If you’re looking to escape the UK winter, or if you’re saving your holiday for the height of summer, you may wish to consider travel insurance. We explain what travel insurance is and some of the best policies on the market for your holiday.
In 2022, UK residents made 71 million visits abroad. This was over three times the amount made in 2021, when COVID restrictions kept many people at home.
So if you’re part of a growing number of people spending time abroad, have you considered travel insurance? By taking out one of these policies you could be protected for lost baggage, delayed flights, and medical emergencies abroad among other unforeseen events.
In this article we explain:
- What is travel insurance
- What does travel insurance cover?
- The best travel insurance
- Travel insurance and medical conditions
Read more: Passport renewal costs and waiting times
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance covers the cost of unforeseen events and mishaps that either stop you from going on holiday or affect you while you’re away.
Depending on the policy, travel insurance might cover you for:
- Medical bills if you suffer illness or have an accident while you’re away
- Cancellation of your trip for reasons outside of your control
- Lost or stolen baggage
Policies are usually relatively inexpensive and can give you the peace of mind that your costs will be covered if something bad happens while you are on holiday.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), a trade body, the average claim on travel insurance in 2022 was a little over £970. So while travel insurance won’t stop bad things from happening, but it can prevent you from having to find the money to pay for unexpected costs even after you return from your holiday.
Read more: Ten budget travel tips
What does travel insurance cover?
Many people opt to take out travel insurance to cover potential medical care while away.
Every week, 3,000 Brits need emergency medical treatment while abroad, according to the ABI. But travel insurance isn’t just about covering medical costs. It can protect you against a range of unplanned events:
- Cancellation or trip interruption for reasons outside your control
- Missed transport or delayed departure for reasons outside your control
- Personal injury and death, including medical evacuation
- Lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money – check if your home contents insurance covers you
- Accidental damage or injury caused by you
Read more: Passport renewal costs and waiting times
Does travel insurance cover cancelled flights?
Most travel insurers provide a basic level of cover for cancelled flights. Aviva’s travel insurance, for example, will pay out if your flight is cancelled due to an airport shutdown.
If your airline cancels your flight then you should claim a refund directly with them, so your travel insurance could cover other costs such as hotel bookings, vehicle rentals, and other possible excursions.
What are my rights during strike action?
What are my rights during strike action?
If your flights are cancelled because air staff are striking, which they have over last summer, you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. But for this to apply, customers must have been given less than 14 days’ notice.
It also depends on whether the airline was at fault or not: so if it’s the airline’s staff who are striking, you should be entitled to compensation.
If you’re worried that your flights might be delayed or cancelled, you should also check your travel insurance policy.
Some policies cover you for a cancelled or delayed flight, provided you took out the policy before the strikes were announced.
But if you haven’t yet bought your insurance, you may be out of luck. This is because most insurers won’t cover you for strikes which were already known about.
Read how travel insurance could catch you out.
The best travel insurance
Below we’ve listed some of the best travel insurance providers on the market, all of which were nominated in Times Money Mentor awards 2023.
Santander
Times Money Mentor award winning cover
Winner of the Best Travel Insurer at the Times Money Mentor awards 2023
Why we rate it: If you’re looking for a policy tailor-made to your trip, Santander’s added extras can create a fully comprehensive policy. You can add winter sports cover, excess car insurance, and cruise cover among other add ons for an additional premium.
Plus, if you’re a World Elite Mastercard holder (which is a credit card exclusively for select customers) then you’ll receive a 40% discount on your premium.
Saga
Best for over-50s
Why we rate it: If you’re over 50 and you’re looking for a comprehensive travel policy, Saga is worth considering.
It offers cover for a range of pre-existing medical conditions, like diabetes, and includes an option to protect up to nine members of your family of any age.
Since 2007, it’s constantly been awarded five stars by Defaqto.
Post Office
Best for those with pre-existing medical conditions
Why we rate it: If you have a pre-existing medical condition then the Post Office will likely be a great travel insurance option. This is because it covers most pre-existing medical conditions, like high-blood pressure or diabetes, so you’ll likely find the cover you need.
In addition, this insurer also allows you to upgrade your cover easily with a host of add-ons like Covid-19, gadget, and golfing cover.
Aviva
Best for those wanting substantial medical cover
Why we rate it: Aviva’s travel insurance comes with up to £10 million in cover for medical expenses, which is one of the most substantial on the market. This means it’s a great option if your primary concern is to be covered for any medical emergencies.
