planning to give birth in another country.
• Travelling against the advice of your doctor. If your doctor or medical team have advised you not to travel and you do so anyway, your travel insurance won’t cover you. This also applies if you fail to get advice from a doctor who would’ve advised against travelling abroad.
• Travelling without proper medication. If you’re prescribed medication or medical equipment and don't use it or forget it, then your travel insurance might not cover you. If you’re recommended vaccinations for travel and don't get them, your claim can also be refused.