Category Archives: Travel Insurance

14/10/2025

Travel insurance market still not working for customers with medical conditions, Which? research finds

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Holidaymakers with pre-existing conditions continue to pay over the odds or face being priced out of traveling altogether, despite recent measures to address the problem, Which? research has found.

In our recent survey of 4,009 buyers of travel insurance, 61% said they had a pre-existing medical condition or a history of one. Over a third (36%) reported recent difficulties getting affordable cover because of their condition, with 7% of these people deciding to travel without insurance because premiums were prohibitively expensive.

Here we explain how your medical history can affect the premium you’re offered – and how to improve your chances of finding suitable cover at a decent price.

The cost of pre-existing conditions

In the past two years, the median amount paid for annual policies by customers with a pre-existing condition was £150 – 56% higher than those without (£96). Those who bought single-trip policies paid 88% more (£75 vs £40).

At an individual level, the differences can be much larger, depending on the nature of the medical condition as well as other factors such as age.

One customer in our survey, who had diabetes, told us they’d found they were paying roughly four times what they’d be

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09/10/2025

Revealed – most common travel insurance claims in NZ

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Revealed – most common travel insurance claims in NZ | Insurance Business New Zealand















Consumer NZ and the ICNZ unveil the figures, and it turns out that COVID is still playing its role

Revealed – most common travel insurance claims in NZ

Travel

By Kenneth Araullo

Consumer NZ has revealed the five most common reasons for making a travel insurance claim, according to figures from the Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ).

Medical-related reasons for travel policies are still the primary driver for claims figures, with the number of medical claims and average value on an upward trend. ICNZ general counsel Jane Brown said that one insurer advised that the number of medical and death claims made in 2022 was the highest it had seen, but 2023 was looking worse so far.

“This may be due to some parts of the community having delayed travel since the beginning of the pandemic and now getting those trips in, when perhaps their health hasn’t been up to it,” Brown said in the report. “Having insurance is a far better option than thinking you can fall back on a Givealittle campaign.”

Following medical are cancellations, which account

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08/10/2025

Is travel insurance a rip off for Australians?

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“Travel insurance is much cheaper overseas than here in Australia,” says a Traveller reader. “Most of my family in Europe have a year-round/world-wide travel insurance policy and no age or health restrictions seem to apply. Are we being ripped off here in Oz?”

It’s not hard to find other nationalities who pay less for travel insurance than we do, but ripped off, no. For a UK resident, for example, 43 years old and traveling solo, visiting Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand between April 1-30, 2024, a basic Allianz Bronze travel insurance policy costs $105.

Soaring … is travel insurance ripping off Australians?

Soaring … is travel insurance ripping off Australians?Credits: Getty Images

For an Australian of the same age with the same itinerary and dates, the equivalent Allianz Basic policy cost is $174. However, for a US resident the cost of a Basic policy is still higher, $284 if the total trip cost is $6900. If that trip costs $9960, that same Basic policy costs $420.

Even within Europe the cost varies. That’s the same Allianz policy for a month in South-East Asia for which a British resident pays $105 will cost a resident of Germany $347. Gary Ross Hunter, a travel insurance expert at finder.com, says: “There

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03/10/2025

Travel insurance leads personal lines for potential growth

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Annual travel insurance policies are set to become the fastest growing sector of personal lines insurance over the next 12 months.

travel covid19

This was according to new research published by Smart Money People, which revealed that annual travel insurance policies could see up to 15% of growth in the next year.

The Insurance Uptake Score data for H2 2023 – a biannual barometer of personal lines purchasing decisions in the UK based on consumers’ reported likelihood to continue with, purchase, increase, reduce or cancel their cover – also showed that health insurance and home insurance were the second and third lines with the highest potential growth.

Travel insurance’s potential for growth was primarily driven by a 17% increase in new purchases and a 6% growth in existing holders increasing cover – either by increasing limits (39%) or through the addition of add-ons (42%).

Smart Money People found that, in the next 12 months, 25% of existing annual travel insurance policyholders said they were likely to switch providers at renewal, however.

The H2 2023 Insurance Uptake Score data was based on a survey of 2,144 UK adults conducted between 28 July and 3 August 2023.

Smart Money People noted that the strong

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26/09/2025

Israel travel advice – GOV.UK

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This travel advice covers Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advices against travel

Gaza

FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza.

Areas near Gaza

FCDO advises against all travel to the area close to the border with Gaza that includes:

  • southwest of Ashkelon
  • south of route 35 and west of route 40 as far as Tlalim, not including Be’er Sheva
  • west of Be’er Sheva
  • north of route 211

The West Bank

FCDO advises against all travel to the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem and Route 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Northern Israel

FCDO advises against all travel to:

  • within 5km of the border with Lebanon – the Israeli military has announced that the area is a closed military zone and entry into the area is prohibited
  • the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajjar
  • within 500m of the border with Syria (the ‘Alpha Line’)
  • recently evacuated communities in northern Israel:
    • Beit Hillel
    • And
    • Elon
    • Even Menachem
    • Goren
    • Granot Ha’Galil
    • HaGoshrim
    • Liman
    • Matsuva
    • Ramot Naftali
    • Sasa
    • She’ar Yeshuv
    • Snir
    • Tzivon

The rest of Israel and the OPTs

FCDO advises against

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25/09/2025

Travel Insurance: Flight canceled or delayed due to fog? 5 important points to keep in mind

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A total of 120 flights (domestic and international) were delayed on account of dense fog last Wednesday. Additionally, a total of 53 flights (including domestic & international) were canceled due to fog and other operational reasons.

