Finding suitable holiday insurance with pre-existing medical conditions doesn't have to be hard. At Holiday Extras, we consider all medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and many more. Additionally, all Holiday Extras Bronze, Silver, and Gold Travel Insurance policies include emergency medical cover for when you're on holiday.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, this will need to be declared when you book so that we can make sure it's covered whilst you're away.
What counts as a pre-existing medical condition when it comes to travel insurance?
A pre-existing medical condition is defined as an illness, injury or condition that exists before, or at the time, you take out an insurance policy. Even if some conditions have resolved, or you feel well, we may still need to assess them. This is so that we can provide you with the right level of cover.
Other things you may be asked about include whether you are taking any prescription medication, are awaiting investigation, or are suffering from any kind of psychological condition.
Some common conditions that will need to be declared when you buy insurance can include:
If you need emergency medical attention, please make sure you call local emergency services before anything else.
Use Reciprocal Health Agreements:
If your destination has a health agreement with the UK, you can use your EHIC or GHIC card to access medical treatment. This may help cover some or all of your medical expenses.
Contact the Assistance Team:
If you're admitted to hospital, call our assistance team as soon as possible.
When to Call: After you've been admitted but before paying for any medical treatment.
Why It's Important: Not contacting the team could limit your coverage, even if your claim is valid.
If you are unable to get cover due to pre-existing medical conditions the Money Help Directory can help you find specialist providers who can give you a quote for travel insurance.
What is the Money Help Directory?
Money Helper is run by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS is a free and impartial money advice service, set up by the Government to provide information and guides to help improve your finances. The Money Helper travel insurance directory has been created for people who have:
Been refused cover
Had exclusions applied to their policy
Received high additional premiums due to medical conditions
All providers listed on the directory are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Holiday Extras Cover Ltd are proud to have passed the rigorous selection process and feature as one of the travel insurance providers listed in the directory.
How can I access the Money Helper Directory?
By Phone – 0800 138 7777 (Monday – Friday: 8am to 6pm)
Online – Visit the Money Helper Directory for a full list of participating travel insurance brands.
Choose from three different levels of cover, each with its own cover limits. Ranging from a simpler 'Bronze' plan to a higher level 'Gold' plan, you can tailor your policy to suit your needs. Take a look at our cover-level table to see what's covered, and read through the Policy Documents for more detail on cover.
Emergency Medical
Our emergency medical expenses cover starts from £10 million, and goes up to unlimited on our Gold policies
Repatriation
Unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation expenses cover on our Gold policies
Flight Delay
We'll help make sure you're not caught short if your flight is delayed
Cancellation
Cover for up to £5000 on Gold policies if you need to cancel your trip ahead of departure
Baggage
If your suitcase decides to take its own holiday, we'll pay up to £2000 on Gold policies to cover your essentials
Gadget
Protect your personal gadgets from theft, loss and accidental damage while on your trip
Let us answer your questions
What happens if I get a new medical condition after taking out travel insurance?
If you have a change in health after buying your insurance, you will need to contact us as soon as possible. If you do not let us know your health has changed, your claim could be rejected or payment reduced.
Depending on the change, we may need to charge you extra if your condition requires us to give you extra cover. Just give our team a call and we will be happy to help.
How do I buy my travel insurance if I have a medical condition?
1) Enter your details at the top of the page in the yellow booking form.
2) Press 'Search'.
3) Fill out the page with your details, then when you get to the medical questions make sure you answer them correctly or if you decide to call us, let our agent know.
4) Follow the on-screen instructions to buy your travel insurance policy. Depending on your medical condition, you may be asked to call our team so that they can ask a couple more questions over the phone.
Can I still get annual travel insurance with medical conditions?
Yes, it's still possible to get annual insurance if you have pre-existing medical conditions. You'll be asked a series of questions relating to your health so that we can accurately record your conditions.
Is it possible to get cheap travel insurance with medical conditions?
Buying travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions can tend to be more expensive, as you're considered to be more likely to make a claim. Here are a few tips that could keep the cost down.
Choose a higher excess - Opting to pay a higher excess can lower the price of your policy. Just make sure you are able to pay the excess amount in the event of a claim.
