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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
7 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
August 24, 2026
Last reviewed: 24 August 2026
Applies to: UK
Written by: Fish Insurance in collaboration with Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Whether you’re planning a relaxing UK break, an accessible city escape or the holiday you’ve been looking forward to for months, everyone deserves to travel with confidence. If you have a disability or long-term health condition, choosing specialist travel insurance early can help give you peace of mind and ensure you have cover that’s appropriate for your individual needs before you travel.
If you have a disability or long-term health condition, you may already be used to planning ahead, from arranging accessible accommodation to making sure you have the right medication and equipment with you.
Choosing specialist travel insurance is simply another part of that preparation. With the right planning and the right cover in place, you can spend more time looking forward to your trip and less time worrying about the practicalities.
Many people leave buying travel insurance until just before they travel, but if you have a disability or pre-existing medical condition, it’s often better to arrange cover as soon as you’ve booked your trip.
This gives you time to find a specialist insurer who understands your individual needs and can provide cover that’s right for you. It also means you’ll be protected if you need to cancel your holiday for a reason that’s covered before you travel.
When you speak to your insurer, they’ll want to understand the full picture of your trip, including where you’re travelling, the type of holiday you’ve planned, any accessibility requirements, the equipment you’ll be taking and whether you’ll be travelling with a carer, personal assistant or companion. Having this information ready makes the conversation much smoother and helps your insurer confirm the cover and product you have chosen.
All travellers are different. While standard travel insurance may be suitable for many people, it doesn’t always reflect the realities of travelling with additional medical or accessibility needs.
Specialist travel insurance is designed with those needs in mind. Rather than treating your disability or medical condition as an exception, specialist insurers take the time to understand your situation so they can support you with finding the appropriate cover for you.
Depending on the policy, this may include cover for pre-existing medical conditions, travelling with a carer or personal assistant, emergency medical treatment abroad and, where necessary, medical repatriation.
The goal is simple: to remove uncertainty, so you can focus on enjoying your holiday rather than worrying about the “what ifs”.
Medical screening can sometimes feel a little daunting, but it’s simply there to help insurers build a clear picture of your health and support needs.
One of the biggest causes of claim issues is under-declaration, where medical conditions, symptoms or changes in health aren’t disclosed when travel insurance is arranged. It’s a well-recognised issue across the insurance industry, with research suggesting around one in four travellers may not fully declare their medical history when buying travel insurance.
Be sure to tell your insurer about every diagnosis, including physical, cognitive, behavioural, psychological and neurological conditions, as well as recent hospital admissions, medication changes and significant changes to your health.
If you’re waiting for tests or a diagnosis, mention this too, as pending investigations may still be considered a pre-existing medical condition.
Many people aren’t sure whether well-managed conditions, such as controlled asthma or high blood pressure, need to be declared. In most cases, they do. If you’re ever unsure, it’s always best to ask. Sharing accurate, up-to-date information helps avoid misunderstandings later and means your insurer can support you with finding the appropriate cover for you.
Many claim issues arise simply because information wasn’t shared with the insurer or cover wasn’t updated after a change in circumstances.
If your health changes after you’ve bought your insurance, perhaps you’ve started a new medication, had a hospital admission, received a new diagnosis or are waiting for further investigations, let your insurer know as soon as you can.
Some people worry that declaring more information will automatically make their insurance much more expensive. In reality, insurers calculate premiums using a range of factors, including your medical history, destination, the length and type of trip, the likely cost of treatment overseas and, where appropriate, medical repatriation. The aim is to make sure your cover accurately reflects your health and travel plans.
Take a moment to make sure that your insurance matches the type of holiday you’re taking, whether that’s a cruise, a UK break or a longer stay abroad.
Even relatively straightforward medical treatment overseas can be costly. While the average travel insurance medical claim is now over £1,300, more complex cases can cost significantly more. Keeping your cover up to date is a simple step that can help avoid unnecessary stress if your plans change.
Every policy is different so take a little time to understand exactly what’s included. Depending on your circumstances, you may want cover for emergency medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions or support if your travelling companion or carer is unable to continue the trip.
If you’re travelling with a carer or personal assistant, it’s best for you both to be covered under the same travel insurance policy. If your carer becomes unwell or is unable to continue the trip, having the right cover in place may help if you need to cut your holiday short or make alternative travel arrangements.
The cheapest policy isn’t always the best choice. Taking a little extra time to compare what’s included can make a real difference if you ever need to rely on your insurance.
Before you set off, use this simple checklist to make sure you’ve covered the essentials:
Once those practicalities are taken care of, you can focus on the exciting part, enjoying your holiday and making the most of your trip.
Travelling with a disability or long-term health condition may involve a little more planning, but it shouldn’t stop you discovering new places, visiting loved ones or enjoying a well-earned break.
Having specialist travel insurance is simply part of preparing for a successful trip. Like booking accommodation or planning your route, it’s another way to help your holiday run as smoothly as possible, giving you one less thing to think about once you’re away.
At Fish Insurance, we believe travel should be accessible to everyone. We have partnered with AllClear, a specialist travel insurance provider, who offer products designed to help disabled travellers and their families plan every trip with confidence, knowing they’ll be supported by an insurer that understands the realities of travelling with a disability or long-term health condition. So you can spend less time worrying about the practicalities and more time enjoying the journey.
At Purpl, we know travelling with a disability or long-term health condition can involve extra costs long before your holiday begins. That’s why we’ve partnered with Fish Insurance to help eligible members save on specialist travel insurance.
Fish Insurance has supported disabled people and those with pre-existing medical conditions for more than 50 years. Through Purpl, eligible members can access a verified discount on specialist travel insurance, helping make holidays more affordable while giving extra peace of mind before they travel.
Before arranging your cover, it’s worth checking the latest Fish Insurance offer available through your Purpl membership.
Planning a holiday often involves more than arranging travel insurance. These guides can help you save money, understand your rights and travel with greater confidence.
This guide has been written by Fish Insurance in collaboration with Georgina, Founder of Purpl to help disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions better understand specialist travel insurance.
Fish Insurance has specialised in insurance for disabled people and specialist insurance products for more than 50 years. They understand that travelling with a disability or pre-existing medical condition often requires more planning, which is why they work with trusted partners such as AllClear to help people find appropriate travel insurance for their individual circumstances.
Purpl is a UK discount platform created to help disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and carers reduce the extra cost of disability. Alongside practical guides covering benefits, accessibility, travel and everyday life, Purpl provides members with verified discounts from trusted brands, including Fish Insurance.
Together, Fish Insurance and Purpl share the goal of helping disabled people travel with greater confidence while reducing some of the extra costs that can come with planning a holiday.
Statistics referenced in this article are drawn from industry and regulatory sources, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the FCA Financial Lives Survey and AllClear customer data presented in 2026 at an industry conference.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal advice. Insurance cover, exclusions and premiums vary between insurers and policies. Always read your policy documents carefully and ensure the cover you choose is suitable for your individual circumstances.
AllClear Travel Insurance is administered by AllClear Insurance Services Limited, registered in England No. 04255112. Registered Office: AllClear House, 1 Redwing Court, Ashton Road, Romford, RM3 8QQ. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority firm reference number 311244. AllClear is a registered trademark.