What Travel Insurance Covers (and What It Doesn't)
A standard comprehensive travel insurance policy includes several key sections. The cover limits — not just the headline price — are what matter:
Emergency Medical Cover
Covers hospital treatment, surgery, repatriation home. The most financially critical element. Minimum: £5m for Europe, £10m+ for US/Canada/Australia. US hospital care costs £5,000–£10,000+ per day. Do not travel to the US without at least £10m medical cover.
Cancellation & Curtailment
Reimburses pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs (flights, hotels, tours) if you can't travel or must cut the trip short. Covered reasons typically: illness/injury, bereavement, redundancy, jury service, home emergency. Check the per-person and per-trip maximum limits.
Baggage & Personal Possessions
Covers theft, loss, or damage to luggage and personal items. Key: check the single-item limit (often £200–£500 — may not cover a laptop or camera) and whether electronics are covered. High-value items may need to be added to home insurance policy instead.
Travel Delay & Abandonment
Pays compensation (typically £25–£50 per hour after a threshold) if your departure is delayed. Abandonment cover allows you to claim a full refund if delay exceeds 24 hours. Check minimum delay thresholds — some policies only kick in after 12+ hours.
Personal Liability
Covers legal liability if you accidentally injure someone or damage property abroad. Typically £1–2m cover. Essential for sports and activities where risk is higher.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Standard policies often exclude pre-existing conditions unless declared and accepted. Always declare conditions honestly — failure to do so can void the entire policy. Specialist insurers (e.g. Staysure, AllClear) cover complex medical histories. Compare quotes from specialists if you have conditions to declare.
Common Exclusions That Catch Travellers Out
Undisclosed pre-existing conditions: If you fail to disclose a medical condition and need to claim for anything — even something unrelated — the insurer may void the entire policy.
Travelling against FCDO advice: Most policies won't pay out if the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has advised against all (or all but essential) travel to your destination before you departed.
Sports and activities not listed: Skiing, water sports, cycling, trekking, and adventure activities often require specific add-ons or activity-level upgrades. Check your policy before the trip, not after an accident.
Alcohol-related incidents: Many policies exclude claims arising when you're under the influence of alcohol. This includes theft, accidents, and medical emergencies.
Unattended belongings: Baggage claims are typically rejected if items were left unattended or not stored securely (in a locked vehicle, locked accommodation, or within sight).
Key Policy Limits to Compare
| Cover Section | Minimum to Accept | Good Level |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical (Europe) | £5,000,000 | £10,000,000+ |
| Emergency medical (USA/Canada) | £10,000,000 | £15,000,000+ |
| Repatriation | Included in medical | Unlimited |
| Cancellation | £3,000 | £5,000–£10,000 |
| Baggage (total) | £1,500 | £2,500+ |
| Single item limit | £300 | £500–£1,000 |
| Personal liability | £1,000,000 | £2,000,000+ |
| Travel delay (per hour after threshold) | £20 | £25–£50 |
UK GHIC Card: Free Healthcare in Europe
The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) — which replaced the EHIC post-Brexit — provides access to state-provided healthcare in EU countries and some others at the same cost as local residents (often free). It is not a replacement for travel insurance because it doesn't cover repatriation, cancellation, baggage, or private treatment. Think of it as a useful supplement that may reduce medical bills if treatment is needed — but always carry full travel insurance alongside it.
Apply free at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ghic.
How to Buy the Right Policy
Decide: single trip vs annual
If you travel twice or more per year, annual multi-trip almost always wins on price and convenience. Check the maximum trip duration (typically 31 or 45 days) — for longer trips, you may need a specialist policy.
Declare all medical conditions honestly
Complete the medical screening for every applicant. Undisclosed conditions can void the entire policy. If you have complex conditions, go to a specialist insurer (Staysure, AllClear, Free Spirit) rather than a price comparison standard policy.
Check the medical cover limit first
This is non-negotiable. Compare on medical cover, not just price. A cheap policy with £1m medical cover is not adequate for the US, where that can be exhausted in days.
Check activity cover if needed
If you plan to ski, surf, cycle, trek, or do any adventure activity, confirm it's covered. Add activity upgrades before the trip, not after an accident.
Compare using MoneySuperMarket, Compare the Market, or GoCompare
These allow side-by-side comparison. Then check review sites (Defaqto, Trustpilot) for claims handling reputation — the insurer's attitude when you actually claim matters as much as the policy wording.