Travel insurance at a glance
Travel insurance isn’t usually required by law, but it’s good to have in case something goes wrong on your holiday
Your policy should cover emergency medical costs abroad and repatriation
It can also cover holiday cancellation and lost or stolen luggage
Check the terms before you buy to make sure all your holiday activities are covered.
Why is travel insurance important?
We all hope our trips abroad go without a hitch, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case.
When you’ve spent your hard-earned money on a holiday, it makes sense to safeguard it against unforeseen events that could put your trip in jeopardy.
Overseas medical treatment can be very expensive.
Even in Europe where you may have access to state-provided healthcare, without travel insurance you could be left footing a large bill if you need private healthcare or emergency flights back to the UK.
For example, treatment for a broken leg in Spain could set you back around £25,000. Meanwhile, a hospital stay in the USA and repatriation flights back to the UK could cost as much as £150,000.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reported that in 2024, travel insurance providers paid more than 500,000 claims worth a total of £472 million to travellers who needed help while they were abroad.
While travel insurance can’t prevent mishaps, it can protect you against a variety of incidents that could potentially happen while you’re away – from health emergencies to missing luggage.
Is travel insurance a legal requirement?
While you’re not normally legally required to have travel insurance, it’s worth checking the entry requirements of where you’re travelling to.
Some countries may require you to show proof of insurance, depending on the length of stay.
Some tour operators may insist that you have a policy in place before they confirm your travel, especially to countries like the USA where there’s no public health service.
Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
Even when travelling in Europe, insurance is a good idea. Although a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) (or if it’s still in date, your old EHIC) will give you access to state healthcare on the same terms as a local in the EU, it shouldn’t be seen as an alternative to travel cover.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) recommends having a separate travel insurance policy as well as a GHIC/EHIC when visiting Europe.
That’s because your GHIC won’t cover you for any private medical treatment you need, and it won’t cover getting you back to the UK in a medical emergency.
What travel insurance do I need?
There are a variety of travel insurance policies to choose from depending on your needs. To figure out what type of travel insurance you need and how much cover you should get, consider:
Where you’re going
How long your trip is
Your age
Any pre-existing medical conditions you have
What kind of activities you intend to do on your trip
What kind of activities you intend doing on your trip
How often you’ll be travelling over a 12-month period
How many people are going on the trip.
How much travel insurance do I need?
This depends on your personal circumstances and your travel itinerary.
The more cover you need, the higher your premium will typically be. But you need to make sure you’re not left out of pocket if you do need to make a claim.
According to the ABI, travel insurance providers paid on average £1,528 per medical claim in 2024.
Before you compare travel insurance policies, estimate how much cover you might need for:
Medical costs and repatriation
How much cover you’ll need for medical expenses will depend on healthcare costs where you’re travelling.
For example, if you’re travelling to the USA, you’ll need more medical cover than for a holiday in France. It will also depend on your age and any pre-existing health conditions.
Your luggage and belongings
To estimate how much baggage cover you’ll need, work out how much it will cost to replace your personal belongings if they get lost, stolen or damaged while you’re on holiday.
Check whether your policy has any single-item limits for higher-value items like smartphones or laptops.
Holiday cancellation
To work out how much cancellation cover you’ll need, add up what you’ll be paying up front for flights, accommodation and excursions.
That way you’ll be covered in case you need to cancel your trip due to a reason covered by your policy.
Planned activities
If you’re off on an adventurous holiday, you’ll need to make sure any activities you have planned are covered by your travel insurance. You may need to add on extra sports cover.
Make sure any specialist or expensive gear you’re taking with you is covered too.
Types of travel insurance
Whatever your circumstances, it should be possible to find the right level of cover that’s tailored to your needs. Examples include:
Business travel insurance if you’re away a lot for work and have expensive equipment that needs protecting.
Single-trip insurance if you only need cover for one holiday.
Annual travel insurance (also called multi-trip) if you’re a frequent traveller taking several trips a year.
Backpacker travel insurance for longer holidays that take you through several countries.
Couples travel insurance for partners living at the same address.
Family travel insurance for parents and children living at the same address.
Group travel cover for parties travelling together.
Specialist travel insurance for over-65s geared towards senior travellers.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, make sure you check whether your condition is covered.
You may need to pay more to add extra cover or take out a specialist policy to get the protection you need.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive.
You may need to pay more to add extra cover or take out a specialist policy to get the protection you need. Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.
When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.
If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.
Does travel insurance protect my possessions too?
Yes, travel insurance usually covers lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal possessions.
Be warned though, you probably won’t be covered if you leave your belongings unattended. So don’t go wandering off to the bar or pool, leaving your tempting beach bag behind – not even for a minute.
