At a glance
Repatriation typically comes as standard in a travel insurance policy.
You may be returned home on a scheduled flight or in an air ambulance, depending on your condition.
If someone has died, then their body may be flown home under the policy.
Undeclared medical conditions won't be covered.
What does repatriation mean?
When it comes to travel insurance, medical repatriation doesn’t simply mean taking an early flight home.
Depending on the nature of your condition, emergency repatriation could involve being medically escorted back to the UK on a scheduled flight or being flown back home in a specially equipped air ambulance.
What is repatriation cover?
Repatriation cover can offer protection against the high cost of bringing you (or a family member) home after illness, injury, or death while abroad.
It may be necessary to transport you home because you can’t get the right treatment where you are, or because it’ll work out cheaper (for the insurance provider) to bring you home and complete your treatment in the UK.
The UK government has advice on coping with a death abroad if the worst happens to a loved one while you’re away.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive.
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 include repatriation?
Yes, repatriation insurance is included as standard in most travel insurance policies.
There will typically be a section, sometimes called the ‘key features’, where you can see the list of circumstances where a travel insurance provider will offer repatriation – for example, in cases of illness, injury or accident.
The high levels of cover represent the realistic costs of repatriation, especially from remote locations and places where costs are high.
What does repatriation insurance cover?
It varies between providers, but repatriation will typically include:
The cost of getting you home
Accommodation and travel costs for a friend or relative to stay with you during treatment and repatriation
Organising getting you home
24/7 emergency assistance helpline
Repatriation of the body if a traveller on the policy dies while abroad.
Check your policy for full information and details on what’s included or excluded under repatriation.
What won’t repatriation insurance cover?
There are some things that could invalidate your travel insurance, meaning you’ll have to cover the cost of medical expenses and getting back home yourself. These will likely include:
Pre-existing medical conditions that weren't declared to your insurance provider
Illness and injuries that happen while you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Injuries caused by the violent conduct or reckless behaviour of you or one of your travelling companions
Death by suicide
Travelling to countries against UK government advice
Medical tourism
High-risk sports and activities that aren’t covered by your travel insurance policy.
How much repatriation cover do I need?
Travel insurance policies typically provide up to £10 million of cover for repatriation.
This reflects the high costs of bringing you home on a private plane, for example, and for the extra costs of any specialist equipment and medical treatment.
Do I need repatriation insurance?
Repatriation should be included as standard when you buy your travel insurance, so there’s no need to look for a specific policy.
If, for any reason, you want more cover than is provided as standard, you can shop around for a travel insurance policy with higher limits.
What else should I know about travel insurance with repatriation?
Cover levels may vary between providers, so you might want to check to make sure you have the level of protection you need.
When you compare travel insurance quotes with us, we’ll show you the features of each policy so it’s easier to find the right one for you.
Once you’ve settled on a policy, make sure you keep your provider’s details with you in case you need to get in touch with them during your trip.
FAQs
Does a GHIC/EHIC card cover repatriation?
No. While a valid GHIC or an unexpired EHIC card will give you access to state-provided emergency healthcare in the EU, it won’t cover repatriation costs to get you home. You’ll need travel insurance for that.
What does “medically necessary repatriation” mean?
Medically necessary repatriation means that you have an injury or illness that can’t be treated locally or would be better treated back home in the UK. It will need to be requested by a doctor.
How much does medical repatriation to the UK cost?
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the cost of an air ambulance alone could be as much as £35,000.
In one case, an insurance provider paid out more than £1 million to a customer who was admitted to hospital for emergency treatment in the USA and who required repatriation back to the UK in 2024.
That’s why travel insurance is so important. Without it, you’d have to cover medical and repatriation costs yourself.
Who decides if I need to be repatriated?
The decision to repatriate is usually made by your insurance provider.
It will assign a specialist medical assistance team to monitor your condition and liaise with the doctors in the country where you’re being treated.
The team will let your insurance provider know if emergency repatriation is necessary.
Ultimately, the doctor who is treating you will judge if it’s medically safe for you to travel or not.
Looking for something else?
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.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
