Markel launches travel reimbursement product designed to support international participation in rare-disease clinical trials

London, 03 September, 2026 – Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), has launched a Participant Travel Reimbursement enhancement for life sciences companies and other sponsors conducting rare-disease clinical trials.

The enhancement is purchased by trial sponsors and reimburses eligible travel-related expenses incurred in connection with approved participant travel, subject to policy terms and conditions.

The enhancement reimburses trial sponsors for eligible expenses associated with approved international travel by registered participants to and from clinical-trial sites. Eligible participants can also access 24-hour assistance from global healthcare services provider Healix while travelling.

Key points:

• Research published by Suvoda found that 57% of prospective clinical-trial participants considered financial barriers “very important” when deciding whether to enrol.¹
• Approximately 30% to 55% of clinical trials are terminated early or fail to launch due to low patient enrolment.²
• Although a rare disease is typically defined as affecting fewer than one in 2,000 people, more than 7,000 rare diseases have been identified worldwide, collectively affecting an estimated 300 million people.³
• Because rare-disease patient populations are often geographically dispersed, trial participants may need to travel internationally to access specialist research sites.
• Traditional travel insurance may be unavailable or may not provide suitable cover where pre-existing medical conditions or the purpose of travel fall outside standard underwriting criteria.

Markel’s new travel cover enhancement has been developed in response to feedback from life science companies and brokers seeking a way to help trial sponsors support eligible participants who need to travel internationally to take part in rare-disease clinical trials.

The enhancement can be purchased by life science companies and other trial sponsors through their brokers. Benefits are payable to the trial sponsor by way of reimbursement and are not paid directly to participants. Subject to the policy terms and the trial sponsor’s eligibility requirements, it reimburses trial sponsors for eligible expenses associated with approved international travel by registered participants to and from clinical-trial sites.

Participants registered under the policy who have been medically assessed as fit to travel by their doctor can also access 24-hour assistance from global healthcare services provider Healix. Subject to the policy terms, services include medical assistance and the coordination of appropriate care while travelling. The insurance does not determine whether someone is eligible to participate in a trial or replace the relevant clinical assessment and consent processes. Eligibility to participate remains subject to the trial sponsor’s protocols, investigator assessment, informed consent requirements and applicable regulatory requirements.

Robert Hannaford, Senior Life Science Underwriter at Markel International, commented:

“People living with a rare disease may need to travel considerable distances to access specialist clinical trials. In rare-disease research, eligible participants and specialist trial sites are not always in the same country.

“For some participants, travelling internationally to take part in a trial can involve additional cost and complexity. We developed this enhancement in response to feedback from life science companies and brokers seeking a way to help trial sponsors support eligible participants through reimbursement of travel-related expenses and access to medical assistance while travelling.

“When patient populations are geographically dispersed, participation can depend on a person’s ability to travel, not simply their willingness to take part. This enhancement is designed to help trial sponsors support eligible participants who need to make those journeys by reimbursing eligible travel-related expenses and providing access to assistance services while travelling, subject to policy terms and conditions.”

James Henderson, CEO of Healix International, commented:

“For patients living with a rare disease, access to specialist clinical trials can be limited by geography. Even when an appropriate trial exists, travelling internationally while managing a complex medical condition can be a daunting prospect for patients and their families.

“At Healix, we’ve spent more than 30 years providing medical assistance to people travelling around the world. Through our partnership with Markel, we’re bringing that experience to the clinical-trial environment, helping sponsors support participants who need to travel internationally to take part in important research.

“We know that improving access to trials is about more than reaching a destination. It’s about giving people the confidence that support is available throughout their journey. By helping address some of the practical barriers to participation, we hope this initiative will contribute to more inclusive research and, ultimately, better outcomes for people affected by rare diseases around the world.”

¹Horville, H. (2026). Financial barriers in clinical trials: what patient data tells us. Suvoda.
²Ibid.
³World Health Organization (2025). Rare diseases: a global health priority for equity and inclusion.

About Markel Insurance

We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.