New research shows 1 in 5 people on NHS waiting lists plan to holiday abroad this year without travel insurance, risking falling ill overseas and incurring healthcare fees while on holiday.

With the number of people waiting for consultant-led treatment now totalling more than 6.4 million people, and 1.6million waiting for a diagnosis, the number likely to go away this summer either with no appropriate cover in place, or who are paying extra because of their health, could be more than a million people*.

Of those who do ensure they have cover, it comes at a cost, with 15% of people who are on a waiting list or who have been in the last three years having paid up to £1000 extra to cover their pre-existing condition.

Many insurers keep their premiums low by not covering existing medical conditions, meaning people on waiting lists with potentially serious conditions will need to take out specialist cover. Those waiting for a condition to be diagnosed will find it particularly difficult to find appropriate travel insurance- and 1 in 4 in this situation plan to holiday this year without the correct cover.

5 per cent of people currently waiting to be seen by the NHS have found accessing specialist travel insurance so difficult, or so expensive, they haven’t holidayed abroad because of it.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, showed that of the conditions listed, including cancer, diabetes, eye conditions and respiratory problems, people with hernias are the most likely to holiday without the correct cover, at 26 per cent. This was followed by people with cancer, at 24 per cent. The health concerns people have found the most difficult to find insurance for are heart or blood pressure issues, at 12 per cent of people, closely followed by musculoskeletal issues including arthritis, hip or knee pain, back pain, neck or shoulder pain at 11 per cent.

The research also found a marked difference between men and women’s attitudes, with men on NHS waiting lists 52 per cent more likely than women to travel without the correct insurance, while women are 41 per cent more likely to go on holiday despite not feeling well.

8 per cent of people on NHS waiting lists have been afraid of needing to pay for healthcare while on holiday.

This was Graeme Wakerley’s experience, who turned to private healthcare when his GP said his debilitating hernia wasn’t severe enough to qualify for surgery.

Graeme, 71, a retired haematologist who worked for many years in the NHS, said: “I gave myself a hernia carrying heavy stones for a conservatory project. I went to see my GP who said that I had an inguinal hernia and arranged for a scan to see if it was strangulated. This showed that it wasn’t and so because it wasn’t considered dangerous, it meant that I would not be able to get surgery to fix it. The GP explained that unless it’s strangulated, you’re in severe pain or mental anguish, there was no point in applying for funding as I wouldn’t get surgery. Even when you do get on the list meaning it’s serious and you’re in severe pain, there would be a two year wait.”

Graeme started worrying about his travel plans because there was a risk the hernia would strangulate on holiday and carry a risk of needing emergency treatment.

A keen traveller, Graeme already had a holiday to Ibiza planned with his son and his family- the first holiday since losing his wife of 50 years. He said: “I had annual travel insurance through my building society account so I called them and explained I had a hernia and asked if I’d be covered for this trip and another to America I was planning to make. They said that as the hernia arose after I’d booked the Ibiza holiday I was covered for that- but I would not be covered for America. There was no way I could travel without declaring it as the costs for emergency surgery in America should the hernia strangulate would be astronomical.

I was also worried about my health as a strangulated hernia can lead to sepsis quite quickly and I didn’t want to end up seriously ill in another country, even if the costs were covered.”

He said: “I was stuck really. What was my choice? I was an otherwise fit 70-year-old wanting to enjoy retirement. I realised the cost of travel insurance premiums for the next few years while I lived with this hernia would probably be more than just paying to get better, not to mention the worry of it and the pain. I decided to pay and it was about £2,600 for surgery. It was worth every penny to feel better and to have peace of mind, and I’m off to America this year. I have heard of many other people in similar situations. If I ever need another operation in the future I would by-pass my GP completely.”

A spokesperson for Practice Plus Group said: “It’s a story we hear regularly from people who have a health issue they want to be addressed before they go on holiday, but they’re on a waiting list. They’re worried about going away when they’re in limbo, potentially needing to seek medical help a long way from home and not knowing how much it might cost, they’re worried that if they have any sort of accident on holiday that their insurer could relate it to an undeclared pre-existing condition, and most importantly they just want to be pain-free and worry-free so they can enjoy a well-deserved holiday. We see a spike in enquiries for private surgery at this time of year as people start looking ahead to the summer.”

In April 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority introduced new requirements to help consumers with more serious pre-existing medical conditions (PEMCs) better navigate the travel insurance market. Firms that sell travel insurance are required to signpost consumers to one of two directories of specialist firms that provide this type of insurance- one of which is the MoneyHelper directory, provided by the Money and Pensions Service.

A spokesperson from the Money and Pensions Service said:

“If you have a pre-existing health condition you must disclose this to your insurer. Otherwise, when you come to make a claim, it could be rejected.

“Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to complete a medical exam. This will allow insurance providers to tailor your travel insurance policy to cover your needs.

“Taking specialist medical travel insurance will give you peace of mind that your medical condition is covered in the event of a claim. Our MoneyHelper service provides contact details of companies who specialise in this.”

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