Holidays are great. But if something goes wrong, travel insurance can help. Here’s what it usually covers.
Key takeaways
- A standard policy usually covers cancellation, medical treatment and repatriation, and lost, stolen or missing luggage. Cover for travel disruption and delays is often an add-on.
- Get your policy as soon as you book your trip to help make sure you're covered from the start.
- Cover limits vary, so always check your policy for the exact amounts.
- Standard travel insurance won't cover everything. Common exclusions include undeclared pre-existing medical conditions, travelling against FCDO advice, risky activities and, with some insurers, natural disasters.
- Paid add-ons, like travel disruption cover, can cover things a standard policy might not. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, always tell your insurer.
What's covered by a standard travel insurance policy?
Standard travel insurance can protect you from problems abroad. Get your policy as soon as you book your trip to help make sure you’re covered from the start. Here’s what a standard policy usually covers, and where you might need an add-on:
Cancellation cover
Need to cancel your trip before it starts? Cancellation cover can help. Say you fall ill and can’t travel. This cover can let you claim back costs for things like accommodation or transport. But cover limits vary. Always check your policy for the exact amount.
Another example could be cancelling a camping holiday because of bad weather. In this case, a specialist camping insurance policy may cover unexpected events like the weather.
Disrupted travel and delays
Travel plans rarely go perfectly. But cover for disruption and delays often isn’t included as standard. Many policies need a travel disruption add-on, so check before you buy. Where it’s included, travel insurance can help with unexpected disruptions and delays like:
- Missed connections due to airline delays.
- Bad weather stopping your travel, like a snowstorm.
- You or a travel companion falling ill or getting injured.
- Public transport delays from strikes or industrial action.
Your policy usually has limits for these situations. Read your terms and conditions to know your exact cover.
Medical treatment and repatriation
Most travel policies include medical cover as standard. This usually covers:
- Emergency medical treatment. Insurance can cover expensive medical bills if you need emergency care.
- Repatriation. This brings you home to the UK for treatment. Without it, costs can be huge.
Going to the EU or certain other countries? Take your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It can give you access to state healthcare in those countries but isn’t a substitute for travel insurance. It doesn’t cover repatriation, so use it with your policy. Check UK GHIC countries before you go.
Medical cover varies by insurer. Always check your policy’s limits before buying.
Quick tip: Travelling in the UK? The NHS covers medical emergencies, so you don’t need insurance for that.
Lost, stolen or missing luggage
Lost, damaged, or stolen baggage? This cover can help. Some insurers also include personal possessions. There’s usually a limit on baggage cover. Most insurers set a fixed amount, but some limit individual items. Check your policy for exact cover levels.
What does travel insurance not cover?
Standard travel insurance won’t cover everything. Be aware of these common exclusions:
- Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions. Don’t declare a condition? Your insurer might not cover related treatment. Always be upfront to avoid nasty surprises.
- Travelling against FCDO advice. If the government advises against travel and you go anyway, you might not be covered. Check their advice before you travel. Your policy documents explain how this affects your cover.
- Risky activities. Standard policies often exclude sports or activities insurers deem risky, like scuba diving past a certain depth. Planning adventurous activities? You might need specialist activity travel insurance.
- Natural disasters. Some travel insurers don’t cover natural disasters while you’re away. Read your policy to understand your cover in these situations.
What if I need additional cover?
Need more cover? Customise your travel insurance with add-ons. They can cover things a standard policy might not. They often cost extra, but they could be worth it for your trip. Popular extras include:
- Travel disruption insurance: Worried about delays or missed connections? This add-on can help with things like delays, missed departures and strikes.
- Winter sports travel insurance: Skiing or snowboarding? This add-on can cover snow-related activities, like mountain rescue if you get injured.
- Activity travel insurance: Planning risky activities like hiking or paragliding? This add-on can boost your cover for thrill-seeking adventures.
- Business travel insurance: Travel for work often? This option can enhance cover for work mishaps, like stolen equipment.
- Cruise travel insurance: Cruises are unique. This insurance is designed to cover specific issues at sea, like missed ports due to bad weather.
Travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions
Got a pre-existing medical condition? Tell your insurer. This helps make sure you get the right medical travel insurance for your needs while you’re away. Conditions range from common to serious, like:
- High blood pressure
- Strokes
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart conditions
A pre-existing condition might increase your insurance cost. But declaring it is vital for your cover. If your insurer doesn’t know, they could deny related claims. That could mean huge medical bills you pay yourself!
Some insurers can’t cover more serious health conditions. If this happens, you might need to look elsewhere. MoneyHelper has a directory of travel insurance providers who might be able to help. Find more on the MoneyHelper website.
Top tip: When you get travel insurance through us, we show you quotes from providers who confirm they cover your declared conditions. Just make sure you declare all of them during your quote.
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