You should also report any theft to the police as soon as possible, as some insurance providers require you to have done so within 24 hours for your claim to be valid.
Standard travel policies can vary widely in the amount covered, so make sure you get enough for your suitcase contents. It’s important to check both:
the total limit your insurance provider could pay out if your baggage is lost, stolen or damaged
if the policy has a single-item limit – that’s the most the provider will pay out for any one high-value item.
If you’re taking pricey gadgets such as tablets, phones and laptops, you may want to consider travel gadget insurance.
What else does travel insurance cover?
As well as the cost of medical emergencies and lost or damaged personal possessions, your policy might also cover:
Cancellation of a pre-booked holiday because of unforeseen circumstances, such as a family bereavement or jury service.
Missed flights, connections and delays that are outside of your control.
Personal liability cover if you cause an accident while you’re away.
Cancellations and missed flights are only covered for valid reasons specified in your policy.
If an airline is responsible for a long delay, cancellation or missed connection, then it’s normally up to them to put it right.
If your flight is cancelled or delayed significantly due to an event out of the airline’s control, then you may be able to claim on your travel insurance for additional travel and accommodation expenses.
Policies do vary, so always read the terms and conditions carefully to make sure you get the level of cover you want.
What won’t travel insurance typically cover?
Travel insurance won’t typically cover you for:
Travelling to a country that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advise against – check it's relevant country travel advice pages for updates on your chosen destination
Accidents that happen while you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Pre-existing medical conditions that you haven’t declared to your insurance provider
Natural disasters, which can include earthquakes and problems resulting from volcanic ash – although some policies may offer this as an optional extra
Terrorism – standard policies may only offer limited cover for claims related to terrorist attacks, so check the terms to be sure.
Do I need extra travel cover for adventure sports?
If you’re planning a more adventurous holiday, you might need to pay to add extra cover to your policy or even look for a specialist insurance provider that covers more extreme activities.
Check your policy details carefully if you’re intending to do any sports activities while you’re away.
Sports cover can vary greatly between insurance providers, and some of the inclusions and exclusions can be surprising, so read the fine print.
This can be especially important for winter sports and water sports.
Again, you may need extra cover or specialist insurance if your chosen activity isn’t covered.
Where can I compare travel insurance?
We make finding and comparing travel insurance quick and easy.
Compare policies in minutes and see if you could save money by finding the right cover to suit your holiday needs.
Simply answer a few questions and we’ll find you a selection of travel insurance providers to choose from.
FAQs
When should I take out holiday insurance?
Ideally you should take out holiday insurance as soon as you book your holiday or travel.
This means you'll be covered if you have to cancel your trip due to circumstances beyond your control for any of the reasons set out in the policy.
Cancellation cover typically covers things such as you becoming ill, the unexpected death of a close relative, redundancy, a flood, fire or burglary affecting your home.
Check any potential policy before you buy to see what's included and excluded.
Do I need travel insurance for a UK holiday?
Travel insurance could still be helpful, even though there’s no need for medical cover as you can receive treatment for free on the NHS. For instance, travel insurance can cover you if you have to cancel or cut short your staycation because of illness or injury.
It could also protect you if you’re taking expensive equipment with you, such as laptops or designer sports gear.
If you have annual insurance, this will typically cover your UK trips as well as overseas. Check your policy details, as some will require a minimum stay of at least one or two consecutive nights in pre-booked accommodation a certain distance from home. It’s worth taking the number of UK breaks you take into account too when deciding if an annual policy is worthwhile.
Do I need cruise travel insurance?
Yes. If you’re setting sail on a cruise, you’ll typically either need travel insurance with cruise cover or specialist cruise travel insurance.
This is designed to cover some of the specific mishaps that might happen while you’re on a cruise – for example, missed port stops or transport to a hospital if you’re taken ill while at sea.
What happens if I don’t buy travel insurance?
You can still travel abroad without travel insurance if it isn’t compulsory for your destination, but it carries a risk. You won’t have the reassurance of knowing that you’re protected if something goes wrong.
Medical bills alone can be sky-high if you need emergency treatment – which you’d have to pay out of your own pocket. You may also lose out if you have to cancel a trip and can’t get your money back.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
An experienced commercial leader with nearly 20 years’ experience in digital comparison and consumer services, Tom Lyon is a trusted voice in industries that affect millions of households. Tom’s made appearances on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky News, as well as programmes such as Watchdog, The One Show and Good Morning Britain.
Tom’s areas of expertise include travel insurance, as well as utilities and digital products such as energy, broadband and mobile.
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