The repercussions of the space of flight cancellations and delays have been quite unpredictable and unsavory in the past few days. One passenger happened to hit a pilot on board and a flight operator made the passengers on its Goa-Delhi flight sit on the tarmac of Mumbai airport.

If you are one of the affected passengers, remember that your travel insurance offers the coverage of extra costs incurred due to independent delays or cancellations.

For example, when a flight is cancelled, the ticket cost stands to get reimbursed by the insurer. Besides, if there is a prolonged delay, the insurance ideally covers the cost of accommodation if you have to stay overnight out of station.

“If a flight is canceled then travel insurance will pay for actual costs that you incurred for example cancellation charges on a room reservation or some non-refundable bookings. This is what will be paid even in the case of a delay, typically, over 12 hours,” says Kapil Mehta, Co-founder

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20/09/2025

Traveling abroad? Don’t forget your European Health Insurance Card – Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion

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Holidays and trips abroad are fun and exciting, but accidents happen. While you are travelling, the European Health Insurance Card gives you access to necessary medical services in any EU country.


















What if I need a doctor when I am traveling abroad?


With your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you can receive treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost as for people insured in the country you are visiting.


The EHIC is valid in any case EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland or the United Kingdom.


Your national health provider can issue the card for free. Make sure you apply for it before you travel.


If you want more information on the EHIC while on the go, check out our page.


What does EHIC cover ?


The EHIC covers any necessary, state-provided healthcare treatment which cannot be postponed until you’ve returned from your stay in another EU country.


Under certain conditions, the benefits covered include, for example,

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09/09/2025

Huge growth in employees benefiting from workplace health insurance

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A record 4.4 million people are now covered by health insurance through their employers and 1 million claims have been made over the past year, according to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).*

The number of employees benefiting from health insurance has increased by 8%, from 4 million in 2021 to 4.4 million in 2022. Workplace policies also saw a 15% increase in claims, with 1 million made in 2022 compared to 873,000 in 2021.

Following a series of consultations on the role of occupational health, the Government has enhanced its focus on the need to support people to stay healthy and at work.** These record figures demonstrate that insurance needs to be a vital part of this conversation. The value it can add with speedier access to services and treatment, which often prevent health conditions from worsening, must not be overlooked. The access to virtual GPs, more flexible appointment times, and cover for operations can help people get back on their feet and back to their work, family lives and other commitments more quickly.

Our recent research also shows the value that health and protection insurance can have in the workplace. We found that nine

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30/05/2025

International Citizens Insurance — Record Sales, Industry Awards and New Hires

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Continued Growth in International Health and Travel Insurance Enhanced by New Products and an Award-Winning Team

BOSTON, March 21, 2024 (Newswire.com) –
International Citizens Insurance (ICI) is excited to announce another year of record sales, highlighted by 200% growth in its global life insurance business and more than 500% growth in its group business. The company’s industry-leading presence in the international insurance space continues to expand, as recognized by the following awards.

Global Insurance Awards

Affirming the company as a leader in the international insurance space, Cigna Global recently recognized International Citizens Insurance as the Top Producing Broker, Americas, Global Individual Health for the second year running. In addition, GeoBlue recognized ICI with the 2023 Sales Excellence Award.

“International Citizens Insurance was delighted to be recognized by Cigna Healthcare at their recent Global Broker Advisory Council in Sydney,” said Joe Cronin, President of International Citizens Insurance. “We were honored to be recognized for this award and to be seen as a vital partner in helping to shape the future of healthcare for global individuals. We look forward to our partnership growing from strength to strength in 2024 and beyond.”

New Hires to Support Expanding Business

To support the continued growth

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28/05/2025

5 reasons to buy travel insurance for winter trips

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Woman at airport
Skipping the travel insurance for your winter trips could be a costly mistake.

YR/Getty Images


Winter travel can be a magical experience, offering picturesque landscapes, festive celebrations and the opportunity to enjoy cold-weather activities. Whether you’re planning a skiing vacation or a cozy cabin getaway, winter trips are filled with unique memories waiting to be made.

However, there are also those potential risks to traveling during this time of year. After all, it only takes a few inches of snow or ice to cause major backups, delays and cancellations at the airport. That, in turn, could mean you’re stuck paying for unnecessary travel-related expenses, like hotel rooms you’re not using or ski passes you can’t pick up.

Those are the types of issues most people would like to avoid when they’re already paying hefty sums of money to travel — and that’s where travel insurance comes into play. Purchasing the right travel insurance policy is important if you want to avoid losing money on your winter trips, and there are a few different reasons to consider buying it this year.

Explore your top travel insurance options here to learn more.

5 reasons travel insurance is important for winter trips

There

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