Travel expert Alice Beer has issued a stark warning to anyone planning a summer holiday: buy travel insurance before you go, or risk facing enormous medical bills. Speaking on ITV's This Morning on Friday, June 19, Beer stressed that failing to declare pre-existing medical conditions could lead to claims being rejected, leaving travellers with thousands of pounds in expenses.
Why Travel Insurance Is Essential
Beer explained that travel insurance is "that one thing you hope you never need," but without it, a holiday can turn into a financial disaster. She cited the case of a British man who travelled abroad with a chest infection. Although he was receiving treatment from his GP, he did not declare the condition to his insurer. "He went on holiday, and when he got to his destination, he became very ill," Beer said. "Turns out he developed pneumonia and I think he had a punctured lung." Despite having insurance, his claim was rejected, and he and his family faced around £30,000 in Spanish hospital bills. "There's no way the insurance company will pay out because he went on holiday with a pre-existing condition that he did not declare," she added.
Always Declare Medical Conditions
Beer urged holidaymakers never to assume a medical issue is too minor to mention. Instead, travellers should contact their insurer and declare any ongoing conditions, illnesses, investigations, or treatments before departure. "You can get insurance with your pre-existing condition, but you've got to declare it and you've got to shop around," she said. The financial risks are even greater outside Europe. Beer noted: "If you had a heart attack in the US, with whom we have no reciprocal medical arrangements, that could cost you £100,000 quite easily."
When to Buy Insurance
According to the UK's MoneyHelper service, travellers should buy insurance as soon as they book a trip, not wait until departure. This provides protection if they need to cancel before leaving the UK. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that travel insurance pays out hundreds of millions of pounds in claims each year, with medical emergencies accounting for some of the highest costs.
Insurers Must Offer Alternatives
Beer also highlighted an important rule: if an insurer declines to cover a medical condition, it must direct customers to an alternative provider. "They have to recommend somebody who will insure you. They can't just say, 'Sorry, can't help'," she explained. Her message to summer holidaymakers is clear: buy travel insurance and declare all relevant medical conditions before departure. "It's just not worth travelling without it," she concluded.
