If you’ve ever tried buying travel insurance with a genuine medical condition to declare, you’ll know the drill: endless screening questions, quotes that swing wildly between providers, and a nagging worry that you’ll be the one person whose claim gets rejected over some small print you didn’t read closely enough. Additionally, with so many companies, meerkats and opera singers trying to persuade you that their travel insurance is the best fit for your specific needs, and it can all become really rather confusing.
I know from experience that just having to go through the process of declaring your medical conditions, and stressing about medications and appointments is more than enough to put some people off travelling abroad altogether.
I’ve dug into four of the UK’s best-known specialists in this exact space: Staysure, InsureAndGo, Avanti, and AllClear, to work out which one actually suits which kind of traveller. What i learnt is that they’re not interchangeable. Each one has a genuinely different sweet spot, and picking the wrong one either means overpaying for cover you didn’t need, or worse, discovering a gap in your policy exactly when you need it most.
Let’s dive in…
Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions & the Over 50's
Quick Verdict
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick summary:
- Cheapest entry point: InsureAndGo — genuinely competitive pricing, no age-based price hikes, but a higher excess and more average claims handling.
- Most trusted mainstream brand: Staysure — Which? Best Buy on its top tiers, Defaqto 5-star rated, voted Best Company for Travel Insurance at the British Travel Awards nine years running (2016–2025).
- Best middle ground for pre-existing conditions: Avanti — a specialist built specifically around older travellers and declared conditions, with strong long-stay options.
- Best for the most complex or serious conditions: AllClear — the specialist’s specialist. Independently verified claim acceptance of 90–95% on annual European policies (against an industry average of 86.3%), and one of the few insurers that will even consider terminal prognoses. Expect to pay more for it.
Comparison Table
To make it easier to compare your options at a glance, I’ve pitted InsureandGo, Staysure, Avanti, and AllClear head-to-head. The table below breaks down their key features—including age limits, medical condition support, maximum cover limits, and excess fees—to help you find the best fit for your trip.
| InsureAndGo | Staysure | Avanti | AllClear | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper age limit | None | None on most policies (long-stay cover up to age 75) | None | None |
| Pre-existing conditions | Screened individually, wide range accepted | 1,300+ conditions, 97% of customers accepted | 1,300+ conditions, subject to screening | 1,300+ conditions, including complex/high-risk cases |
| Medical cover ceiling | Up to unlimited (higher tiers) | Unlimited (Comprehensive/Signature) | Unlimited (Deluxe) | Unlimited (Platinum) |
| Typical excess | Around £100 | Up to £129 | Varies by tier | £250 on entry-level Gold |
| Which? Best Buy | 2 of 4 policies | Comprehensive & Signature | Not confirmed | All policies |
| Best suited for | Budget-conscious, straightforward conditions | Mainstream over-50s cover, trusted brand | Long-stay & moderate pre-existing conditions | Complex/serious conditions, higher-risk cases |
| Full Review | InsureAndGo Review | Staysure Review | Avanti Review | AllClear Review |
| Get a Quote | InsureAndGo Quote | Staysure Quote | Avanti Quote | AllClear Quote |
Figures compiled from independent reviews and provider information current as of 18.9.2026. Insurance pricing and terms change; always confirm current details directly with the provider before buying.
InsureAndGo: Best for Budget-Conscious Older Travellers
InsureAndGo has no upper age limit on either its single-trip or annual policies, and will consider a genuinely wide range of pre-existing conditions through its screening process, from diabetes and asthma to cancer and heart conditions. Two of its four core policies have been Which? Best Buys.
What makes InsureAndGo stand out specifically for older travellers is something most of its competitors don’t do: its pricing doesn’t rise sharply with age the way most insurers’ does. A quote for a 60-year-old on a typical trip can come out almost identical to a 30-year-old’s, which is unusual in an industry where age is normally one of the costliest pricing factors.
The tradeoff is a slightly higher standard excess (around £100) and claims handling that independent reviewers describe as competent but unremarkable rather than exceptional. If your main priority is keeping costs down and your conditions are relatively standard, this is a strong starting point.
Keep travel costs down without age-related price hikes
Get an instant quote with InsureAndGo to see how affordable covering your standard medical conditions can be. Choose from Silver, Gold, or Black tiers.
Staysure: The Trusted Mainstream Choice
Staysure has specialised in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions since 2004, and it shows – the company states that 97% of customers who declare a condition are able to get cover, across more than 1,300 recognised conditions. Its Comprehensive and Signature policies are current Which? Best Buys with a Defaqto 5-star rating, and it’s been voted Best Company for Travel Insurance at the British Travel Awards for nine consecutive years (2016–2025).
Staysure’s marketing leans hard into “all ages,” and largely delivers on that, though it’s worth knowing that precise limits shift by product: i.e. long-stay cover (for trips of up to 550 days) is available up to age 75, while other policy types extend further. Always check the specific product page for your exact circumstances rather than assuming a blanket age cap.
