Travel journalist Simon Calder is urging holidaymakers to carefully check their inboxes as a new email system from Admiral Travel Insurance is being rolled out ahead of the summer season. The warning comes after research revealed that nearly six million people have intentionally failed to declare a medical condition when applying for travel insurance cover.
Medical Condition Disclosure Gaps
Despite nearly a third of travellers reporting they have experienced illness or a medical emergency abroad, many remain unclear on what constitutes a pre-existing medical condition. According to Admiral Travel Insurance, nearly a third of respondents would not list weight-loss jabs prescribed by a GP, 17% are unaware that anti-depressants need to be declared, and 16% would not mention ADHD medication. Where weight-loss jabs are prescribed for conditions like obesity or diabetes, it is the underlying medical condition—not the medication—that must be disclosed. Failure to do so could result in a reduced payout or invalidated cover.
Misconceptions About Pre-Existing Conditions
The research also found that a fifth of travellers believe they only need to declare conditions requiring ongoing treatment or medication, while 15% think a pre-existing condition is limited to chronic ailments such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. Admiral requires customers to declare anything they have consulted a medical professional about in the last two years, and sometimes up to five years depending on the condition. This includes consultations, prescribed medication, treatment, and any pending results, diagnoses, or appointments.
Of those who admitted to not declaring a medical condition, over a quarter feared it would increase their policy cost, while 16% did not consider the condition serious enough to mention. Admiral warns that inaccurate information could affect claims or leave travellers facing substantial bills if they require treatment abroad.
Industry Expert Comments
Simon Calder said: “Like everyone else, from the moment I book a trip, I simply want to look forward to it. Anticipation is a priceless element of any holiday. Equally, every traveller deserves peace of mind—and so you just need to make sure you are covered by travel insurance from day one. The UK has a thriving and competitive travel insurance market, delivering great value. Yet cover is only effective if you are open and transparent about your state of health. Insurers are keen to protect travellers—but they need to be able to assess your particular situation and offer the right policy at the right price.”
Admiral’s Head of Travel Insurance, Cosmin Sarbu, added: “Thinking it ‘won’t happen to me’ is a big risk. The reality is we help thousands of customers who fall sick or are injured abroad every year. Many people worry that declaring a medical condition will automatically make travel insurance unaffordable, but that is not always the case. In many instances, cover can still be arranged at a modest cost. What matters most is making sure your policy accurately reflects your circumstances. If you do not declare relevant conditions and then need treatment abroad, you could find yourself without the cover you expected.”
New Email Reminder Service
Based on the findings, Admiral’s travel team is introducing email reminders to customers identified as potentially not having declared everything. The new service is set to go live in the coming weeks. Admiral currently provides cover for over 3,600 different medical conditions. Cosmin Sarbu emphasised: “We ask our travel insurance customers to declare all medical conditions, including any ongoing treatment, when taking out a policy. This is to ensure we can provide cover at an appropriate price for the customer based on their medical needs. Not doing so could leave someone underinsured if they make a claim or could invalidate their insurance entirely. Travel insurance is there to provide peace of mind, particularly when overseas medical costs can run into thousands of pounds. To help holidaymakers get ahead of this, we’re launching a new ‘Something to Declare?’ checklist that should provide clarity and help break down what exactly needs to be disclosed on your policy. It’s also important to check that you’re covered for the type of trip, whether it’s a cruise or a winter sports holiday, and that your insurance covers any activities you might plan to do.”
