So, in theory, most travellers with disabilities need no assistance from ‘specialist’ insurers. You can simply shop around for the best deals like anyone else, but check the small print for restrictions. When making any calls bear in mind the requirements of the DDA and, if necessary, remind insurers of their duty to serve disabled customers without discrimination and to produce evidence to justify the charging of higher premiums for disabled travellers.

Standard policies are usually inadequate for people travelling with expensive equipment such as wheelchairs, but these can usually be covered under a household ‘all risk’ policy.

Check the specialists

If you have a serious condition or a mental health problem, especially if travelling outside Europe for long periods, you may find that your only options are specialist insurers.

When you declare a medical condition you will generally have to go through some sort of medical screening. This can mean calling a medical helpline to give details on your condition, or asking your doctor to complete a questionnaire or declaration of fitness to travel. Alternatively, you might simply be required to sign a declaration of health stating that you are not travelling against doctor’s orders, do not have a terminal prognosis, have not received in-patient treatment in the last six months and are not awaiting treatment or travelling in order to obtain it.

The following list of insurers is designed as a starting point only. Most companies offer policies suitable for travellers with disabilities, or for older travellers, but unless you have a severe or life-threatening medical condition, or a history of mental illness – which many mainstream insurers exclude – it is well worth shopping around before considering specialist policies.

Age Concern Insurance Services offers a general travel policy – available to anyone – with no loading of premiums for older travellers. Travellers with certain pre-existing medical conditions must call the Medical Screening Line to determine whether any endorsements to the policy will be added. Barlow, Redford & Company offers a policy suitable for people with haemophilia, provided that they sign a declaration agreeing to comply with some basic precautionary measures.

Diabetes UK, in conjunction with Heath Lambert, offers travel policies for people with diabetes and their families. For travellers who can pass a simple medical screening procedure, any pre-existing medical conditions which they declare – and which is accepted – will be covered for the full policy benefits.

Direct Travel Insurance offers travel insurance for holidays, business travel and winter sports. The company offers cover at standard terms to people with disabilities (disability is not seen as a medical condition), whether for individual trips, annual cover or winter sports. People with pre-existing medical conditions are asked to call the Medical Line and premiums are based not only on the medical condition but also on the duration and destination of the journey.

Fish Insurance is a ‘disability specialist’ offering insurance schemes which include cover for motor vehicles (in particular modified vehicles), mobility equipment (wheelchair, power chairs, scooters) and disability equipment. Fish also offers travel insurance and liability protection for those employing personal assistants or carers.

Leisurecare Insurance Service (01793 750661) offers a Special Care policy, which is available to travellers up to the age of 59 for European travel only. It is suitable for: physically disabled people; people with learning difficulties; people with long-term illness, including cancer; and people with other medical disadvantages which exclude them from standard travel policies.

Medical conditions

MediCover Insurance Services, a part of the Inter Group, (01420 566310) says it meets the needs of travellers with medical conditions, including mental illness. Over 300 conditions are identified and cover will be refused in only two circumstances: where a terminal prognosis of less than four months has been given, and where the traveller will have less than eight weeks of pregnancy to go (both at the end of the holiday).

MediCover claim that their system of assessing degree of illness and associated risks is more actuarially based than other insurers’ medical screening procedures.

Travel Care offers travel insurance policies with no age limits or general age loading, and no exclusion for disability. Basic cover excludes claims resulting from a pre-existing medical

condition if the traveller has been treated as a hospital in-patient; been under the care of a specialist consultant within the last two years; ever been treated for a heart or breathing-related condition; been diagnosed with cancer. In any of these cases it may be possible to obtain full cover for the condition concerned by contacting the Medical Line.

Tyser UK offers epilepsy cover subject to satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire. Travellers with secondary medical conditions, or who are planning a particularly long trip, may be required to obtain a doctor’s letter in addition.