Jet2 has issued an important travel insurance alert for passengers that affects anyone with these common health conditions
Jet2 has issued a travel alert to passengers about an important declaration they must make, or they could face ‘rejection’. It comes as millions of flight seats are set to depart from UK airports during the six-week summer break as Brits make the most of the school holidays.
As exciting as it can be to go on holiday, plans could easily be ruined if certain documents aren’t filled out correctly – including travel insurance. Sorting travel insurance as soon as you book a holiday is crucial, as it is not just for medical emergencies abroad, but for protecting your upfront investment from day one.
It’s important to declare all health conditions when you’re buying travel insurance. This is because standard policies usually don’t cover pre-existing medical conditions, and if you don’t mention them, you could lose your coverage entirely.
Jet2 reiterated this point in a social media alert posted on X this week. The popular UK airline told passengers: “Going away this summer? Declare your medical conditions when you buy travel insurance – it could save you thousands. If your details aren’t up to date, your claim could be rejected.”
Medical conditions can include, but are not limited to:
- Heart conditions/stroke
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory conditions (such as asthma)
- Mental health conditions
- Any form of cancer
For passengers with common health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, declaring them is vital as these conditions are major risk factors for heart and metabolic issues. Insurers typically see them as directly related to serious and expensive medical emergencies.
Even if your health is stable and controlled with medication, these conditions are still seen as serious warning signs for possible health problems. If you don’t disclose them, your emergency medical coverage could be completely void, and you would be responsible for hospital costs that could easily amount to tens of thousands of pounds.
A statement on the Gov.uk Travel Aware page explains: “You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. If you already have cover, you should check that your list of medical conditions is updated before each trip abroad.
“Failure to do this could mean your claim is rejected if you have a medical emergency while travelling. You must be honest about any medical conditions you have, to avoid risking a big bill. Check your policy to see what you need to declare.”
It added: “A British national was hospitalised and admitted to intensive care following a stroke while abroad. The insurance provider refused to cover the medical costs after it emerged the individual had not declared a previous stroke. As a result, the family was left to meet significant medical expenses.”
What is a pre-existing medical condition?
According to Jet2, any of the following medical conditions from which you have suffered or received medical advice, treatment (including surgery, tests, investigations by your doctor/consultant /specialist) or prescribed drugs or medication in the last five years include:
- Any cancer condition (including leukaemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and any type of skin cancer)
- Any heart-related or blood circulatory condition (including high blood pressure and high cholesterol)
- Any diabetic condition
- Any neurological condition (including stroke, brain haemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and dementia)
- Any breathing condition (including asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Any renal, kidney or liver condition
- Any psychiatric or psychological condition (including anxiety, stress and depression)
- Any chronic condition that can be controlled but not cured (including back pain, Crohn’s, diverticular and coeliac disease and ulcerative colitis)
And/or any other medical condition for which you have been prescribed medication or which you have received or are waiting to receive treatment (including surgery, tests, or investigations) within the last 12 months.
