Travel insurance (or holiday insurance) is a must if
you want to make sure you’ll be able to afford medical care when you’re
abroad.
Source: Association of British Insurers
Source: Money Advice Service research
Most policies include cover for:
Source: Association of British Insurers
The main benefit of travel insurance is in having emergency medical cover on holiday.
The cover you get for personal possessions can be covered under your home contents insurance policy and so it’s best to check whether you have this already before you add it to your travel policy. Some travel insurers will give you a discount if you exclude baggage cover.
Why take out travel insurance?
Did you know?
The average cost for overseas medical treatment is £2,040. In the case of a coronary artery bypass and an emergency flight from the US to the UK, the total was £49,000.Source: Association of British Insurers
- Getting medical care on holiday could cost you thousands of pounds.
- Other insurance – like credit card accident cover and private health insurance – doesn’t cover most travel emergencies.
- Without insurance, you’ll have to cover emergency expenses on your own – the British Consulate can’t help you.
- Travel insurance that covers getting you home and medical expenses is essential.
What does travel insurance cover?
Did you know?
One in three claims on travel insurance is for medical treatment.Source: Money Advice Service research
- emergency medical expenses
- personal liability, in case you’re sued for damaging property or causing injury
- lost or stolen bags
- the costs of cancelling, delaying or cutting short your trip
What isn’t covered by travel insurance?
There are some common things you should watch out for:- If you are over 65 or have a medical condition, you might need specialist insurance. If you have a medical condition you have to tell your insurer, even if they don’t specifically ask you. When you buy insurance you must answer all questions about your circumstances and health honestly, and include everything, even if you think it’s not important, for example taking regular tablets for high blood pressure or angina – if you don't your policy won't be valid.
- Adventure sports, winter sports and any ‘dangerous activities’ may need extra cover.
- With most policies, you aren’t covered for travel to countries or regions that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends avoiding – view the latest list on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
- Coverage for strikes, civil unrest, volcanic ash clouds, earthquakes, acts of terrorism and epidemics such as SARS varies.
- Travel insurance for over 65s and medical conditions
- Travel insurance – choose the right policy and cover
- Travel insurance – what does a good policy look like?
Do you still need travel insurance if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
- With an EHIC (formerly E111) you get the same level of state-provided medical care as someone who lives in the country you’re visiting. It’s valid in all European Economic Area countries and Switzerland.
- The downside is that the local level of care may not be the same as what you’d get in the UK. You will also need to pay for part of your bills, if that’s how the local system works.
- EHIC won’t cover the costs of repatriation – getting you back home – after a medical emergency on holiday, and this will be very costly.
- If you use an EHIC to get medical care, most insurers won’t ask you to pay the excess on your medical claims.
- While it’s worth getting an EHIC, it’s not enough on its own. You should still get travel insurance that includes medical and repatriation cover.
Is travel insurance good value?
Did you know?
Britons spend more than double the cost of an average single trip travel insurance policy on magazines and sweets at the airport.Source: Association of British Insurers
- What happens if you have a bad fall on the ski slopes and need a helicopter to a good hospital?
- How would you cope if one of the kids fell ill – even with something minor – in the US or another country with sky-high medical costs?
The cover you get for personal possessions can be covered under your home contents insurance policy and so it’s best to check whether you have this already before you add it to your travel policy. Some travel insurers will give you a discount if you exclude baggage cover.