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The Foreign Office is advising Brits to declare a crucial detail on their travel insurance or face potential bills exceeding £150,000. Securing your travel insurance is a vital part of holiday planning, offering financial safeguarding if you encounter any issues whilst abroad.

It's designed to cover unforeseen hospital bills, lost or stolen items, trip cancellations and even emergency transport. Without the insurance, these can be incredibly costly when in another country.

However, when applying for coverage, failing to disclose any past medical conditions could completely invalidate your insurance. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "If you travel internationally you should buy appropriate travel insurance before you go, covering you for existing physical or mental health conditions (including those currently under investigation) and any activities you will be doing whilst you are away.

"If you do not have appropriate insurance before you travel, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of pounds."

More specifically, it said: "Declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests so that you are covered if there are related complications during your trip; failing to declare something may invalidate your travel insurance."

The FCDO provided examples of how much this could ultimately cost you if it nullifies your insurance:

• Fall and break your leg in Spain, you will need hospital treatment and possibly medical evacuation/repatriation - £25,000+
• Quad bike accident in Greece, and you need surgery and medical evacuation/repatriation - £80,000+
• Stomach bug or infection treated in a hospital in the USA and possibly medical evacuation/repatriation - £150,000+

However, what qualifies as a pre-existing condition varies considerably.

Money Saving Expert (MSE), the website established by Martin Lewis, explains that certain insurers may require details of medical conditions spanning several years.

It states: "It's important to carefully read the questions asked by the insurer - they may want to know of medical conditions or visits for medical attention within the last three, four or five years, and some insurers may even want to know your medical history even further back, as you're usually considered to be more likely to make a claim."

The website identifies some of the most frequent medical conditions requiring disclosure when purchasing travel insurance - although this list isn't exhaustive:

• Epilepsy
• Heart conditions (including high blood pressure or cholesterol)
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Mental health conditions (including depression, eating disorders, anxiety)
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Crohn's disease

It is also worth knowing that you'll also need to share details of:

• Treated broken limbs
• Any surgery
• Any ongoing treatment (including if you're waiting for an operation or investigation)
• Any condition where you're awaiting test results

MSE adds: "It may sound like a daunting task but it will help you to find the right policy for you. If you do not share this information with the insurer, it is very likely to invalidate your policy and any cover."

Price comparison website Money Supermarket adds that travel insurance if you have a pre-existing condition may be more expensive. It says: "Yes, you can get travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition, although it might be more expensive than standard travel insurance. This is because an insurer sees you as a higher risk of making a claim on the policy.

"However, there are still lots of policies to choose from for those with pre-existing conditions. They cover a wide range of health problems and there are also specialist insurers who can help."

Before travelling, the FCDO recommends you take your insurance policy details with you, including the policy number and your insurer's emergency assistance telephone number. "Share your policy details with people you're travelling with and friends or family at home, in case they need to contact your insurance company on your behalf," it adds.