The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions 2023

Travel Insurance
for Medical Conditions
with Just Travel Cover.

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  • 4.5/5 stars on Reviews.co.uk
  • 1,000,000+ passengers insured over 20 years
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Everyone should be able to enjoy a holiday with the security of travel insurance, whether or not they have pre-existing conditions. However, those with any medical conditions are likely to pay more for travel cover to protect against medical emergencies, trip cancellation/curtailment, etc. Many travel providers will still offer cover to those with pre-existing conditions, but premiums will likely be higher and may vary significantly from provider to provider, depending on their appetite for the "risk" of your profile.

To get an idea of average travel cover premiums for pre-existing conditions in the UK, we've gathered prices for some common medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breast cancer, asthma and stents for individuals who are otherwise healthy, non-smokers on no other medications. While prices will vary based on many factors (e.g., number of medications, hospitalization history, other conditions, time since condition first presented, etc.), use these average quotes to understand how travel insurance prices can be affected by pre-existing conditions and help identify a good deal.

Depending on your age, you might also like to read our related article on travel insurance for over 70s.

Where Are You Travelling? Costs of Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions

Your choice of holiday destinations will have a significant impact on the cost of your travel insurance, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions. This is because the cost of medical care varies drastically around the world. If you travel to Europe, most medical expenses can be covered with your EHIC or GHIC card. On the other hand, any medical expenses you incur whilst travelling to countries with expensive healthcare like America are likely to be very costly indeed. Hence, travel insurance for destinations including America will have a higher premium than, say travel insurance covering European destinations only. Those with pre-existing conditions will certainly notice the difference in premiums for different geographic coverage.

chart showing cost of travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions in Europe and Worldwide for: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breast cancer, asthma and stent
Average travel insurance costs

Cost of Travel Insurance with a History of Cancer

Travel Insurance
for Medical Conditions
with Just Travel Cover.

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  • 4.5/5 stars on Reviews.co.uk
  • 1,000,000+ passengers insured over 20 years
  • Approved provider for medical conditions

People with a history of cancer may pay even more for travel insurance than those with the other common medical conditions mentioned in this analysis, but this will depend on a number of factors such as how much time has passed since last treatment and if the cancer spread. As part of the disclosure process the insurance provider will enquire about the time of your most recent episode, whether it has spread, where it has spread, what treatment you are undergoing, and more. If your cancer has spread and/or you're in the midst of treatment or have treatment scheduled, you may find it difficult to get a policy online but may be able to obtain cover by calling a specialist provider such as Just Travel Cover.

Those whose history includes cancer that did not spread and who are no longer undergoing treatment should be able to find a policy online without too much trouble. For example, a 65-year-old whose breast cancer didn't spread and whose last treatment was 3-5 years ago would pay from around £189 for an annual, multi-trip policy with coverage around the world. Excluding expensive countries like the USA from cover would drop this price to a very affordable £82 or so for the cheapest cover. Single trip cover to the USA would start from around £105.

chart showing the cost of travel insurance for individuals with history of breast cancer
Cheapest travel insurance for history of breast cancer

But those in a similar situation with lung cancer (e.g. last treatment 3-5 years ago) would pay around 3X as much as the breast cancer survivor because recovered lung cancer is viewed as riskier for health insurance, apparently.

Someone whose lung cancer was last treated more recently (i.e. 1-3 years ago) would pay 3X the cost for single trip cover of someone treated 3-5 years ago. They probably couldn't easily find an annual, multitrip policy.

And someone with breast cancer who was recently treated, whose cancer spread to lymph nodes and who is awaiting results could pay a whopping £2,000 or more for single trip cover to the most expensive countries (other countries would be cheaper).