Independent reviewers are broadly positive but note the underlying contract can feel procedural, so expect detailed medical disclosure requirements and stricter cancellation triggers than some of their competitors, alongside an excess that can run up to £129 depending on the policy.
Protect your trip with the UK’s most-awarded specialist
Cover 1,300+ medical conditions with a Which? Best Buy provider voted Best Travel Insurance Company 9 years running.
Avanti: Built Specifically for Pre-Existing Conditions & Long Stays
Avanti is smaller and more specialised than Staysure, and it shows in how tightly its whole business is built around exactly this audience: older travellers and people with declared medical conditions. It covers over 1,300 pre-existing conditions subject to screening, has no upper age limit, and has been named Personal Finance’s Best Travel Insurance provider every year from 2018 to 2025.
Where Avanti particularly earns its place in this comparison is long-stay cover. Alongside Staysure, it’s one of the few providers genuinely well set up for trips of up to three months, which matters a lot if you’re managing a chronic condition and want continuous cover rather than piecing together multiple shorter policies. Its Deluxe tier offers unlimited medical expenses and up to £7,500 per person in cancellation cover.
Think of Avanti as sitting between InsureAndGo’s budget-first approach and AllClear’s premium specialism – it’s a genuinely strong middle ground for moderate-to-significant conditions that doesn’t come with AllClear’s price tag.
Planning a longer trip or managing a chronic condition?
Get tailored cover built specifically for over-50s and multi-week trips, featuring unlimited medical expenses on Deluxe policies.
AllClear: The Specialist for Serious or Complex Conditions
AllClear is the one to know about if your condition is more complex, high-risk, or has previously been declined or heavily loaded by other insurers. They have been a specialist in medical travel insurance since 2000, they screen over 1,300 conditions, and, unusually for this market, will even consider travellers with a terminal prognosis – something few competitors will touch at all.
The numbers back up the reputation too: as independently verified by Which?, AllClear’s claim acceptance rate on annual European policies sits at 90–95%, against an industry average of 86.3%. Every one of its policies has also been a Which? Best Buy.
The honest tradeoff is cost and transparency. AllClear doesn’t publish a standard price list at all, with every quote being built around your individual medical declaration. Additionally, its entry-level Gold tier carries a notably high £250 excess with only £2,000 of cancellation cover. Independent comparisons of chronic-illness cover have found AllClear running three to four times the cost of Staysure or Avanti for equivalent circumstances. But that’s the price of being one of the only providers willing to say yes when others say no.
Struggling to find cover elsewhere for complex conditions?
Don't let a medical history stop you from traveling. AllClear specialises in high-risk cases and conditions other insurers refuse.
Customer Experience and Reviews
Which One Should You Actually Choose?
If you have a relatively manageable, well-controlled condition, and budget matters most to you: start with InsureAndGo.
If you want a recognisable, heavily-awarded mainstream brand with strong all-round trust signals: Staysure.
If you have multiple or moderate pre-existing conditions, and you especially plan to make longer trips: Avanti.
If you have complex, high-risk, or previously-declined conditions: AllClear, but budget accordingly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get travel insurance if I have multiple pre-existing conditions?
Yes. All four providers in this comparison will consider multiple conditions, though acceptance and pricing do depend on the specifics. AllClear in particular is built around exactly this kind of complex case.
Is there an age limit on travel insurance for pre-existing conditions?
Not with any of the four providers here: InsureAndGo, Staysure, Avanti, and AllClear all offer cover with no standard upper age limit, though some specific product types (like long-stay policies) do carry their own limits.
Which UK travel insurer is best for older travellers with health conditions?
It depends on the complexity of your condition and your budget. Staysure and Avanti suit most moderate cases well; AllClear is the strongest option if you have a more complex or previously-declined condition and are willing and able to pay more for it.
Do I have to declare a condition that's well managed with medication?
Yes. All four providers require you to declare any condition that requires medication, treatment, or medical advice within a set period (usually the last two years), even if it’s well controlled. Failing to declare can void your entire policy, not just the claim related to that condition.
Why is AllClear more expensive than the others?
AllClear takes on higher-risk and more complex cases that other insurers may decline or price very high. Furthermore, they tailor their cover and prices individually around each medical declaration rather than publishing standard rates. You’re paying for a higher acceptance rate on those more complex cases, not just for the same product at a premium.
UK Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions: The Final Word
None of this really makes for exciting reading, but getting it right matters more here than almost anywhere else in trip planning. Undeclared conditions are one of the most common reasons travel insurance claims get rejected – not because insurers are looking for excuses, but because the whole system depends on accurate information going in.
Compare a couple of these providers directly before you book, be thorough and totally honest in your medical declaration, and you’ll spend a lot less time worrying about the “what if” and more time actually enjoying that Pina Colada on your trip!
But between these four options, most UK travellers will find a policy that fits. In case you’re considering longer-stay travel, but also with solid medical cover, then also check out my post comparing Heymondo with Safetywing and Genki.
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