Its other cover limits are decent too. For example, it provides up to £5,000 in cover if you cancel your trip due to illness and £400 for your cash.
However, it is worth noting that other providers such as Direct Line and LV= matches this limit for medical emergencies too.
LV=
Best for a range of unique add-ons
LV= offers a comprehensive set of add-ons for your travel insurance, giving you the ultimate peace of mind. On top of cruise cover, winter cover, and group travel insurance the provider also comes with staycation insurance.
Like Aviva, LV=’s emergency medical expenses cover is comprehensive too – keeping you covered up to a £10 million limit abroad.
Looking for a new holiday destination?
Make sure to visit Times Travel for your holiday inspiration this year. From palm beaches in Fiji to the beautiful Italian coastline, Times Travel caters to all different tastes. Unlike other parts of the site, you also don’t need a subscription to enjoy their high-quality content.
Read more
Another notable provider
Despite not winning a nomination at the Times Money Mentor awards, this provider also offers a decent level of cover:
Switched On offers three levels of cover: standard, premium, and ultimate. The latter is its most expensive package of the three offering the highest level of cover and the lowest compulsory excess.
Otherwise compared to its standard plan, there are no added standout features. We like Switched On because it also includes Gadget cover for all its travel insurance policies as a standard.
In addition, all medical conditions are considered and the insurer provides a 24/7 helpline in case of an emergency.
The best travel insurance for cruises
If you’re thinking about taking a cruise, it’s important to take out special additional cover such as a cruise insurance to protect you.
Cruise insurance is normally offered as an add-on to travel policies, and protects you if you:
- Miss connections to reach the departure
- Fail to get back on board after planned stops
- End up being confined to your cabin
Though if you want a dedicated travel insurance policy for a cruise, here’s an option to consider:
Just Travel Cover*
Best for cruise holidays
Why we rate it: Just Travel Cover* is a broker that offers travel policies from a wide range of insurers, and its Unity Gold option includes excellent cover for those going on a cruise.
The cover for cabin confinement is £150 a day up to a limit of £1,500 – which is higher than most.
It is rated five stars in our cruise cover ratings, and Just Travel Cover also gets a silver customer experience rating.
The best winter sports cover
If you’re planning a skiing and snowboarding trip then it’s important you have insurance that will cover you if you’re involved in an accident on the slopes.
Most travel insurers will offer winter sports cover as an optional add-on to their regular cover and will protect you if you:
- Need to be airlifted off the slopes or rescued and need medical treatment
- Turn up and there’s no snow
- Can’t start skiing and snowboarding because of avalanche risk
- Find out your equipment – such as skis, snowboard and boots – has been stolen
It’s difficult to predict what the next ski season will look like. But if you’re booking now and want cover for the essentials, here’s a policy to factor into your calculations.
InsureandGo*
Best for winter sports
Why we rate it: InsureandGo* is one of the UK’s largest insurance brands.
It’s underwritten by Swiss insurance giant Zurich.
Its Black policy gets five stars in our ratings and has better levels of cover than most winter sports policies, including £1,500 for lost or stolen ski equipment, and up to £1,500 for a lost or stolen ski pass.
What should a basic travel policy cover?
When shopping for travel insurance, you should ensure your policy comes with the following seven things as standard:
1. Medical expenses
This covers the costs of any emergency medical and surgical treatment while you’re away.
It usually costs more for cover in the US as medical bills can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Any treatment that can wait until you get home is not usually included.
Most policies offer cover of £1 million for medical costs in Europe. This is usually £2 million in the US.
2. Repatriation
This is where you might need to be evacuated from the country you’re visiting.
Repatriation usually happens when you need to get back home to the UK in the event of a medical emergency and is usually covered as standard in most travel insurance policies.
3. Cancellation/curtailment
This covers any travel and accommodation costs you have paid for and can’t use or claim back.
You need a good reason to cancel your trip, so make sure you double check the terms and conditions of your policy.
4. Missed departure
This covers your extra accommodation costs and travel expenses should you miss your departure due to situations outside your control.
It usually includes your car breaking down or being involved in an accident. Leaving home at the last minute won’t count.
5. Delay
This covers you for delays to your travel plans, such as severe weather conditions.
Delays known about before (such as strikes) won’t be covered.
6. Baggage cover
This should cover you if your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
You might need extra cover for gadgets or valuable possessions as there are usually limits on separate items.
