ADHD and autism declarations surge among older travel insurance customers
New figures highlight changing medical disclosure patterns and the importance of clear underwriting processes for travellers with neurodevelopmental conditions
Travel insurer Staysure recorded more declarations of ADHD and autism among customers aged over 50 in the first seven months of 2026 than throughout the whole of 2025, highlighting changing patterns of medical disclosure.
The UK specialist insurer recorded 4,676 declarations of the two conditions between January and July 2026, compared with 2,613 during the entirety of the previous year – a difference of 79%.
Across all age groups, ADHD declarations reached 21,620 in the first seven months of 2026, more than double the 9,938 recorded throughout 2025.
Declarations relating to mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions totalled 335,739 during the same seven-month period, Staysure said.
The figures reflect declarations made by the insurer’s customers rather than population-wide diagnosis rates, and the comparison covers periods of different lengths.
Implications for medical disclosure
Simon McCulloch, Chief Growth Officer at Staysure, suggested that greater awareness and later-life diagnoses could be contributing to the increase in declarations.
“People are finally receiving a diagnosis, including those in later life, and having the good foresight to declare it on their cover,” he said.
McCulloch emphasised the importance of answering medical screening questions accurately, including where travellers are taking medication, undergoing investigations, or experiencing symptoms.
Dr Asimah Hanif, an NHS GP working with Staysure, said neurodevelopmental conditions could go unrecognised into adulthood, particularly where individuals have learned to mask their symptoms.
She added that unfamiliar environments, disrupted routines, and the demands of travel planning can present additional challenges for neurodivergent travellers.
The findings highlight the importance of accessible medical screening processes and clear disclosure guidance as awareness of neurodevelopmental conditions increases.
The findings come amid wider scrutiny of medical disclosure practices, with recent research from Verisk highlighting how confusion and shortcomings in screening processes can contribute to incomplete declarations and claims disputes.
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