Holidaymakers are not disclosing all the information to their travel insurance provider that they should, it has been claimed.
Britons are invalidating their travel insurance by failing to disclose information on pre-existing medical conditions, according to new research.
A study by medical travel insurance specialist AllClear found that three out of five holidaymakers either intentionally avoid mentioning important medical history details or are unaware of the importance of doing so. AllClear blamed the trend on the increasing cost of premiums, along with an ignorance of the importance of mentioning "minor" conditions like high blood pressure and asthma.
"Some travellers do not understand the potential consequences of their pre-existing medical conditions," says Chris Blackman, head of product development at AllClear. "And yet if they fall ill abroad, and need to be repatriated, they could find themselves facing an enormous bill."
Mr Blackman stressed that failing to disclose medical information did not necessarily mean people were being dishonest - he suggested that some people simply think that if a problem comes back when they are on holiday they will just return home.
"Unfortunately this can often end in disaster," he warned. "Failing to disclose such vital information means your insurer will be within their rights not to honour your claim, and you could be left stranded."