Losses need to be reported within a certain time frame and you must have a written report from your airline if it loses your baggage.
7. Personal liability cover
This should cover you if you are liable to pay damages due to:
- Accidental bodily injury to someone
- Or for loss or damage to someone else’s property
- Claims made by family members or employees won’t be covered
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What extra cover can you buy?
To provide a peace of mind you might be able to add the following onto your policy too:
- Wedding cover – If you’re travelling abroad for a wedding, some providers might include an add-on which covers damage to your possessions. If you think you need something more comprehensive, then consider a separate wedding insurance policy
- Gadget insurance – While you’re abroad you may wish to cover your laptop, phone, or tablet from theft or damage
- Golf equipment cover – Planning to tee off abroad? Then consider cover for moving your clubs overseas. This type of add on includes cover for your equipment if it is lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged
Read more: Is credit card travel insurance any good?
What is not covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance won’t cover you for a risk that is known about.
For example, if you have a long-standing medical condition that means you can’t go on holiday, your insurer might not cover you for the cancellation costs.
Insurers also won’t cover you if you have to cancel your trip for reasons within your control. For example, if you miss your flight because you woke up late, your claim is likely to be rejected.
Travel insurance is also unlikely to cover you if you have been irresponsible. For example, if you leave your valuables in your hold luggage then your policy won’t cover you if these items are damaged.
Each travel insurance policy will have specific things it won’t cover and this will vary depending on the provider. So it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully.
What types of travel insurance can you buy?
There are two main options to choose from when taking out a travel insurance policy:
- Single trip — covers you for one trip of a specified length only
- Annual multi-trip — covers you for all your trips for one year (if you travel a lot this can work out cheaper than lots of single policies)
You need to make sure that either option of travel insurance covers you for where you are going, such as:
- Europe only
- Or the more expensive, worldwide policies (these either include or exclude the US)
But check first which exact countries providers include in their policies. For example, some policies include Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt in their Europe insurance.
There is also specific travel insurance for backpackers, which offers extra cover for those who are likely to be away for an extended period of time or travelling to multiple destinations.
Also bear in mind that if you are doing any extreme sports like skiing or going on a cruise then you might need to buy an add-on.
When should I take out travel insurance?
It’s usually best to take out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip.
While many people think of travel insurance as something that covers problems while they are away, some policies cover you for issues, accidents and illnesses that stop you from being able to travel.
Cancellation is one of the main reasons that people claim on a travel insurance policy. If the cancellation happens before you have bought insurance then you wouldn’t be able to claim.
How much should I pay for travel insurance?
Your travel insurance premium will depend on a range of factors such as your age, health, type of policy, and destination. This is why an average travel insurance premium will likely be meaningless, so make sure to do your research and get a quote from several different providers before deciding on a policy.
Do I need travel insurance?
Unlike car insurance, travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement. However, it does come with a host of benefits such as cover for medical expenses.
We’ve already listed the benefits of having protection for unexpected medical costs above, and it remains pertinent if you’re travelling abroad and won’t have access to the NHS. According to the ABI, there is one recorded case in 2022 when a traveller in Thailand contracted a serious blood infection which needed intensive medical treatment. The bill eventually came up to £250,000 which was paid in full by their travel insurance provider.
Also consider that some visa applications require you to have a suitable travel insurance policy in place before you apply. If you’re applying for a Schengen visa to travel Europe you’ll need a policy in place which covers medical expenses up to €30,000 during your trip.
FAQs: Travel insurance and medical conditions
Many people solely take out travel insurance to protect themselves from medical expenses. According to the ABI, the average medical claim on travel cover is more than £1,300. Notoriously in the US, these figures run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds.
So below we’ve answered some of the most common medical related questions on travel insurance:
Q. Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Some insurers do provide cover for pre-existing conditions. However, it is vital that youflag these conditions during the application stage. If you don’t it could invalidate your policy.
Q. Do you need to tell your travel insurance provider if you have a new medical condition?
If there is a significant change to your personal health then you’ll need to inform your travel insurance provider. This includes being diagnosed with a new long-term illness.
Failure to do so could invalidate your policy.
Q. Can you get travel insurance if you’re over 75 with medical conditions?
Yes. In fact, there are some providers on the market which tailor their policies towards an older demographic. For example, Saga has dedicated policies for over 50s and 70s.
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