Why do I need travel insurance?
You never know what can happen when you go away, so it’s important to ensure you’re covered for any number of occurrences.
Holiday insurance can include medical care, lost baggage, delayed flights, and trip cancellations. Any one of these can be quite costly, and if there’s anything the pandemic has taught us, it’s how important it is to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances.
There’s no legal requirement to purchase travel insurance for going on holiday, but it gives you peace of mind so you can enjoy your trip away.
Can I get travel insurance to cover COVID-19?
You can still find policies that will cover coronavirus issues like medical treatment or an early trip back home. However, make sure you check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice before you book, as you may not be covered for travel to countries they advise against. This can include locations with lockdowns or restrictions in place.
What does travel insurance cover?
Each provider will have different inclusions in their policies, so you should check with your chosen one for specific needs. There are things that you can typically expect to be included in most holiday insurance policies.
✅ Emergency medical treatment you need to seek such as doctors or hospital visits.
✅ Repatriation (emergency travel back home) in case of serious illness or injury.
✅ Holiday cancellation as a result of something outside of your control.
✅ Trip delays or disruptions affecting your flights or accommodation.
✅ Lost, damaged, or stolen baggage claims during any part of your trip.
✅ Legal costs incurred if you injure someone or cause damage to their property.
❌ Pre-existing medical conditions not disclosed when you apply for your quote.
❌ Changes to your trip that aren’t due to circumstances outside of your control.
❌ Countries or destinations advised against travelling to by FCDO.
❌ Extreme sports or dangerous activities, which often include winter sports.
❌ Missing a flight as a result of your own actions, rather than airline delays.
❌ Accidents or injuries caused while under the influence.
❌ Loss or injury incurred due to natural disasters.
Types of travel insurance policies
🧳 Single trip
Ideal for one-off trips or holidays. There is no limitation on the destination, although you are usually covered for up to one year.
✈️ Annual multi-trip
If you’ve got more than one holiday planned within a year, it might be more cost-effective to buy annual multi-trip insurance. Each trip is usually covered for up to 30 days and is a popular choice for work trips.
Cover for pre-existing medical conditions
A pre-existing medical condition is basically any illness or condition you have before you travel. This can include minor conditions like high cholesterol and asthma as well as more serious conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, and cancer.
You always need to inform your insurer of all medical conditions or you could risk voiding a claim and paying for any treatment out of pocket, which could be very expensive. Having certain illnesses increases your risk and potential cost if you fall ill during your trip, so insurers need to know as much as possible.
You’ll still be able to get cover for some pre-existing medical conditions, although you may have to pay more in certain cases. There are some conditions and situations that might make it difficult to find cover, and you may end up needing to exclude your condition from your policy.
How to compare travel insurance for the best deal
- Select your policy type: choose between single and multi-trip.
- Tell us who’s going: are you travelling alone, with a partner, or family?
- Choose your destination: select your country from the list.
- Add your dates: how long are you away for?
- Tell us about you - basic details like name, age & address.
- Decide on your extras - baggage cover, cancellation cover & winter sports cover.
- Declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
- Compare quotes and cashback offers: browse the list of results and choose one that’s best for you.