Consider an annual policy - Got lots of trips planned this year? If you're going away multiple times throughout the year, it can work out cheaper to take out an annual policy. This will cover you for every trip you take over the year.
Choose the right level of cover - When choosing your policy, consider whether the cover levels are suitable for you. For example, you may not want to take out a policy that gives you £5,000 cancellation cover if you only paid a couple of hundred for your trip.
Is pregnancy considered a medical condition?
You don't need to declare that you are pregnant, as this isn't considered a health condition. However, you should let us know all known complications relating to your pregnancy, like High blood pressure and/or gestational diabetes.
What is a fit-to-fly certificate and do I need one?
A fit-to-fly certificate is a document typically issued by a GP or specialist, confirming that you are medically fit to travel by air. It lets airlines and other authorities know that you do not have a condition that could worsen during the flight or pose a risk to other passengers.
You may need a fit-to-fly certificate for the following reasons:
If you have a pre-existing condition or chronic illness that could potentially worsen during air travel.
If you are recovering from surgery, or if you have recently been ill or hospitalised.
If you've recently recovered from an infectious disease, airlines may require proof you are no longer contagious.
If you are over 28 weeks pregnant
We recommend that you check with your airline provider as requirements may vary depending on the airline you are travelling with.
How to obtain a fit-to-fly
You can request a fit-to-fly via your GP or healthcare provider . You may need to pay a fee for this service.
Travel Insurance with COVID-19 cover
Holiday Extras offers travel insurance that provides COVID-19 cover on our Bronze, Silver and Gold policies as standard for specific events. As such, you are insured for the following:
Curtailment:
Death of a relative or member of the insured's household as a result of COVID-19.
Hospitalisation of a relative or member of insured's household requiring treatment with mechanical ventilation as a result of COVID-19.
Medical & Repatriation Expenses:
Cover for medical costs for any treatment and associated expenses required abroad as a result of contracting COVID-19 following a medically approved test (up to £15m), as long as they have not travelled against the advice of the FCDO*.
Cancellation:
Cover for cancellation as a result of being contacted by NHS Test & Trace due to coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and needing to self isolate, preventing the insured from making the outward journey.
Cancellation as a result of experiencing an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of departure resulting in the insured being unfit to travel as confirmed by a medical practitioner.
The insured being unable to complete their COVID-19 vaccination course before the scheduled departure date as a result of unforeseen illness.
After you have filled in your travel details in the booking form at the top of this page, we will ask you a brief series of questions to determine whether your insurance will be with medical conditions or not. It's crucial to answer the questions to ensure your policy provides appropriate cover. Below, we've clarified key terms and examples to help you accurately declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
Current Medical Conditions
Is anyone travelling under this policy suffering from a medical condition for which they:
Should have sought medical advice?
Are under investigation?
Are awaiting a medical procedure or in-patient hospital treatment?
Are waiting for test results?
Have been given a terminal prognosis?
Know they will require medical treatment during an insured journey?
Intend to get medical treatment abroad?
Experiencing any undiagnosed symptoms?
Taking part in any medical trials?
Having or waiting dialysis or any form of cancer treatment?
Addiction History
Has anyone been treated for alcohol or drug addiction in the last five years?
Why We Ask This Question
Understanding your medical history, including addiction treatment, helps us ensure that your travel insurance policy is tailored to meet your needs.
How Your Information Is Handled
We understand that discussing addiction can be sensitive. Please rest assured that your information is treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Mental Health Conditions
Is anyone travelling under this policy suffering from:
A psychiatric or psychological condition?
This can include conditions that require ongoing support or hospitalisation, or a condition you take regular medication for.
Some examples of comment mental health conditions include anxiety, depression or stress-related conditions.
Serious Medical History
Has anyone ever suffered from:
Cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks, angina, or arrhythmias, even if these occurred many years ago.
Respiratory diseases, including COPD, emphysema, or poorly controlled asthma (but stable, mild asthma may not require declaration).
Cancer, regardless of remission status. Provide details of type, treatment, and any follow-ups.
Cerebrovascular conditions, such as strokes or TIAs (mini-strokes).
Kidney diseases or diabetes, especially if these have led to complications or require specialised management.
