These Two Health Conditions Could Send Your Travel Insurance Costs Soaring by Over 1,000%

Holidaymakers could find their travel insurance premiums soar by more than 1,000 per cent if they declare a certain two conditions, research from consumer website Which? reveals.

Telling an insurer about a pre-existing health condition typically more than doubles the price of an annual travel insurance policy, hiking the cost from £40 to £90, according to comparison website Go.Compare.

But individuals with bipolar and personality disorder could be forced to pay as much as £446 more when declaring their conditions – a 1,159 per cent hike on their original quote.

Who compared insurance quotes before and after disclosing pre-existing medical conditions for three actual individuals?

The quotations were reviewed from twelve prominent insurance providers; among these, seven offered typical coverage options whereas the remaining five focused specifically on policies covering pre-existing conditions.

Comparisons of costs were made for people with bipolar and personality disorders as well as epilepsy. diabetes - The most affordable yearly European plan was chosen for all quotations.

The typical premium increased from £58 to £426 for the traveler dealing with bipolar disorder and personality disorders – an increase of 715% – with the priciest plan reaching £715 and the least expensive one priced at £184.

In the worst-case scenario, the price skyrocketed from £38.48 to £484.52.

Nevertheless, when the holidaymaker with epilepsy disclosed their condition, the premiums increased by only 23% on average. The providers tacked on merely an additional £10, raising the price from £67 to £77.

However, it pays off to compare prices since the lowest estimate was only £52 whereas the highest one was over twice that amount at £110.

The traveller with diabetes saw the smallest increase in price as quotes rose just 6 per cent on average – from £129 to £136 – when they declared their condition.

The cheapest came in at £76 while the most expensive cost £169.

Insurance specialists at medical screening firms Protecif and Verisk said the stability of a condition is often key to insurers, including when it was diagnosed, ongoing treatment and the side effects.

Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, said: ‘Though it may be tempting to omit a condition in order to get the price down, it’s never worth the risk. Failing to declare something in advance could see your policy invalidated.

‘While comparison sites are a great starting point, these won’t always include specialist providers - so it’s essential to obtain these quotes separately before making a purchase.’

L.evans@.co.uk

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