Holidaymakers 'keeping quiet about health problems'

By Tom Farley, Tue 6 Jul 2010 - Published in Travel Insurance

More than 500,000 British holidaymakers failed to tell their travel insurance provider about long-term medical conditions before their trip, new figures have suggested.

A report by Sainsbury's Travel Insurance claimed that around 245,000 people could have neglected to inform their insurer that they suffer from back pain.

In addition, 110,000 holidaymakers could have gone abroad without mentioning their respiratory condition, while 50,000 did not inform their insurance company about an existing heart problem.

Other conditions which were not disclosed are thought to include osteoarthritis, diabetes, cancer and digestive disorders.

Scott Gorman, manager of Sainsbury's Travel Insurance, commented: "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."

He also noted that claims could have been rendered invalid if travellers did not tell their cover provider about a pre-existing health problem.

Last week, the European Commission stressed the importance of carrying a European Health Insurance Card when taking a break on the continent.

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