Average Cost of Travel Insurance for CancerSingle (USA)Multi (Worldwide)Multi (Worldwide, ex USA/Can/Mex/Carib)Get Quotes
Cheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellation
Lower Risk Cancer (breast cancer treated 3-5 years ago)£105£214£189£307£82£153Get Quotes
Medium Risk Cancer (lung cancer treated 3-5 years ago)£328£587£620£871£225£392Get Quotes
Higher Risk Cancer (lung cancer treated 1-3 years ago)£996£2,072n/an/an/an/aGet Quotes
High Risk Cancer (breast cancer, recently treated, spread to lymph nodes, awaiting results)£2,329£3,028n/an/an/an/aGet Quotes

Cost of Travel Insurance with Asthma

An individual with asthma should be able to find travel insurance for a single trip for under £111. This is the cost we found for the cheapest single trip policies for a trip to the USA. These policies offered as little as £750 in cancellation. Those needing at least £5,000 of cancellation cover would pay from 2X the price. With the USA being the most expensive country to get cover for, trips to other countries will be cheaper than this.

Those preferring an annual, multi-trip policy to cover multiple trips will pay around 80-85% more for their policy, since the cheapest annual worldwide policies start around £200 for asthma. Excluding the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean brings the cost of an annual policy down to £93 for asthma.

chart showing the cost of travel insurance for individuals with asthma and COPD
Cheapest travel insurance for Asthma

These figures refer to the average of the 5 cheapest quotes found for a relatively healthy 65-year-old individual with asthma without COPD who is on one to two medicines, has had no hospitalisations, can walk easily without becoming out of breath, is not on oxygen, has had no chest infection or pneumonia in past year and is a non smoker.

A few changes in health can raise the premium, however. For example, we found someone with asthma and COPD who gets mildly out of breath walking and has had one episode of chest infection or pneumonia in past year would pay from around £142 for a single trip to the USA (higher than the £111 mentioned above for the slightly healthier person with asthma and no COPD). An annual, multi-trip policy would start from around £263 for asthma with COPD, while excluding expensive countries like the USA would drop the price of this annual coverage to around £124.

Those who aren't travelling to America, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean will pay less, largely because health care is so expensive in these countries. Here are some rough price estimates to give you an idea of costs of travel insurance for someone with asthma:

Average Cost of Travel Insurance for AsthmaSingle (USA)Multi (Worldwide)Multi (Worldwide, ex USA/Can/Mex/Carib)Get Quotes
Cheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellation
Lower Risk Asthma (no COPD)£111£232£200£332£93£183Get Quotes
Medium Risk Asthma (with COPD)£142£303£263£438£124£215Get Quotes
High Risk Asthma (with COPD, 3-5 medications, need oxygen, recent hospitalisation)£3,746£3,746n/an/an/an/aGet Quotes

As you can see above, it may be a lot more expensive to get cover for a higher-risk health situation—and annual policies might not even be available. For example, our research showed us that an individual with asthma with COPD, who is on 3-5 medications, needs oxygen and has had a recent hospitalisation would be unable to find an annual policy and a single trip policy would cost close to £4,000 for the USA. Other countries would be cheaper, however.

Cost of Travel Insurance with High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol

If you've ever had circulatory issues like high blood pressure (BP) or high cholesterol, or a stroke, you'll need to disclose this history when applying to travel insurance. An otherwise healthy 65 year old with a history of high BP and cholesterol but whose doctor has not yet recommended any medications will pay around £82 minimum for an annual policy to cover the world excluding the USA, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Annual coverage for the whole world would cost from £183. Single trip cover is cheaper, so long as you'll only travel once in the year. The USA is typically the most expensive country to cover.

chart showing the cost of travel insurance for individuals with High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
Cheapest travel insurance for high BP and cholesterol

Those who are on multiple medications would pay more—roughly 25% more.

