Disabled people in the UK can get travel insurance, though it often depends on their specific circumstances, such as the nature of their disability or any pre-existing medical conditions.
Here’s how it works:
Availability
Standard Policies: Many mainstream insurers offer travel insurance to disabled individuals, but coverage for disabilities or related medical conditions might be limited or excluded unless explicitly declared. If the disability doesn’t involve significant health risks (e.g., a stable mobility issue), a standard policy might suffice.
Specialist Insurers: For those with more complex disabilities or chronic conditions—like cerebral palsy, cancer, or heart disease—specialist providers step in. Companies like AllClear, Just Travel Cover, Free Spirit, and Goodtogo focus on insuring people with pre-existing conditions and disabilities, often with no upper age limit and tailored coverage.
Post Office Travel Insurance for any age
For weekend breaks to one year trips Cruise cover provided as standard!
Optional extras - including ski, cruise & golf insurance Choose from single trip, annual multi-trip or backpacker cover 24/7 medical emergency helpline
- Example Quote* - £32.36 (PO Single Trip)
> GET A QUOTE FROM POST OFFICE INSURANCE
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Travel Supermarket Comparison
Travelsupermarket insurance will give you a broad view of the whole of the travel insurance options for your longer stay trip. Compare 120 holiday insurance policies from over 50 travel insurance providers including SAGA, Staysure and Allclear.
- Policies tailored to you
- Cover from just £6.00
> GET A QUOTE FROM TRAVEL SUPERMARKET
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Staysure Travel Insurance for ANY AGE
5 Star reviews on Trustpilot than any other travel insurance provider.
Covering you for one trip to any worldwide destination, with no upper age limit 100% of claims are progressed to the decision stage within 2 days of receiving all documents
- 99% of global destinations covered
- Example Quote* - £55.00
> GET A QUOTE FROM STAYSURE INSURANCE
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Avanti Insurance for the Over 65s
Single Trip Travel Insurance covers anyone up to the age of 120! Cancellation cover starts as soon as you take out the policy and ends when you’re back home again. Ideal if you are planning on a long stay in the winter sun of Spain or Portugal, or further afield like Mexico or Thailand.
- Example Quote* - £29.00
> GET A QUOTE FROM AVANTI INSURANCE
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Good to Go for the over 80s
Goodtogoinsurance.com provides travel insurance cover to travellers of any age, with or without pre-existing medical conditions. They can also cover your travelling companions on the same policy.
- Pre existing conditons such as Cancer, Heart Conditions, Diabetes, Stroke, Epilepsy and many more
- Single trip and annual travel insurance with no age limit
- Three levels of travel insurance cover available and No AGE LIMITS!
- Example Quote* - £67.34 (Silver Policy)
> GET A QUOTE FROM GOOD TO GO INSURANCE
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Globelink Insurance for seniors up to 89
Single trip policies are available for up to 89 year olds, Over 50 pre-existing medical conditions covered for free
24/7 medical emergency helpline - we’re there if you need us
- Example Quote* - £40.99
> GET A QUOTE FROM GLOBELINK
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Columbus Insurance up to the age of 85
Columbus offer a range of flexible single-trip policies from just £2.69 and annual policies from £22(1) covering both Europe and Worldwide destinations. All policies include cover for over 150 sports and activities. For those with a more adventurous streak, many more daring activities can be covered for a small extra premium.
- Example Quote* - £12.69
> GET A QUOTE FROM COLUMBUS INSURANCE
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Legal Protections
Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s illegal for insurers to refuse coverage or offer worse terms solely because someone is disabled. However, they can charge higher premiums or add special conditions if they can justify it based on risk (e.g., medical data showing a higher likelihood of claims). This means outright refusal is rare, but costs can climb depending on the insurer’s assessment.
Challenges
Pre-Existing Conditions: Disabilities tied to medical issues (e.g., diabetes causing mobility limits) must be declared. If not, claims related to them could be denied. Some insurers exclude these conditions unless you pay extra for a waiver or a specialist policy.
Cost: Premiums can be steep. Posts on X and web anecdotes—like a £636 quote for a Paris trip—highlight how prices soar for disabled travelers, especially with severe conditions. Standard policies might start at £20-50 for a healthy person, but specialist ones can hit hundreds for a single trip.
Limited Options: Some mainstream insurers might refuse to quote if the disability is deemed “too risky,” pushing people to specialists. This shrinks the pool of affordable choices.
Practical Steps
Declare Everything: When getting a quote, list all disabilities and conditions, even if managed (e.g., controlled epilepsy). Honesty ensures coverage holds up.
Shop Around: Comparison sites like MoneyHelper or Quotezone can connect you to specialist providers. The MoneyHelper directory lists firms for pre-existing conditions if premiums exceed £100.
Check Coverage: Look for policies covering medical emergencies, repatriation, and mobility aids (e.g., wheelchairs). Some include carer replacement if yours falls ill abroad.
Timing: Buy as soon as you book your trip—cancellation cover kicks in immediately, which is key if a condition worsens pre-travel.
Real-World Options
AllClear: Covers all ages, disabilities, and conditions, with up to £10M in medical expenses.
Just Travel Cover: Tailors policies for physical, sensory, or learning disabilities.
Free Spirit: Offers £5M-£10M emergency medical cover, popular for mobility issues.
Able2Travel: Focuses on bespoke plans, including for those on treatment waiting lists.
Sentiment and Evidence
Some disabled UK travelers feel “trapped” by high costs or refusals, with one user citing “15x” the usual price and exclusions. Web sources confirm specialist insurers fill this gap, backed by government advice (GOV.UK) urging comprehensive insurance for all travelers, disabled or not.
So, yes, it’s absolutely possible—just expect to navigate higher costs or hunt for the right provider.