Recent Treatments and Medications
In the last 12 months, has anyone:
Currently taking or being prescribed regular medication? This includes medication for common conditions like acid reflux, high blood pressure, or cholesterol. Even minor conditions should be disclosed.
Receiving or have received treatment for any condition?
Includes ongoing therapies (e.g., physiotherapy, counselling) or one-off procedures within the last year.
Undergone organ transplants or dialysis?
These require detailed disclosure, including ongoing care plans.
If you answer "yes" to any of the above questions, someone on the policy has a medical condition that must be declared. You or another policyholder will need to complete a discreet and confidential medical screening process. This process ensures your insurance is tailored to your specific needs, offering peace of mind while travelling.
It's important to note that not all medical conditions are covered. The screening process may exclude certain conditions or treatments. If you're unsure whether your condition is covered, please contact us for more information.
If you currently have a pre-existing medical condition, or have previously had one, then you will need to declare your condition(s) via our confidential medical screening process.
If you haven’t already, our online quote system will guide you through the process of declaring your medical conditions, and you’ll get an instant decision on whether we can provide cover or not. Simply get a quote or contact us on 0800 042 0309 to discuss further.
Money Helper
Money Helper Service Information
What is Money Helper?
Money Helper is run by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS is a free and impartial money advice service, set up by the Government to provide information and guides to help improve your finances. The Money Helper travel insurance directory has been created for people who have potentially been refused cover, had cover excluded, or received a high additional premium in connection to their medical conditions, to allow them to shop around alternative providers. All providers listed on the directory are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Holiday Extras Cover Ltd are proud to have passed the rigorous selection process and feature as one of the travel insurance providers listed in the directory.
How can I access the Money Helper Directory?
By Phone – call 0800 138 7777, they are open Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm
Online – you can visit the online travel insurance Money Helper Directory for a full list of participating travel insurance brands.
Tel: +44 (0) 1403 788 718 (if You are anywhere except the USA, Canada or Mexico)
Tel: +1-844-780-0494 (toll free if You are in the USA or Canada)
Tel: 00 1 819 780 0494 (if You are in Mexico)
Make a complaint
If you wish to make a complaint
We understand things don't always go to plan, and we're here to help however we can. If you wish to make a complaint, please visit our dedicated complaints page and follow the instructions provided.
Policy documents
We've compiled all of our Policy Documents on to one concise page, allowing you to fully understand what you're covered for.
Medical Conditions
Money Helper
Making a claim
Contact information
Make a complaint
Policy Documents
Medical travel insurance
If you currently have a pre-existing medical condition, or have previously had one, then you will need to declare your condition(s) via our confidential medical screening process.
If you haven’t already, our online quote system will guide you through the process of declaring your medical conditions, and you’ll get an instant decision on whether we can provide cover or not. Simply get a quote or contact us on 0800 042 0309 to discuss further.
Money Helper Service Information
What is Money Helper?
Money Helper is run by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS is a free and impartial money advice service, set up by the Government to provide information and guides to help improve your finances. The Money Helper travel insurance directory has been created for people who have potentially been refused cover, had cover excluded, or received a high additional premium in connection to their medical conditions, to allow them to shop around alternative providers. All providers listed on the directory are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Holiday Extras Cover Ltd are proud to have passed the rigorous selection process and feature as one of the travel insurance providers listed in the directory.
How can I access the Money Helper Directory?
By Phone – call 0800 138 7777, they are open Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm
Online – you can visit the online travel insurance Money Helper Directory for a full list of participating travel insurance brands.
Tel: +44 (0) 1403 788 718 (if You are anywhere except the USA, Canada or Mexico)
Tel: +1-844-780-0494 (toll free if You are in the USA or Canada)
Tel: 00 1 819 780 0494 (if You are in Mexico)
Make a complaint
If you wish to make a complaint
We understand things don't always go to plan, and we're here to help however we can. If you wish to make a complaint, please visit our dedicated complaints page and follow the instructions provided.
Policy Documents
We've compiled all of our Policy Documents on to one concise page, allowing you to fully understand what you're covered for.
"We believe that having a medical condition shouldn't stop you from finding travel insurance easily. Here at Holiday Extras, we consider all medical conditions and offer different cover levels to ensure your needs are met."
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Last updated: 10th Feb 2025
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.
Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.
Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register