Compare annual travel insurance

After Brexit, and the UK officially left the EU with a deal in place, things have changed. You won’t be able to apply for an EHIC anymore, but, if you have one already, issued before the end of 2020, then it’ll still be valid until the expiry date.

However, the UK government has introduced a replacement called the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). If you don’t have an EHIC, or once yours expires, you can apply for a GHIC here, and it should arrive within 10 days. The GHIC will offer the same cover as the EHIC did in EU countries.

It’s difficult to say, as all travel insurance providers are covering COVID-19 differently. That’s why it’s really important to compare travel insurance policies carefully and understand who is covering what. It’s unlikely you’ll find a policy that covers all possible disruptions owing to COVID-19, but some providers do offer better cover than others. We offer comparison for specialist “enhanced COVID policies”, so you can find the right cover you need for peace of mind.

It will also depend on what the current government guidelines on travel are. If the UK government has banned foreign travel, then your insurance won’t cover you if you decide to go anyway.

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, that’ll 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.

One of the main things that’s changed since Brexit is how the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) works. You won’t be able to apply for a new EHIC anymore, but, if you have one that was issued to you before the end of 2020, you can still use it until its expiry date. Instead, you can now apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which offers the same cover as the EHIC did in EU countries.

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

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, though, 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, if you make a successful claim your insurance provider will pay you £200.

Different parts of the policy may have different excess amounts. For example, the excess for cancellation may 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. Typically, providers of annual travel insurance cover people aged 19-75, and the maximum trip duration is usually 31 or 60 days, depending on the cover you’re purchasing.  

The maximum duration for flyers aged between 66-75 years old is usually around 21 days.  

It may be complicated to get an extension. Insurance providers usually suggest you take out a single trip policy 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 also need to make sure you understand what you need to do if you make a claim, such as reporting the incident to the police.

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 cover things like missed port stops.

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