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Is it a bad idea to omit or mis-represent information on travel insurance?

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Amending or omitting details of your trip and circumstances from your insurance application will likely invalidate your insurance.

Consequences of amending or omitting details

  • Misrepresenting details on an application is a criminal offence in the UK (under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Consumer Insurance Act 2012). Even "small" tweaks count.
  • Your policy becomes worthless. If you need to claim and the insurer discovers any inaccuracy, even one unrelated to the claim itself, they can void the policy entirely, refuse to pay, and reclaim any previous payouts.
  • Medical bills abroad can run into tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds, so this risk is enormous.
  • Voided policies and fraud markers get recorded on shared industry databases (like the Insurance Fraud Register and CUE).
  • Future insurance of any type becomes much more expensive or refused outright, often for years.

Common things people are tempted to fudge, and why you shouldn't

  • Pre-existing medical conditions - if you don't declare them and something related happens, you have no cover.
  • Age - this directly affects pricing and is trivial to verify if you claim.
  • Destinations - if you visit a country you didn't declare and something happens there, no cover.
  • Trip dates or length - claims outside your declared window aren't covered.
  • Activities - skiing, scuba diving, etc. usually need specific cover.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What affects the price of travel insurance?
The main factors that influence the price of travel insurance are destination, traveller group, age, trip length, declared medical conditions and add-ons such as cruise cover, winter sports, business travel, and gadget cover.
How can I bring down the price of my insurance?
Immediate ways to bring down the price of insurance (your 'insurance premium') are to shop around, pay annually rather than monthly and to increase your excess amount.
What are the main exclusions on travel insurance policies?
Always check the insurance policy wording for specifics. Most travel insurance excludes undeclared medical conditions, alcohol/drug-related incidents, travel against FCDO advice, foreseeable events, and unlisted high-risk activities.
How can I bring down the price of my travel insurance without leaving myself underinsured?
Do not reduce your insurance cover to save a small amount. Medical expenses overseas can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds. An air ambulance can cost up to £30,000. You can legitimately reduce the price of your insurance with an annual multi-trip policy if you travel twice or more a year, if you accept a higher excess if you can comfortably afford to pay it on a claim, and, if you shop around.
Do I need to declare pre-existing medical conditions?
You must declare pre-existing medical conditions. A pre-existing medical condition is any health condition you have been diagnosed with, treated for, or had tests for in recent years (usually the last two to five years). If you do not declare a condition, any claim related to it will be refused. Failing to disclose pre-existing conditions is one of the most common reasons travel insurance claims are rejected and [complaints are sent to the Financial Ombudsman Service](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/news/travel-insurance-complaints-highest-levels-since-pandemic).