This Widespread Condition Can Skyrocket Your Travel Insurance Costs by Over 1,100%!

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Those with health people will find it far too relatable when they're hit with additional charges. travel insurance — and new research reveals just how much extra.

Based on information provided by GoCompare, individuals disclosing existing health issues generally end up paying over twice as much for their yearly insurance coverage. holiday cover , taking the average premium from £40 to £90.

However, in the latest Which? study , specific conditions caused an increase in the product's cost. single trip policy up to 1,159% more

To look into the problem, the consumer advocate obtained insurance quotations from 12 prominent companies for three actual individuals: a 67-year-old with type 2 diabetes. diabetes , a 40-year-old with epilepsy , and someone who is 41 years old with bipolar and personality disorder who had experienced an unexpected stay at the hospital over the past half-decade.

In each case, Which? selected the cheapest European annual policy available with £5m medical cover, £2,000 cancellation cover, and £1,500 cover for baggage with gadget protection, comparing prices before and after their health conditions were declared.

For the traveler dealing with both bipolar disorder and a personality disorder, five major insurance providers declined coverage outright, which left only seven suitable policy options available.

In the most extreme example, premiums with one insurer jumped by an eye-watering 1,159% after declaring their conditions, from £38.48 to £484.52. But across the board, the price rises remain pretty shocking: 715% on average, up from £58 to £426.

There is a small silver lining though. Even after declaring bipolar and personality disorder, there was a massive £531 difference between the most and least expensive policies, showing there’s still savings to be made by shopping around. And given the cheapest option (£184) came from a specialist insurer, it’s worth going beyond the comparison sites if you have more complex medical conditions.

After the second case study’s epilepsy was declared, their premiums were hiked by an average of 23%, from £67 to £77. Quotes ranged from just £52 at the lowest end, up to more than double that, at £110.

The traveler who has diabetes experienced minimal adjustments, with prices increasing by an average of 6%, going up from £129 to £136. Nevertheless, Which? discovered considerable discrepancies among the various quotations provided. It turned out to be more cost-effective for this person to choose mainstream insurance providers rather than those specializing in medical coverage.

When the watchdog consulted with experts from medical screening companies Protectif and Verisk, none highlighted specific illnesses as unusually challenging to insure. However, they pointed out that the consistency of a condition—ranging from post-diagnosis stabilization through continuous care—is typically crucial.

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In February, a Which? poll involving 9,000 British individuals revealed that 82% of those who disclosed a health issue felt it influenced their insurance premium costs, with 25% stating it significantly impacted them. One participant commented that 'affordable premiums are hard to come by,' while another expressed that getting reasonable coverage was nearly unattainable.

Sam Richardson, Deputy Editor of Which? Money, comments: ‘ Travel insurance is an essential when going on holiday, but finding the best policy at the right price isn’t always straightforward – especially if you have a pre-existing condition.

'Our study revealed considerable differences in cost based on which insurance company you choose. Therefore, it's crucial for customers to explore various options and review numerous plans prior to deciding. Although comparison websites can be an excellent beginning step, they may not feature niche suppliers—hence, it's important to seek out those specific quotes independently before finalizing your buy.'

Although it might be appealing to skip a condition to reduce the cost, it’s always unwise due to the risks involved. Not disclosing information beforehand can lead to your policy being nullified, and in extreme scenarios, you could end up with a debt exceeding several thousand pounds.

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