Find out more about our cruise specific benefits available with Free Spirit and Travel Plus.
Travel Insurance to cover for those people who are travelling solo.
We can cover most pre-existing medical conditions and disabilities.
P J Hayman’s range of travel insurance solutions to cover high risks.
Several of our policies cover a range of activities as standard, find out more here.
We have policies that can provide travel insurance for UK only trips.
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5.8 million Brits intentionally left for their holidays underinsured, without medical cover in place this summer. Were you one of them? While our understanding of travel insurance may not be as strong as our knowledge of the top people we’d choose for our fantasy football team or dream dinner party, we should make time to understand what our travel insurance can cover, as well as which medical conditions you should declare when taking out a travel insurance policy.
If you’re unsure of what a quality travel insurance policy covers, you’re not alone! In a recent survey by Admiral, 30% of travellers admitted they were unclear. Plus, 21% thought they only needed to declare a medical condition they were currently having treatment for. You may save money for not declaring a pre-existing medical condition – or even opting out of medical cover altogether – with a standard travel insurance policy. However, the risks can be costly if you travel underinsured, without appropriate insurance in place.
For instance, the average medical claim for medical expenses in 2024 was £1,528 (The Association of British Insurers (ABI)). Whether you live with a pre-existing medical condition or are having ongoing treatment, be honest and declare it all. Your health and bank balance will thank you if you’re confronted with an unforeseen medical emergency abroad.
Let us help you understand what a quality travel insurance policy will provide cover for. Plus, the risks you could face when not taking one out. Especially if you’ve recovered from a pre-existing medical condition that could make you underinsured.
A pre-existing medical condition is anything you’ve been given a diagnosis for or take prescribed medication for. It’s not a legal requirement to take out medical cover. However, if you needed to cancel your trip due to your medical condition, you’d risk losing your deposit or money for cancellation costs.
When going through the medical screening process, current and pre-existing medical conditions must be declared, including:
Please note: If you withhold details of your medical history, you’ll leave home underinsured and risk invalidating your travel insurance policy.
Medical screening is an easy and straightforward process. It’s designed to help you declare all your medical conditions via a series of relevant but simple questions. For example, our leading questions include ‘In the last five years have you…’ or ‘In the last two years have you…’. These questions help us to narrow down your answers.
Medical screening should be completed by people living with diagnosed, stable and well-controlled conditions and/or disabilities. Our robust Free Spirit and Longstay & Gap Year policies provide cover for most medical conditions, and they will require you to go through the medical screening process. We aim to provide you with a specialist travel insurance policy which best suits your needs!
To make your life easier, we’ve included an AI function (a chatbot called Selma) to help you navigate the online quote process and answer your questions, should you need help, call our in-house experts who’ll provide an empathetic service. While genuine mistakes are common (made by 27% of travellers in a recent report by Verisk), you need to ensure that you or whoever is applying for the policy understands your medical condition(s), so you’re not left underinsured.
“I think one of the main ways we help customers with the medical side of their application is on the phone. Whilst we are not medically trained, and it is ultimately their responsibility to declare all the necessary information, we can provide a level of support on the phone that is more personable.
We can help them identify which of their medical conditions are relevant to the application, and if customers are ever unsure about something, we strongly urge them to check.
For example, a customer has medication for a heart condition, but they don’t remember the name of it. We don’t play a guessing game, take their symptoms, and record what we think. We explain to them that a quote cannot be provided until all information is 100%. We will then save the application, provide a reference number, add some notes, and ask that they call back to finish once they have the information…I think it shows that as a company, we do care.
In terms of the online application, I think we help by having our questions asked in a clear and concise way, and the AI chatbot and our phone number are on hand if anyone requires more support.”
Whether you complete your quote over the phone or online, you’ll soon be on your way to being fully covered for your holiday. In 2025, 95% of medical condition quotes completed were accepted, and cover was offered.
However, what if you just need to declare a pre-existing medical condition?
Travel Plus is a unique stress-free policy that can be completed quickly and easily without medical screening. Suitable for people living with minor pre-existing medical conditions, Travel Plus provides cover you can trust.
There are many reasons why travel insurance can be expensive, such as when you add a pre-existing medical condition to the policy. However, not declaring one to lower your premium can incur risks. For example, if you don’t declare a medical condition and you need medical treatment, your claim could be rejected. This then increases the cost of your holiday.
Remember that the true costs of falling ill abroad can exceed several thousand pounds. For instance, in a USA state hospital, the average cost of medical expenses and repatriation costs are £157,246.69, which most people can’t afford. So, declare all your medical conditions after sourcing a high-quality travel insurance policy to ensure you don’t leave home underinsured.
Tip: Buy your travel insurance as soon as you book (ASAYB) your trip to get more from the price of your policy.
Despite the cost of high-quality travel insurance, the cost of being underinsured is far greater.
The following stats illustrate the costs of failing to declare a medical condition:
(All stats from Admiral UK)
Taking out travel insurance is a good idea.
Free Spirit gives you the freedom to travel with confidence! It provides cover for most medical conditions and/or disabilities.
Longstay & Gap Year covers extended trips, gap years and if you’re studying or working abroad. Plus, cover for most minor medical conditions.
Travel Plus provides cover for pre-existing medical conditions without the need for medical screening. It’s travel insurance simplified!
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