At a glance
When you compare travel quotes, you’ll need to tell us if you have Crohn’s disease.
You may need a specialist policy to make sure you’re covered for medical treatment abroad.
An insurance provider may ask about your symptoms, medication and recent flare-ups.
If you give false or misleading information, it could invalidate your policy.
Can I get travel insurance with Crohn’s disease?
Yes, you can still get travel insurance for Crohn’s disease or other pre-existing medical conditions, but you may need a specialist policy.
You’ll need to declare any pre-existing conditions when you get a quote.
A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, injury, or health condition you had before you took out the insurance policy.
What do I need to tell my insurance provider?
When you take out travel insurance with Crohn’s disease, you’ll need to supply detailed information about your medical history.
This helps insurance providers assess how likely it is you’ll need medical care during your holiday.
If you have Crohn’s disease, you may be asked:
When you last experienced symptoms
About the frequency and severity of your symptoms
When you were first diagnosed
If you’ve had any related surgeries or you’re on the waiting list for an operation
What medication you take and how often.
It might seem intrusive, but if you don’t provide accurate information about your medical history, it could invalidate your policy.
Some insurance providers may also want to see a letter from your GP confirming that you are fit to travel.
Will an insurance provider approve my application?
If you’re getting travel insurance with Crohn’s disease, you could find that once you’ve disclosed your medical history, insurance providers might:
Insure you for new conditions that arise on holiday, but refuse to cover costs relating to Crohn’s disease
Offer you a policy with certain restrictions
Give you full cover, but charge a higher excess or premium
Turn down your application.
If you’re travelling outside the UK, it’s important to get travel insurance that covers any necessary medical treatment for your condition while you’re away.
Travelling can be tiring, and adjusting to new food and a new climate could lead to flare-ups.
Medical care abroad can be eye-wateringly expensive and you don’t want to be left paying out of pocket for the care you need.
Does where I’m going affect my policy?
Yes. If you’re looking for travel insurance for Crohn’s disease sufferers, you’ll need to remember that medical costs can vary significantly depending on what country you’re going to.
This is something to bear in mind when choosing your medical cover limit (the maximum you can claim for medical bills). The higher the medical cover limit, the higher your premium is likely to be.
What do I need to consider when travelling if I have Crohn’s disease?
Once you’ve bought travel insurance that covers Crohn’s disease, keep your insurance provider’s details on you in case you need to contact them while you’re away.
If your plans change during your trip, speak to your insurance provider as you may need to alter your cover level.
You might need a GP’s letter confirming the medication you need to take. Talk to your doctor about taking extra medication with you, and find out if the change in time zone affects when you need to take it.
Some countries, such as Turkey, India and the UAE, have strict rules on what medications you can take into the country. If in doubt, check with the relevant embassy before you fly.
It’s worth arriving at the airport early in case there are any problems with carrying your medication.
You’ll need a letter from a healthcare professional to take syringes or liquid medicines over 100ml in your hand luggage.
And it’s advised to keep all your medication in its original packaging, with the patient information leaflet.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive.
Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.
When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.
If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.
How can a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) help?
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaced the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and gives you the same access to medically necessary state-provided healthcare as a local. This means you’ll either get it free or at a reduced cost.
But this isn’t a replacement for travel insurance and won’t cover treatment at a private hospital.
If you need medical attention, go to a state medical facility first and contact your insurance provider. They’ll let you know what private treatment your policy covers.
If you have an EHIC, this will be valid until it expires, or you can apply for a GHIC.
Once your application is approved, your new GHIC card should arrive within 15 working days and will give you the same cover the EHIC did in EU countries.
Compare travel insurance
Search for the right insurance using our travel insurance comparison tool.
Simply enter your details and tell us about you and your pre-existing medical conditions.
We’ll show you the travel insurance policies we have available so you can look for our best travel insurance for Crohn’s disease.
FAQs
Is Crohn’s disease considered a pre-existing condition?
Yes, Crohn’s is considered a pre-existing condition, which means you’ll need to declare it to your insurance provider.
But most providers will consider your personal circumstances before giving you a quote.
You may be charged more for your premium, which is why it’s so important to shop around.
What medical conditions do I need to declare for travel insurance?
When buying travel insurance, you’ll need to declare any kind of ongoing injury, illness or disability.
This could also include conditions you’ve had in the past but recovered from, such as cancer or heart conditions.
When getting a quote, you’ll be asked specific questions about your medical history. You need to answer these honestly to make sure you’re covered.
Can you travel with Crohn’s disease?
Yes, you should be fine to travel with Crohn’s or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Travelling with Crohn’s disease can be more challenging and may require extra preparation and planning, but that doesn’t mean it should stop you from enjoying your holidays.
If you’re worried, charities such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation offer lots of useful advice.
With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
