Travel insurance costs rise sharply for those with health conditions, survey finds
6 reported
A survey by specialist insurer AllClear suggests 18% of Britons will risk traveling abroad this summer without insurance, according to a report in The Guardian. The article highlights the experiences of two individuals who faced significant increases in travel insurance premiums after developing medical conditions. Retiree Bernie Lawrence, 77, saw his annual European policy rise from under £100 before heart surgery to £1,009 in 2026. Ian Wardle, 68, was quoted up to £6,000 for a week’s cover after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, though he later found affordable cover through AllClear. The article notes that insurers paid out £262bn for medical expenses for UK travelers needing emergency care two years ago. Experts advise travelers with pre-existing conditions to shop around and check policy details carefully, as costs vary by age, condition, destination, and trip length.
What’s reported
AllClear survey found 18% of Britons plan to travel abroad this summer without insurance.
Bernie Lawrence, 77, saw his annual European travel insurance rise from under £100 before heart surgery to £1,009 in 2026.
Ian Wardle, 68, was quoted up to £6,000 for a week’s travel insurance after a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
Insurers paid out £262bn for medical expenses for UK travelers needing emergency care two years ago.
A price check for a 57-year-old traveling to Spain for seven nights found premiums ranging from £12.43 (no condition) to £18.76 (angina and one heart attack).
The Financial Conduct Authority introduced rules in 2021 requiring insurers to signpost customers to specialists if cover is unavailable or premiums exceed £200.
Key figures
Bernie Lawrence, 77, retiree from Fleet, Hampshire
Barbara Lawrence, 79, his wife
James Daley, founder of Fairer Finance
Tommy Lloyd, managing director of Medical Travel Compared
Ian Wardle, 68, part-time parish clerk from Hatfield Peverel, Essex
Association of British Insurers spokesperson (unnamed)
Sources: The Guardian
