Millions of UK travellers are gambling with their finances by hiding medical conditions when buying travel insurance. New data shows the practice is widespread, and the consequences can be brutal.
Around one in four holidaymakers, or 24%, deliberately avoid declaring pre-existing medical conditions to reduce premiums, according to research from Gigasure.
The motivation is simple. Many expect insurers to hike prices sharply once conditions appear on an application.
The risk sits elsewhere. Insurance claims can be rejected outright if insurers find conditions were not properly disclosed. Financial Ombudsman Service figures show a 19% rise in travel insurance claims rejected for this reason.
Many commonly hidden conditions don’t always raise premiums at all. Failing to disclose them, intentionally or not, can still void cover and leave travellers exposed to eye-watering medical and repatriation costs.
The Association of British Insurers says its members paid £472 mn across more than 500,000 travel insurance claims last year. Medical claims dominated. They accounted for 34% of cases and totalled £262 mn, with an average payout of £1,528.
Costs escalate fast overseas. A heart attack and bypass in France can cost about £6,000. A broken leg, including repatriation, can reach £1,800, according to Admiral. Altitude sickness treatment in Peru may run to £18,000. In the US, a heart attack can hit £230,000.
Without valid insurance, travellers pay those bills themselves.
Conditions that are stable and managed, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or asthma, often add little to the cost of cover.
The likelihood of these conditions disrupting travel or causing emergencies remains relatively low in many cases.
The most frequently declared conditions include high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, hypothyroidism, back or neck issues, coronary angioplasty, and osteoarthritis.
Ernesto Suarez, CEO of Gigasure, says skipping disclosures defeats the point of buying cover at all. Travel insurance isn’t compulsory. You don’t have to buy it. But buying it without full disclosure leaves the policy close to worthless.
He says even small omissions can have big consequences. A few pounds saved upfront can translate into thousands owed later if treatment is needed abroad and the insurer declines the claim.
Insurers all apply different criteria. Answering questions incorrectly during the purchase process can leave travellers facing medical bills with no protection when they need it most.
According to Beinsure analysts, rising claim scrutiny means insurers are less forgiving than in the past. For travellers, honesty isn’t a moral stance. It’s financial self-defence.
