New research warns of uninsured travellers in 2026

A new year should mean new adventures. But our latest research reveals something concerning: a significant number of people living with pre-existing medical conditions are planning to travel abroad in 2026 with inadequate Travel Insurance, and some with none at all.

If you’re booking your next trip, this matters more than you might think.

The worrying trend for 2026 travellers

We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults to understand how people are approaching Travel Insurance this year. The results were eye-opening.

When asked what type of Travel Insurance they would buy in 2026, people with medical conditions said:

• 28% would buy top-quality cover

• 38% would buy cover with “good features”

• 18% would buy the cheapest policy available

• 17% would not buy Travel Insurance at all

For comparison, the UK population average was:

• 31% top quality cover

• 39% good cover features

• 17% cheapest policy

• 13% won’t buy Travel Insurance

The responses from people with medical conditions were remarkably similar to the UK average — something we did not expect.

We would have anticipated that those living with medical conditions would be significantly more likely to prioritise top-quality cover over price.

Instead, nearly one in five say they’ll buy the cheapest policy — and almost the same proportion say they won’t buy any cover at all.

And yet, 85% are planning to travel

At the same time, 85% of people with medical conditions told us they plan an overseas holiday at some point during 2026.

That’s a powerful combination:

• High intention to travel
• Lower emphasis on top-quality protection

This is where risk begins.

A misunderstanding of medical costs abroad

Part of the issue appears to be a lack of awareness around the true cost of medical care overseas.

Only 55% of people with medical conditions understood they wouldn’t personally be able to foot the bill for medical costs abroad.

That means 45% named one or more countries where they believed they would be able to self-fund medical bills if they had no medical insurance to help them.

Here’s what respondents said:

Of significant concern, the USA did not stand out as a country where medical costs can be extreme, despite claims there reaching as much as £1 million.

Medical care abroad can escalate rapidly in cost, particularly if hospitalisation, surgery or repatriation is required.

The ongoing issue of non-declaration

There’s another worrying pattern.

Around 25% of UK holidaymakers admitted during 2025 that they didn’t declare all their medical conditions when buying Travel Insurance.

Failure to declare all relevant medical information can invalidate a policy completely. More commonly, under-declaration can leave people responsible for a portion of the medical bill themselves.

This is not a small technicality. It’s the difference between being fully protected and being financially exposed.

Why this matters now

As Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at AllClear Travel Insurance, explains:

“At AllClear, we’re committed to supporting our customers abroad, ensuring they get quick access to the emergency medical care they need if they face an emergency abroad.

Over the last few years, we’ve campaigned on the impact of medical non-disclosure and it’s of great concern that around 25% of UK holidaymakers admitted during 2025 that they didn’t declare all their medical conditions when buying travel insurance.

Not all Travel Insurance is the same. If people with medical conditions are shopping around for cheap policies for 2026, they may find their policy doesn’t meet their needs if they have a medical emergency and need looking after abroad. Non-declaration and under-declaration of medical conditions when buying travel cover is a huge issue that needs to be tackled urgently — and it starts with customers shopping for travel policies on quality of cover, not the cheapest price.”

A shift in mindset for 2026

The data doesn’t suggest people don’t care. It suggests many underestimate the risk.

When planning your 2026 holiday, it’s worth asking:

• Have I declared every medical condition and medication?
• Am I choosing this policy because it’s right for me — or because it’s the cheapest?
• Would I realistically be able to pay a large medical bill abroad?

Travel should be about enjoyment, exploration and peace of mind. But that peace of mind starts before you board the plane.

Let’s make sure it isn’t a year of avoidable financial and medical risk.

The research was conducted for AllClear by UK Omnibus Group among a nationally representative sample for 2,000 adults between 15-28 December 2025.