Holiday-makers warned on failure to disclose medical conditions

Holidaymakers have been warned of the dangers of failing to disclose their medical conditions when taking out travel cover.

According to Sainsbur's Finance around half a million Britons travelled abroad last year with a long term medical complaint but did not tell their insurer, potentially invalidating any claim they should make.

This could leave holidaymakers with a hefty medical bill despite having paid out for travel cover, which thousands more decide against taking at all before travelling.

"Good travel insurance can prove vital if you fall ill abroad so it's really important that people are open and honest with their insurer," Scott Gorman, Sainsbury's travel insurance manager, said.

"The costs of medical treatment abroad can be exceptionally high and simply omitting to give details of a pre-existing condition because you felt it wasn't relevant could, in the event of an accident or further illness, prove very costly indeed.

"The travel insurance market has grown considerably in recent years and those with common medical conditions should now be able to find a provider who will offer fair and competitive cover. For those with more serious medical conditions there are specialist insurers available.

"Choosing to ignore a condition and travel with potentially invalidated cover or no cover at all is simply reckless."

There is unfortunately a fair chance of mishaps while on stag weekends in Europe due to the intake of alcohol and relaxed approach to health and safety so our advice to stag groups is to take full travel insurance to cover all eventualities.

By Rob Hogley