Pre-existing conditions. Comparison sites are a RIP-OFF.

williewonder

I got quoted £365 for Tesco Bank for Travel insurance for 26 days in Sri Lanka. This is basic insurance and I have a pre-existing condition. This by meerkat. I went on Tescos own website and for basic insurance was £176 for same insurance plus £46 for gadget insurance. Comparison sites are a RIP-OFF.

eskbanker

Even if there genuinely was an example where buying exactly the same thing direct beat the aggregator price, that doesn't in itself mean that comparison sites are a "RIP-OFF"!  In my experience, comparison sites will usually have access to preferential pricing, subsidised by the merchants who pay a commission to have the business directed to them in that way from those who are shopping primarily on price....

Grumpy_chap

Another case to contrast with the OP's.
I renewed our travel insurance, annual policy, with declared medical condition in place today. 
Only used Compare the Market and I was so shocked by the low price that I had to double take before grabbing it.  Followed through and the supplier did the deal at the CtM price, so I was very pleased.  All the uplift from COVID seemed to have gone - last year was really expensive.
Two cases do not make for reliable data, but enough to suggest that comparison sites are not all "RIP-OFF".

Baled

I've used comparison sites a lot over the years for my travel insurance with medical conditions declared, I've always found really low prices through them. 

When I bought insurance for a trip to the USA last month I did comparison site and went direct with a few different insurers I've used in the past - the comparison site cheapest price was less than half of wherever I tried direct.

One big benefit is only having to complete the form once. In the past where I've tried a few insurers directly I've lost the will to live by the time I've answered multiple questions multiple times. 😂