Brits waiting for NHS treatment are willing to go on holiday without insurance

ONE in five people on NHS waiting lists plan to go on holiday abroad without travel insurance this year, putting them at risk of falling ill abroad and paying high healthcare costs.

There are currently more than 6.4 million adults waiting for consultant-led treatment and a further 1.6 million waiting for a diagnosis – with many unable to get an insurance policy due to the high cost.

Of the 95% who are or have been on a waiting list for the past three years and refuse to miss their holidays, 15% have paid up to £1,000 extra to ensure they are protected.

Many insurers keep their premiums low by not covering pre-existing medical conditions, meaning patients on waiting lists with potentially serious conditions have to take out specialist cover.

Those waiting to be diagnosed with a condition will find it particularly difficult to find suitable travel insurance – and one in four plan to go on holiday this year without the right cover.

One in 20 currently waiting for treatment on the NHS find it so difficult or expensive to access specialist travel insurance that it has prevented them from going on holiday abroad.

The survey of 2,034 adults commissioned by Practice Plus Group's Wellsoon found that adults with hernias (26%) were most likely to go on holiday without proper cover, followed by those with cancer (24%).

The most difficult conditions to find insurance for are heart or blood pressure problems (12%), followed by musculoskeletal problems including arthritis, hip or knee pain, back pain, neck or shoulder pain (11%).

There is also a clear difference between the attitudes of men and women: men on NHS waiting lists are 52% more likely than women to travel without the right insurance.

While women go on holiday 41% more often despite not feeling well.

And 8% of people on NHS waiting lists fear having to pay for healthcare while on holiday.

A spokesperson for Praktijk Plus Groep said: “It is a story we regularly hear from people who have a health problem that wants to be treated before they go on holiday, but who are on a waiting list.

“They are afraid to leave when they are in uncertainty, because they may have to seek medical help far from home and do not know how much it will cost.

“We see a spike in requests for private surgery at this time of year as people look 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.

Companies selling travel insurance are required to refer consumers to one of two directories of specialist companies offering this type of insurance – one of which is the MoneyHelper directory, provided by the Money and Pensions Service.

A spokesperson for the Money and Pensions Service, which provides a directory of specialist companies offering travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, said: “If you have a pre-existing health condition you should tell your insurer.

“Otherwise, if you make a claim, it could be rejected.

“Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to undergo a medical examination. This allows insurers to tailor your travel insurance to your needs.

“By purchasing specialist travel medical insurance, you can be assured that your medical condition will be covered in the event of a claim.

“Our MoneyHelper service provides contact details of companies that specialize in this.”

This was the experience of Graeme Wakerley, who turned to private healthcare when his GP said his hernia was not serious enough to qualify for surgery.

Graeme, 71, a retired haematologist who worked in the NHS for many years, said: 'I gave myself a hernia with heavy stones for a conservatory project.

“I went to my GP, who said I had an inguinal hernia and had a scan done to see if it was compressed.

“It turned out this wasn't the case and because it wasn't considered dangerous it meant I wouldn't be able to have surgery to fix it.”

Graeme became concerned about his travel plans as there was a risk that the hernia would become entrapped during the holiday and put him at risk of needing emergency treatment.

Graeme, an avid traveler, had already planned a holiday to Ibiza with his son and his family – the first holiday since losing his wife of 50 years.

The annual travel insurance he had through his mortgage account covered him for his previously booked trip to Ibiza, but not for another trip to America.

He said: 'There was no way I could travel without declaring this as the cost of emergency surgery in America if the hernia was strangulated would be astronomical.

“I was also concerned about my health because a strangulated hernia can lead to sepsis quite quickly and I didn't want to become seriously ill in another country, even if the costs were covered.”

“I was really stuck. What was my choice? I was an otherwise fit 70-year-old who wanted to enjoy his retirement.

“I decided to pay and it cost around £2,600 for the operation.

“It was worth every penny to feel better and have peace of mind, and I'm going to America this year. I've heard from many other people in similar situations.”