Staysure vs AllClear Travel Insurance 2026: Which Is Better for Medical Conditions?

Staysure vs AllClear is one of the most common comparisons in the UK specialist pre-existing conditions travel insurance market. Both brands are highly visible, both target older travellers with medical conditions, and both operate with no published upper age limit. This comparison uses FCA register data, Financial Ombudsman Service statistics and ABI guidance to identify where each provider has genuine advantages.

Brand Overview: Staysure and AllClear

Staysure has operated since 2004 and built significant brand recognition through television advertising and direct marketing. The business is one of the highest-volume specialist pre-existing conditions travel insurers in the UK market. Its underwriter, AWP P&C S.A., is part of the Allianz group, providing one of the strongest financial security backstops available in the UK travel insurance market. The Allianz group's global scale also provides access to AWP Assistance's worldwide emergency medical network.

AllClear Travel Insurance has a similarly strong recognition in the specialist segment. AllClear was the subject of the Semrush organic competitor data that initiated this travel insurance content series, reflecting its significant footprint across pre-existing conditions and medical travel insurance search terms. AllClear's brand positioning carries the same accessibility message as GoodToGo: despite a traveller's medical history, the goal is to find a way to provide appropriate cover. AllClear uses underwriting capacity from Lloyd's of London syndicates, which provides a different but equally credible financial security structure.

Underwriting Comparison: Allianz vs Lloyd's

The underwriting difference between Staysure and AllClear is the most structurally interesting aspect of this comparison. Staysure's Allianz group underwriting through AWP P&C S.A. represents a traditional insurance company model with a single, globally rated parent group behind the policyholder's claim. The Allianz group has consistently high financial strength ratings from major rating agencies.

AllClear's Lloyd's of London underwriting involves syndicates that pool capacity within the Lloyd's market structure. Lloyd's syndicates are regulated by both the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. The Lloyd's central fund provides an additional layer of financial security that is unique to the Lloyd's market: if any individual syndicate cannot meet its claims obligations, the Lloyd's central fund can be called upon to make good the shortfall. This backstop mechanism is not available for policies underwritten by standard insurance companies, including AWP P&C. Both models represent financially secure underwriting, but the structures differ in ways that are relevant for high-value claim scenarios.

Cover Structure

Both Staysure and AllClear offer emergency medical cover at high limits on their higher tiers. Staysure reaches up to £10 million. AllClear's emergency medical limits vary by tier and may exceed £10 million on premium levels. Cancellation, baggage, personal liability and travel delay components are standard across both. Cruise cover and winter sports extensions are available from both as add-ons. Single trip and annual multi-trip options are offered by both providers.

The ABI recommends at least £5 million emergency medical cover for long-haul travel and £2 million for European travel. Both providers satisfy the long-haul minimum on higher tiers. For the United States specifically, where private hospital costs can exceed £10,000 per day, higher emergency medical limits provide greater protection against catastrophic medical events during extended stays.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Both Staysure and AllClear use individual medical screening at the application stage. Online screening handles common and stable conditions with telephone assessment for complex cases. Neither provider applies blanket age-based exclusions and neither publishes a fixed list of conditions it will not consider. The screening outcome for any individual depends on the specific conditions declared, their current stability and management, any recent treatment changes, and any hospital admissions within the policy lookback period.

For travellers choosing between the two, the most reliable approach is to complete the online screening on both Staysure and AllClear platforms and compare the specific cover terms and premiums generated for the declared conditions. Neither provider is consistently better across all condition profiles: the screening outcome for any specific profile may favour one provider over the other, and only the individual assessment reveals which.

Age Limits

Neither Staysure nor AllClear publishes a fixed upper age limit. Both assess travellers of any age through individual screening. For travellers aged 80 and above, both are among the primary options available in the UK market alongside JustTravelCover, GoodToGo and Freedom Insure.

FOS Complaint Data

Both Staysure and AllClear appear in Financial Ombudsman Service published biannual complaint data. Complaint volumes and uphold rates provide an external measure of claims handling quality that is independent of provider marketing claims. Travellers should consult current FOS data directly at financial-ombudsman.org.uk, as complaint performance changes between reporting periods and historical data may not reflect the current six-month period.

Who Should Choose Staysure

Travellers who value Allianz group underwriting backing, who prefer a traditional insurance company underwriting model, and who have found Staysure's screening system accommodating for their specific conditions. Staysure's scale and the Allianz global assistance network are its strongest structural differentiators.

