Travel Insurance Premiums Rise for UK Holidaymakers With Pre-Existing Conditions

The cost of annual policies for some couples has increased from under £100 before 2018 to more than £1,000 in 2025. Retiree Bernie Lawrence, 77, from Fleet, Hampshire, underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2018 after developing heart problems. His annual Europe policy rose from £302 in 2022 to £1,009 in 2025 after an episode of atrial fibrillation.

Insurers paid out £262 billion in medical expenses for UK travellers requiring emergency care abroad over a recent two-year period. Countries such as the United States and Canada can charge hundreds of thousands of pounds for treatment when travellers lack coverage.

James Daley, founder of Fairer Finance, stated that policies covering pre-existing conditions are essential for travel to countries without reciprocal health agreements with the UK.

Price comparison websites allow searches that include pre-existing conditions, though applicants must verify that declared conditions appear in the final policy wording. Specialist providers such as Medical Travel Compared, PayingTooMuch, and AllClear offer options when mainstream insurers decline cover.

An Association of British Insurers spokesperson recommended comparing trip length, destination, and policy excess when selecting coverage. The Financial Conduct Authority requires insurers unable to provide cover or quoting more than £200 to refer customers to specialist companies.

A price comparison for a 57-year-old traveller on a seven-night trip to Spain showed premiums ranging from £12.43 with no declared condition to £18.76 with a history of angina and one previous heart attack.