Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to prevent travel insurance companies from discriminating against elderly travellers based on their medical history, including (a) requiring complete details of a potentially extensive medical history and (b) charging higher premiums for medical conditions that are no longer relevant.

The Government continues to work closely with insurers and the independent regulator to ensure that everyone has access to suitable and affordable insurance.

Insurers must treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules, although a well-functioning insurance market requires clear information from customers too. Since April 2021, the FCA requires firms offering retail travel insurance to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium for the medical coverage element.