Foreign Office UK travel alert to anyone going abroad – ‘your claim could be rejected’

People have been urged to carry out a quick task as soon as possible

People heading on holiday this summer have been issued a warning by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Taking to X, the official FCDO Travel Advice account urged people to do a simple task before their holiday.

In an update posted on April 22, it wrote: “Before you go, make sure your travel insurance covers all your medical conditions.” It added: “If you don’t declare a condition, your claim could be rejected. Always check what your policy needs from you.”

The GOV.UK website notes that if you’re travelling abroad, you need to ensure it covers any existing health conditions (physical or mental), even if they’re still being checked. It should also cover any activities you plan to do.

Without proper insurance, you could have to pay for emergencies yourself, including medical care. This can cost thousands of pounds.

For example, the cost to you without insurance could be as follows:

• Fall and break your leg in Spain (hospital treatment and possible medical evacuation/repatriation): £25,000+
• Quad bike accident in Greece (surgery and medical evacuation/repatriation): £80,000+
• Stomach bug or infection treated in a hospital in the USA (and possible medical evacuation/repatriation): £150,000+

I have booked a holiday

Buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Check the policy details carefully so you understand what isn’t covered.

As well as having the right insurance, check the latest travel advice and sign up for alerts for your destination. If you travel somewhere they advise against it, your insurance may not be valid.

The Foreign Office adds: “When you travel, make sure you take your insurance policy details with you, including the policy number and your insurer’s emergency assistance telephone number. Share your policy details with people you’re travelling with and friends or family at home, in case they need to contact your insurance company on your behalf.”

What should my travel insurance cover?

Check whether your policy covers:

• the full length of your trip (many policies have a maximum trip length and/or an annual limit on how much time in total you can spend outside the UK)
• treatment in state or private hospitals (emergency treatment and hospital bills can be enormously expensive)
• emergency transport, such as an ambulance: this is often charged separately to other medical expenses and emergency travel home on medical grounds can be very expensive
• pre-existing medical conditions: declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests so that you are covered if there are related complications during your trip; failing to declare something may invalidate your travel insurance
• all activities you may undertake on holiday, such as sports or adventure tourism (you may need specialist insurance or an add-on for some activities)
• all the places you intend to visit, even if only in transit, in case anyone needs emergency treatment in a transit country
• repatriation costs if you or a family member die abroad
• getting home after medical treatment if you cannot use your original ticket
• reasonable costs for a family member or friend to stay with you, or travel out to accompany you home if required

Check also whether:

• the insurance provider has 24-hour assistance helplines to offer support and advice about appropriate treatment
• the insurance policy provides cover if an airline or travel agent goes out of business – typically this is not covered. ATOL is a consumer protection scheme for air holidays and flights, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Choose an ATOL-protected holiday or a travel insurance policy that includes airline or supplier failure cover

If you’re going on a cruise, check the operator’s booking conditions. You may need extra insurance cover because it can be harder to reach a hospital at sea.

What policy exclusions do I need to look out for?

Check how or whether an insurance policy covers:

• alcohol and drugs: most travel insurance policies do not cover events that happen after you have drunk excessive alcohol or taken recreational drugs or other substances
• high risk destinations: many travel insurance policies will not cover travel to a high risk destination where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel or all travel. Check your policy wording and the relevant country travel advice pages before booking your trip and buying insurance
• mental health conditions: you must declare mental health conditions or risk invalidating your policy. Be aware that some may exclude cover for treatment related to a pre-existing mental health condition. See foreign travel advice for people with mental health issues for more guidance
• age restrictions, particularly if you are buying an annual policy: read the Money Advice Service and the ABI guidance on insurance for older people (PDF, 411 KB) for advice on how to choose the right level of cover, get the best deal, make a travel insurance claim and guidance for travellers over the age of 65 or with pre-existing medical conditions
• sports such as bungee jumping, jet skiing, winter sports or skydiving: these are not usually included in standard policies
• use/hire of quad bikes or mopeds: they are not usually covered
• driving overseas: if you’re hiring a car, check what you’re covered for with the hire company; if you are driving your own vehicle, check your motor insurance policy to see what it covers; check our advice on driving abroad
• terrorist acts: most travel insurers offer only limited cover for terrorist acts but some offer policy add-ons to provide additional cover if there is a terrorist attack in your destination; this may include cancellation cover, if your destination is affected by a terrorist attack before your trip and you no longer wish to travel; as a minimum, make sure your policy covers you for emergency medical expenses and travel home if you are caught up in an attack
• natural disasters (such as an earthquake or tropical cyclone): some policies only offer limited cover for claims related to or caused by a natural disaster
• civil unrest, strikes or other industrial action: you may not be covered for some claims that arise from these kinds of incidents, especially if they were known publicly when you booked your trip and/or bought your travel insurance policy

You can check out the latest foreign travel advice here. You can also sign of for alerts and get emails from GOV.UK about updates to travel, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.