Annual Travel Insurance

Yes, you should have both if you’re planning to make multiple trips to Europe in a year. Travel insurance will cover other costs that the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) won’t, such as flight delays or lost luggage.

And although these cards allow you to get the same access to medical treatment as a local in EU countries, they don’t cover all health-related costs. For instance, they won’t cover you for emergency repatriation if you need to be returned to the UK for specialist medical care.

Even though the UK has left the EU, Brexit hasn’t massively changed how travel insurance works. You’ll still be able to take out a new annual multi-trip travel insurance policy that’s specific to Europe, which will cover you just as it did before.

If you already have a rolling annual multi-trip policy, you shouldn’t need to worry either. It should just continue to cover you as normal. If you’re unsure though, it’s always best to talk to your insurance provider or check your policy wording.

If you’re intending to do any sports or adventure activities you may want to look at:

• Winter sports
• Extreme sports cover
• Water sports travel insurance
• Golf travel insurance.

These could give you the cover you need if you’re taking part in riskier activities – but you’ll need to pay a bit extra to add them to your policy.

It’s up to you. The beauty of multi-trip travel insurance is that there are no rules as to how many times you need to travel to qualify for it.

If you’ll be making numerous trips, it’s advisable to double check the small print on your insurance provider’s policy in case there’s a maximum trip limit, as all policies vary.

Typical annual travel insurance cover normally stipulates that each individual holiday within the year of your annual policy can’t exceed a certain number of days – normally 31.

Ideally, on the day you pay for it. This is because the cancellation cover on annual multi-trip insurance begins from the start date of the policy. To make sure you have this protection, you need to be covered from when you pay for your first trip, not just from when you start it.

Most policies will cover you for UK trips, but there may be conditions that apply, for example:

• A minimum number of nights
• A minimum distance from home.

Check your policy for details.

Yes, as with any travel insurance policy, you need to let your insurance provider know, otherwise your claim could be invalid.

See more on pre-existing conditions.

It depends. Some policies will include this, under end supplier failure or scheduled airline failure, while others make it an add-on or won’t cover it at all. When you compare with us, you can clearly see which policies include this and those that don’t. If this is important to you, make sure you choose a policy that includes it.

An excess in insurance is how much you’ll pay towards a claim. If, for example, your luggage is insured for £250 and the excess is £50, your insurance provider will pay you £200 if your claim is successful.

Different parts of the policy may have different excess amounts. For example, the excess for cancellation might be different from the excess for medical treatment. Make sure you check all the amounts are affordable for you.

This depends on your age and the level of cover you’re looking for. Some annual travel insurance providers won’t cover people over 75, and the maximum trip duration is usually 31 or 60 days, depending on the cover you’re buying.  

The maximum duration for flyers aged 66 to 75 is usually around 21 days, and it may be complicated to get an extension.

Insurance providers usually suggest you take out a single trip policy if you need to stay longer than the limits specified in your policy.

The extent to which your valuables and money are protected varies from policy to policy. There will be upper limits set out in the terms and conditions. To be able to claim you’ll also need to follow the guidelines set out by your insurance provider, for example, never leave your mobile unattended and lock valuables in a safe if available.

You should also make sure you understand what to do if you make a claim, such as reporting the incident to the police.

In most cases, each adult named on a family policy is covered to travel alone. You don’t all have to go away together at the same time. Children can often travel independently of others named on the policy as long as they’re accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. Some policies won’t cover family members travelling independently though, so do check if this is going to be an issue for you.

You’ll be covered for each trip you take. This means that, in theory, you could claim each time you travel, regardless of whether you’ve made a claim before or how many times you’ve gone away. But unless you’re very unlucky, the chances of having to make multiple claims in one year are slim.

You can opt for single-trip insurance if you’re only likely to make one trip in a year.

If you’re going on a cruise, you may find cruise insurance better suited to your needs, as these policies can cover missed port stops or cabin confinement.

Long-stay trip insurance (also known as backpacker insurance) might be better suited to a traveller away for long periods and visiting several countries.