Jet2 has reminded passengers that they must declare any pre-existing medical conditions when purchasing travel insurance, or risk having their claims rejected. The warning comes as millions of Brits prepare to fly during the summer school holidays.
Why declaring health conditions matters
Travel insurance is essential not only for medical emergencies abroad but also for protecting upfront holiday costs from day one. Standard policies typically do not cover pre-existing medical conditions, and failing to mention them can void coverage entirely.
Jet2 reiterated this point in a social media alert on X this week, stating: "Going away this summer? Declare your medical conditions when you buy travel insurance - it could save you thousands. If your details aren't up to date, your claim could be rejected."
Common conditions that must be declared
Medical conditions that must be declared include, but are not limited to: heart conditions or stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory conditions such as asthma, mental health conditions, and any form of cancer.
For passengers with common conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, disclosure is vital as these are major risk factors for serious medical emergencies. Even if a condition is stable and controlled with medication, insurers consider them warning signs for potential health problems.
Consequences of non-disclosure
If a passenger fails to declare a pre-existing condition, their emergency medical coverage could be completely void, leaving them responsible for hospital costs that can amount to tens of thousands of pounds.
The Gov.uk Travel Aware page states: "You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. If you already have cover, you should check that your list of medical conditions is updated before each trip abroad. Failure to do this could mean your claim is rejected if you have a medical emergency while travelling."
It added: "A British national was hospitalised and admitted to intensive care following a stroke while abroad. The insurance provider refused to cover the medical costs after it emerged the individual had not declared a previous stroke. As a result, the family was left to meet significant medical expenses."
What counts as a pre-existing medical condition?
According to Jet2, conditions that must be declared if they have occurred or been treated in the last five years include: any cancer condition, any heart-related or blood circulatory condition (including high blood pressure and high cholesterol), any diabetic condition, any neurological condition (including stroke, brain haemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and dementia), any breathing condition (including asthma, bronchitis and COPD), any renal, kidney or liver condition, any psychiatric or psychological condition (including anxiety, stress and depression), any chronic condition that can be controlled but not cured (including back pain, Crohn's, diverticular and coeliac disease and ulcerative colitis), and any other medical condition for which medication or treatment has been prescribed or received in the last 12 months.
