Specialist travel insurance is tailored for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, providing cover for people who standard policies often exclude. Pre-existing condition travel insurance is a specific type of specialist insurance that focuses on covering conditions that are often excluded by standard policies. 

You should still be able to get travel insurance with a pre-existing condition, but standard policies don’t always provide the right level of cover. In many cases, specialist cover is the safer option.

You’re more likely to need a specialist policy if:

• Your condition is ongoing or requires regular medication

• You’ve had recent treatment, tests, or hospital visits

• You’re waiting for a diagnosis or test results

• Your condition is considered more serious or unstable (e.g. heart, lung, or cancer-related conditions)

• You’ve been advised against travelling by a doctor

A standard policy may be suitable if:

• Your condition is mild and well-controlled

• You haven’t had recent changes in medication or treatment

• You’ve been medically stable for a period of time

Regardless of which type of travel insurance you take out, you’ll still need to declare all medical conditions.

These insurers specialise in covering pre-existing conditions:

• AllClear Travel

• Able2Travel

• Freedom Insurance Services

• It’s So Easy Travel Insurance

• Free Spirit Travel Insurance

• Good to Go Insurance

While many pre-existing conditions can be covered – especially with specialist insurers – there are important exclusions to be aware of.

Travel insurance is unlikely to cover:

• Undeclared medical conditions

• Conditions you’re awaiting diagnosis or test results for

• Recently diagnosed or unstable conditions (e.g. symptoms worsening or treatment changing)

• Conditions where you’ve been advised not to travel

• Travelling against medical advice or without GP approval (if required)

Some insurers may limit or exclude cover for:

• Life-threatening or terminal conditions

• Conditions requiring ongoing hospital treatment or specialist care

• Advanced or high-risk conditions (e.g. certain heart, cancer, or respiratory illnesses)

In these cases, specialist insurers may still offer cover, but it could come with higher premiums, exclusions, or stricter terms.

You may be able to get travel insurance with a terminal illness, but it depends on the insurer and the severity of your condition.

Terminal illnesses are classed as pre-existing conditions, and while some insurers may offer cover, many standard policies won’t. In some cases, you may be offered limited cover or policies that exclude claims related to your condition.

Specialist travel insurers are more likely to consider applications, particularly if your condition is stable and you’re fit to travel. If you have a terminal diagnosis you should:

• Speak to specialist providers who focus on pre-existing conditions

• Be prepared to share detailed medical information

• Check exactly what is and isn’t covered before buying

If you are on any “over-the-counter” medication like painkillers or antibiotics, probably not.

However, if you are on blood thinners or any medication for any mental health issues or chronic health problems, you will need to disclose that on your insurance application. 

Probably not. If you’re waiting for a diagnosis for a medical condition it’s best to wait until afterwards to arrange travel insurance. 

There’s a chance that any claims you make – especially those of a medical nature – are rejected due to this “non-disclosure”. The worse the condition, or the more directly it is involved in claims you make, the more chance there is that your insurer will investigate your medical records and reject your claim. 

Yes, UK residents with pre-existing conditions can still use a  Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to get some medical treatment abroad. (You can also use the older version, the European Health Insurance Card, if yours is still in date.)

However, the GHIC is not as comprehensive as good quality travel insurance and holidaymakers are advised by the UK government and NHS to have both.

The GHIC does not cover treatment in private hospitals overseas and it doesn’t cover repatriation costs, for example. 

Not always, and it can depend on the type of policy as well as the provider. Those that do tend to set upper age limits of between 75 and 85 years.

Several specialist providers now cater for older travellers, but expect to pay a significantly higher premium than younger applicants.

Yes – your destination is a key factor for travel insurance, especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Insurers consider it mainly for two reasons:

1. Medical treatment costs

The cost of medical care varies widely between countries. For example, treatment in the USA can be extremely expensive, which may increase your premium or require specialist cover.

2. Local disease risks

Certain destinations carry higher risks of disease or health hazards. For instance, tropical countries may have malaria or dengue, which can affect both your coverage and the price of your policy.

Always check if your insurer imposes destination-specific exclusions or requires additional cover for high-risk areas.

£5m is considered a decent level of cover for medical expenses under a standard travel insurance policy. For most people, this will be enough to cover treatment for pre-existing conditions, but policies for people suffering from the most complex or severe might have a higher threshold – for a higher price. 

Tell your insurer as soon as you can. They may adjust your policy, and it could affect the overall price you pay – but better than voiding your policy completely.  

Contact your insurer as soon as possible, requesting an agreement in writing that they will cover the cost of any treatment - before you receive it if possible. 

You may be required to pay upfront for your treatment – in this case, you’d claim back the cost when you get home, so remember to get a receipt for any medical costs you pay.