Higher risk individuals pay even more. For example, our tests showed that an individual with high BP and cholesterol who is on multiple medications and had a stroke a year ago would pay close to 3X as much as someone who hasn't had a stroke or been told to take medication yet.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance for Circulatory ConditionsSingle (USA)Multi (Worldwide)Multi (Worldwide, ex USA/Can/Mex/Carib)Get Quotes
Cheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellation
Lower Risk (high BP and cholesterol, no medication)£104£193£183£294£82£155Get Quotes
Medium Risk (high BP and cholesterol, multiple medications)£126£260£257£409£121£214Get Quotes
Higher Risk (1 stroke, high BP and cholesterol, multiple medications)£312£514£482£742£220£394Get Quotes

Cost of Travel Insurance with Heart Attacks

Those with heart conditions will certainly pay more for travel insurance, and this will rise with age, even if they have no history of heart attacks or chest pain. Interestingly, those with a stent will pay more than a totally healthy person BUT of those who've had a heart attack, having a stent will actually save you money on travel insurance, because the stent can theoretically reduce the risk of having an issue while you're abroad that necessitates a travel insurance claim.

chart showing the cost of travel insurance for individuals with a coronary stent
Cheapest travel insurance for coronary stent

Someone who's had one heart attack and no other issues or treatment will pay from around £168 for annual, multiptrip travel insurance with cover for the world, excluding USA/Can/Mex/Carib. The cheapest single trip cover for trips to the USA (the most expensive country) starts from £267 for someone who's had a heart attack—but other countries would certainly be cheaper.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance for CancerSingle (USA)Multi (Worldwide)Multi (Worldwide, ex USA/Can/Mex/Carib)Get Quotes
Cheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellation
Lower Risk (1 heart attack, angioplasty, stent, heart bypass)£267£434£405£648£168£295Get Quotes
Medium Risk (1 heart attack, no treatment)£316£534£492£764£183£322Get Quotes
Higher Risk (3 heart attacks)£640£1,264£1,522£2,394£308£458Get Quotes

If you're travelling more than once, you can see that it usually makes sense to buy a Annual, Multi-Trip plan instead of numerous Single Trip plans.

Cost of Travel Insurance with Diabetes

Those with manageable diabetes that hasn't caused other problems (even if they take insulin) can pay as little at £81 for multi-trip travel insurance to cover the world, excluding the USA, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Include those countries and that premium for cheap cover jumps up to £163. That's not too bad.

But, if your diabetes has caused related issues, the price of travel insurance can really jump up. We checked prices for someone with diabetes with impaired kidney function, ischaemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and lower limb ulcers, and found the cheapest cover started around £385 for multi-trip travel insurance to cover the world, excluding the USA, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean—nearly 5X the cost of cover for someone with diabetes and none of these issues.

chart showing the cost of travel insurance for individuals with a coronary stent
Cheapest travel insurance for coronary stent

When cover includes the USA, the premium could increase 10X or even more once these problems develop.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance for DiabetesSingle (USA)Multi (Worldwide)Multi (Worldwide, ex USA/Can/Mex/Carib)Get Quotes
Cheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellationCheapest 5Cheapest 5 with £5k+ cancellation
Lower Risk (takes insulin, no related problems)£95£166£163£247£81£146Get Quotes
Higher Risk (insulin; kidney, heart, vascular problems, lower limb ulcers)£914£1,828£2,122£3,514£385£627Get Quotes

Best Travel Insurance Pre-Existing Conditions

Below, we rank companies offering travel insurance for medical conditions like cancer, asthma, heart attack and more.