Who Should Choose AllClear

Travellers who prefer Lloyd's of London underwriting capacity with the unique Lloyd's central fund backstop, whose condition profile generates better terms from AllClear's screening system, or who have previously been served well by AllClear. The Lloyd's underwriting structure provides a different form of financial security that some travellers will find preferable to the standard insurance company model.

The UK Regulatory Framework for Travel Insurance

All UK travel insurance policies sold to UK residents are subject to the Financial Conduct Authority regulatory framework. The Insurance Conduct of Business sourcebook, known as ICOBS, sets out requirements for product disclosure, fair treatment of customers and the handling of claims and complaints. Any insurer or distributor that breaches ICOBS rules is subject to FCA enforcement action. The Consumer Duty, which came into force on 31 July 2023 under Policy Statement PS22/9, adds a cross-cutting standard requiring all FCA-regulated firms to deliver good outcomes for retail customers. For travel insurance, this includes a specific obligation to ensure that products are accessible and fair for customers with characteristics of vulnerability, including older travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions who may face systematic disadvantage in the standard market.

The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 governs the disclosure obligations of all UK travel insurance policyholders. Under this Act, policyholders must take reasonable care not to make misrepresentations when answering screening questions. A deliberate or reckless misrepresentation entitles the insurer to avoid the policy and decline all claims. An inadvertent misrepresentation may result in a reduced claim payment proportionate to the premium difference between what was charged and what would have been charged had the information been correctly disclosed. This applies to every UK travel insurer and every policyholder equally regardless of which provider is chosen.

The Financial Ombudsman Service is the statutory alternative dispute resolution body for UK travel insurance complaints. The FOS can award compensation of up to £430,000 per complaint and its decisions are binding on all FCA-regulated firms. Travellers who disagree with a claim decision from any FCA-regulated travel insurer have the right to refer their complaint to the FOS free of charge after the insurer has had eight weeks to respond formally to the complaint. The FOS publishes biannual complaint data covering volumes and uphold rates for named firms, providing an external benchmark for claims handling quality that is independent of any provider's own marketing claims.

The Association of British Insurers publishes guidance on travel insurance best practice, including recommended minimum emergency medical cover limits. The ABI recommends a minimum of £2 million for European travel and at least £5 million for long-haul destinations. For travel to the United States, the ABI guidance notes that private hospital costs frequently exceed £5,000 per day before any surgical intervention, making higher cover limits of £10 million or more relevant for extended stays in North America. The ABI also recommends that travellers ensure their cancellation cover is sufficient to cover the full prepaid cost of the trip to avoid the underinsurance that is one of the most common causes of partial claim settlements in the travel insurance market.

The Global Health Insurance Card, the GHIC, replaced the European Health Insurance Card for UK travellers after the Brexit transition period ended. The GHIC provides access to state healthcare in participating European Economic Area countries on the same terms as local residents. It does not cover private treatment, emergency repatriation, trip cancellation, baggage loss, personal liability or any of the other components included in a comprehensive travel insurance policy. The FCA and the ABI both recommend that UK travellers carry both a valid GHIC and a comprehensive travel insurance policy when travelling in Europe, as the two instruments are complementary rather than interchangeable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Staysure or AllClear better for pre-existing conditions?

Both are strong options. Staysure offers Allianz group underwriting. AllClear uses Lloyd's of London capacity with the unique Lloyd's central fund backstop. The right choice depends on which provider's individual screening generates better terms for the specific declared conditions. Travellers should screen with both and compare results.

Who underwrites AllClear travel insurance?

AllClear policies are underwritten through Lloyd's of London syndicates. Lloyd's syndicates are regulated by the PRA and FCA. The Lloyd's central fund provides additional financial security backing that is unique to the Lloyd's market structure.

Do Staysure and AllClear have age limits?

Neither Staysure nor AllClear publishes a fixed upper age limit. Both assess travellers of any age through individual screening, making both relevant for travellers aged 80 and above.

What is the Allianz connection to Staysure?

Staysure is underwritten by AWP P&C S.A., which is part of the Allianz group. AWP P&C is authorised by the French regulatory authority ACPR and deemed authorised in the UK. The Allianz group provides high-rated financial security and the AWP Assistance global emergency medical network behind Staysure policies.