Neurodivergent travellers warned as insurance declarations surge

Neurodivergent travellers are being urged to review how they buy holiday insurance as new figures and guidance point to a sharp rise in medical declarations and growing confusion over what must be disclosed to keep cover valid.

Sharp rise in declarations exposes hidden risk

Reports from UK insurers and consumer advocates indicate that medical disclosures related to mental health and neurodivergent conditions have risen markedly over the past two years, with some providers reporting that holiday medical declarations overall have more than doubled compared with pre‑pandemic levels. While not all companies publish a separate breakdown for autism or ADHD, travel insurers and patient groups describe a “visible jump” in people flagging these conditions, particularly among younger travellers.

The trend comes against a backdrop of record waiting lists for diagnosis. According to NHS England data cited in recent consumer coverage, nearly 1.9 million patients in England were waiting for diagnostic tests as of May 2026, with autism and ADHD assessments among the most delayed. At the same time, research referenced by Co‑op Insurance has found that around 16 million UK adults did not realise that failing to declare conditions under investigation could invalidate a policy, even if a later claim is unrelated to those conditions.

Industry data from the Association of British Insurers shows that medical expenses are now the single most common reason for a travel insurance claim. In 2024, medical costs accounted for about a third of all UK travel claims, up from 29 percent the year before, with average payouts of more than £1,500 and individual cases running far higher when hospital stays and repatriation are involved. The combination of higher claim costs and a surge in neurodevelopmental diagnoses is driving closer scrutiny of what customers tell insurers at the point of sale.

Financial regulators are also watching how insurers treat people with mental health conditions. A 2023 study by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute found that some travel policies either excluded or heavily restricted cover linked to depression or bipolar disorder, even where the main travel risk was unrelated, raising concerns about whether such customers receive fair value and clear information.

What counts as a condition that must be declared

Guidance from the UK government and independent advice bodies states that travellers should declare all “pre‑existing medical conditions,” a category that explicitly includes mental health conditions as well as physical illnesses. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises that anyone travelling abroad should buy cover that reflects “existing physical or mental health conditions, including those currently under investigation,” and warns that failing to disclose can leave a policyholder without protection if complications arise.

For neurodivergent travellers, this typically means telling insurers about diagnosed autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, and co‑occurring issues such as anxiety, depression or epilepsy where these are on record or under active investigation. Some mainstream insurers route customers through medical screening questionnaires that ask whether they are awaiting tests, hospital appointments or specialist assessments. If the answer is “yes,” cover may still be available, but often at a higher premium or through a specialist provider.

Policy documents from several travel brands illustrate how broad these questions can be. One medical declaration form states that anyone who has “ever been diagnosed or received treatment” for certain conditions, or who is awaiting tests or referrals, must contact the insurer before travel. Others specify that there is no cover for any claim arising directly or indirectly from a condition that was not declared and accepted in writing. While wording varies by company, the direction of travel across the market is towards wider disclosure obligations rather than narrower ones.

Consumer groups note that this sits uneasily with the perception many neurodivergent people have of their own support needs. Some autistic or ADHD travellers do not see their diagnosis as a “medical condition” in the same way as heart disease or cancer, and may assume it is irrelevant to a claim involving, for example, a broken leg on holiday. Current policies, however, often define medical conditions in broad terms that encompass any diagnosis on a person’s record.

Undiagnosed and awaiting assessment: a grey area

The sharpest tensions are emerging around people who suspect they are autistic or have ADHD but are still waiting for assessment, sometimes for years. Survey work highlighted by Co‑op Insurance and consumer magazine Which? suggests that many travellers are unaware that simply being on a waiting list, or undergoing tests to investigate symptoms, may need to be declared under questions about “conditions under investigation.”

Recent guidance aimed at travellers awaiting diagnosis sets out how complex this can be. Some insurers ask directly whether a customer is waiting for tests, scans or specialist clinic appointments. Answering “yes” can trigger a referral to a medical screening line or, in some cases documented by advice charities, lead to a refusal to quote under standard policies. Those customers are often told to seek “specialist medical travel insurance” that is designed for people with complex or uncertain health situations.

At the same time, there is no single industry rule that defines when undiagnosed symptoms must be disclosed. Which? reports that practice varies between brands, with some focusing on serious, clearly documented investigations and others using more sweeping language that may capture people on neurodevelopmental waiting lists. Official guidance therefore recommends that anyone who is unsure contact the insurer before purchase and ask for the decision in writing.

Advocacy groups working on disability and mental health warn that this uncertainty can have a chilling effect. Some neurodivergent people postpone formal assessment because they fear higher insurance costs later, while others buy cover without full disclosure because they believe their symptoms are “not serious enough” to mention. Both choices may leave travellers financially exposed if they need medical care abroad.

Impact on premiums and access to cover

Price is a growing concern for neurodivergent travellers. Research cited in the UK Global Travel Report for disabled passengers found that people with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions, pay on average more than £200 for travel insurance, with many reporting that policies are harder to compare and understand. Case studies gathered by campaign groups describe situations where being on a waiting list for ADHD assessment prompted some mainstream insurers to decline cover altogether.

However, publicly available information from specialist insurers shows that autism and ADHD do not always result in steep price increases. Some brands that focus on medical travel insurance state that they routinely cover autism, ADHD and related conditions, sometimes at modest extra cost where the person is stable and not awaiting major treatment. Providers such as AllClear have set out online that customers must declare autism, particularly if it is linked to other conditions or support needs, but also emphasise that many travellers are accepted after screening.

Regulators stress that insurers must comply with equality and consumer protection law when assessing risk. The UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty requires that insurance products deliver “fair value,” which includes ensuring that exclusions and pricing are proportionate to the actual risk. Reports from bodies such as the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute argue that blanket exclusions on mental health, or sharp price jumps unrelated to likely claims, may breach that expectation.

In practice, experts say, the market for neurodivergent travellers remains uneven. While some customers are able to secure annual multi‑trip cover that includes autism or ADHD with relatively small adjustments to price, others are pushed towards niche policies that cost significantly more and still contain broad exclusions. The result is a patchwork in which people with similar diagnoses face very different experiences depending on which brand they approach and how they answer screening questions.

Practical steps for neurodivergent travellers

Public guidance from government and charities suggests several concrete steps for neurodivergent people planning trips abroad. First, travellers are advised to read the medical declaration section of any policy in full and to gather relevant information from their GP or specialist, such as diagnosis dates, current medication and any recent hospital visits, before starting an online quote or phone application.

Second, independent advice services recommend contacting the insurer directly if there is any doubt about whether autism, ADHD or a related issue needs to be declared, particularly where someone is awaiting assessment. Asking for confirmation in writing can provide evidence later if a claim is challenged. Where a mainstream insurer will not offer cover, directories such as the British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s list of specialist providers, or disability charities’ signposting pages, can help locate firms that routinely underwrite complex medical histories.

Travel experts also highlight the importance of separating travel insurance from reciprocal healthcare arrangements. The UK Global Health Insurance Card gives access to state‑provided healthcare in parts of Europe but does not replace comprehensive travel insurance or cover private treatment, repatriation or non‑medical losses. For neurodivergent travellers, that means insurance remains essential even if local public healthcare is available at low or no cost.

Finally, campaigners encourage travellers to check not only whether a condition is accepted, but how it is covered. Policy schedules may include specific exclusions or higher excesses for mental health or behavioural conditions, and these can vary significantly between providers. Understanding those details before departure can help neurodivergent holidaymakers avoid unexpected bills and travel with greater confidence that their cover matches their needs.