RankPre-existing Travel Insurance ProviderTerminal prognosis coverMedical equipment coverCover for trips more than 12 months outMedical screeningCustomer RatingCustomer Reviews
1Justtravelcover.comyesup to £2,500yesVerisk4.7Customer reviews
2AllClear Insurance Services Ltdyesup to £2,500noVerisk4.8Customer reviews
3Free Spirityesup to £2,000noVerisk4.7Customer reviews
4goodtogoinsurance.comyesup to £2,500noVerisk4.7Customer reviews
5Insurancewithyesup to £5,000noProtectif4.8Customer reviews
6Media Travel Insurance Services Ltdyesup to £3,000yesVerisk
7Our TravelyesyesyesVerisk
8StaysureyesnoyesVerisk4.7Customer reviews
9www.payingtoomuch.comnoup to £2,500yesVerisk4.9Customer reviews
10able2travelnoup to £1,000noVerisk4.7Customer reviews
11direct-travel.co.uknonoyesVerisk4.6Customer reviews
12Holiday Extras Cover Limitednoup to £3,000yesVerisk4.3Customer reviews
13Insure & Go Insurance Services LtdyesnonoVerisk4.8Customer reviews
14InsureCanceryesup to £1,000noVerisk
15Royton Insurance ServicesyesnoyesVerisk
16Travel Insurance 4 MedicalyesnonoVerisk4.8Customer reviews
17www.insurefortravelhealth.co.ukyesnoyesVerisk
18Andrew Yule LimitedyesnonoVerisk
19Freedom Insurance Services LimitednononoVerisk4.9Customer reviews
20G J Sladdin & Co LtdnonoyesVerisk
21Rothwell & Towler LimitedyesnonoVerisk3.1Customer reviews
22Thomas Carroll (Brokers) LtdnononoVerisk4.8Customer reviews
23Worldwide Travel Insurance Services LtdnononoVerisk4.8Customer reviews
24Brunel Insurance Brokers LimitednononoMedical screening in-house4.3Customer reviews
25Global Travel Insurance Services LtdnononoMedical screening in-house3.3Customer reviews
26OK To Travel LtdnononoVerisk4.5Customer reviews
27Saga Services LimitednononoVerisk

These companies are listed in Money Helper's travel insurance directory which essentially means they are approved as specialist travel insurance for pre-existing conditions. These companies will offer a range of policies with varying levels of cover for things like cancellation, baggage, Covid, etc. so

We have ranked them based on four factors that can be important for those seeking specialist medical travel insurance:

  • If they offer terminal prognosis cover
  • If they cover trips more than 12 months out
  • If they cover medical equipment
  • Their Trustpilot rating

We also included the name of the medical screening company used for each. This is an important piece of information to share, because companies using the same medical screener are more likely to give you a similar result (e.g. giving or not giving you cover, the premium charged, etc.). If you're searching for cover, it can help to check companies that use a different medical screener as they may view your medical history a bit differently. For example, if you've having trouble getting cover from a travel insurance provider that uses Verisk for their medical screening, you could try a company using an alternative like Protectif or who does it in house.

Methodology

We gathered hundreds of travel insurance quotes for the common pre-existing medical conditions of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, asthma, stents and more. Using this data, we calculated two different "average" values. First, the average of the 5 cheapest plans we found, for travellers who are very price sensitive and may be more interested in the medical coverage offered by travel insurance and require less coverage for cancellation and baggage. These plans offered as little as £750 of cancellation cover. For those needing more cancellation cover, we also found the average of the 5 cheapest plans with at least £5,000 of cancellation. This provided a more realistic estimate of what a consumer might pay if they were looking for affordable travel insurance.

Our sample quotes were for a 65-year-old individual. As the risks associated with health conditions rise with age, so do travel insurance premiums. So younger people can expect to pay less than the figures in this article; older people would probably pay more.

Below is a list of the insurance providers analyzed in our study. Not all providers returned quotes for each of the pre-existing medical conditions.

  • Just Travel Cover
  • TravelInsurance4Medical
  • Admiral
  • PostOfficeMoney
  • Coverwise
  • Explorer
  • OK
  • GoodToGo
  • InsureFor
  • GetCover
  • goodtogoinsurance.com
  • Holiday Extras
  • Select & Protect
  • SwitchedOn Insurance
  • Oasis
  • Virgin Money
  • Puffin
  • RAC
  • Viva
  • Essential Travel
  • Sainsbury's Bank
  • Start Travel
  • Ergo

Comments

The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.

Travel Insurance

Get Quotes

  • out of 5 stars**
  • 1 million+ passengers insured
  • Specialist travel insurance for medical conditions