What is medical cover and what does it include?

This will cover the cost of some or all of your medical bills while you are abroad if you suffer from a serious accident or illness during your trip. This does not cover the cost of medical tourism or any procedures arranged prior to your trip. What to look for: If you have any pre-existing health conditions that you require cover for, it is important that you find a policy with the right type of underwriting that will not exclude the health problem(s) from your cover. You’ll typically pay more for Travel Insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, but when thinking about premiums consider just how much your medical costs could be while you’re abroad if a pre-existing condition flared up while you were on your trip.

What does delay cover include?

This cover will pay out a daily benefit if your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours, although usually up to a limit. What to look for: When you choose this type of cover, it’s worth it to consider policies that cover the delay of your luggage as well. It’s one thing to be forced to hang around for your flight, but the situation can be just as dire if you are stuck in a different country without any of your luggage. Compensation for your luggage will ensure that you can at least afford a change of clothes and toiletries if your luggage is delayed for more than 12 hours.

What does Accidental Death and Disability cover?

Accidental Death & Disability Cover will pay out a lump sum if a person covered by your policy dies or is made severely or permanently disabled while you’re travelling. What to look for: Most insurance providers will offer this or a variation of this benefit to provide you with general compensation and support. Cover can reach up to £50,000, which can provide valuable financial support, but should not be relied upon if you return home from your holiday with a severe disability and unable to work.

What is cancellation and curtailment cover?

If you find that you need to cancel your holiday plans at the last minute or if you need to cut your holiday short due to an emergency, this cover could allow you to reclaim some or all of the cost of your trip. What to look for: This type of cover is usually included as standard with the best Travel Insurance policies, although some providers can offer extended cover for any derailments of your trip. Some even offer cover if you need to cancel your trip because a pet is taken ill, so it’s important you look at just what’s covered by this element of your insurance policy.

Compare Best UK Travel Insurance Quotes 2024

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Tom ConnerDirector

0127 364 6484

04/09/2020

8 mins

What is the Best Travel Insurance?

Travel Insurance companies offer so many different types of cover under their various policies and each has their own unique limits, which can make it difficult to figure out which is the best Travel Insurance policy for you.

How long do you need to be covered?

Most providers also offer different variations of cover. At the very beginning of looking for your policy, you will need to decide how many trips you want to take while covered by your policy.

Single-Trip – covers you for a single holiday
Multi-trip policy – often taken out where there are likely to be multiple holidays or trips abroad over a set time period.

Where do you need to be covered?

After this, you will likely need to choose where you want to be covered. Standard coverage areas include:

Europe
Worldwide (excluding North America)
Worldwide (including North America)

The differentiation between including and excluding North America reflects higher medical expenses in this region.

You’ll also need to decide how comprehensive you want your policy to be and if you want to add any optional add-ons you would like to your policy, such as Winter Sports Cover.

All these different options mean it’s so important to seriously consider which types of cover you need how much you need before you shop around. The best Travel Insurance policy isn’t necessarily one that covers more or costs the least; it’s the one that ticks all your boxes for the best price.

Compare Top UK Travel Insurance Companies

For ease of comparison, the below policies are all the best Travel Insurance policies offered by each of the insurers. Some providers have tiers of cover available ranging from basic to fully comprehensive – check the insurer review pages for more on this.

Post Office Review

Premier Plus Policy

Post Office offers a highly comprehensive range of policy options with varying levels of cover ranging from basic to all-encompassing. They received a silver award in 2017 for ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ at the Best Travel Insurance Awards.

Medical Cover: £10,000,000
Cancellation: £10,000
Baggage Cover: £3,000
Add-ons: Winter Sports Cover/ Business Cover/ Golf Cover/ Cruise Cover

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Allianz Review

Gold Travel Insurance

Allianz Global Assist is one of insurance giant Allianz’s subsidiary companies, specialising in providing Travel Insurance and other cover. It has four tiers of Travel Insurance: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Backpacker.

Medical Cover: £10,000,000
Cancellation: £5,000
Baggage Cover: £2,000
Add-ons: Business Cover / Golf Cover / Wedding Cover / Winter Sports Cover

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Boots Review

Platinum Policy

Boots insurance policies are more open to older travellers and those with medical conditions. Boots will assess pre-existing conditions on a case-by-case basis and there is no upper age limit for cover under their Single-Trip policies. Boots also has a range of policy types for different kinds of getaways.

Medical Cover: £10,000,000
Cancellation: £7,500
Baggage Cover: £3,500
Add-ons: Gadget Cover / Force Majeure Cover / Extended Activities Cover / Cruise Cover / Winter Sports Cover / Wedding Cover

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Drewberry’s Best Travel Insurance Tips

Don’t ignore pre-existing health conditions
If you are suffering from any health problems, it is vital that you declare them to your insurer when you take out your policy. If you do not inform your insurer of a health problem you can jeopardise your coverage. This also includes health problems that you are still waiting for a diagnosis for if you have yet to get your results from investigations.
Double check that your holiday activities are covered
Insurers have a set list of activities and sports that they are willing to cover you for while you are abroad, with winter sports and activities typically offered as an optional add-on. Before you make great plans on your holiday, it pays to double check that all of the fun activities that you have planned are covered by your policy.
Take the appropriate measures to ensure the safety of your belongings
A common exclusion for most policies is the loss or damage of possessions that are improperly cared for. If you don’t take the necessary steps to protect your valuables – such as leaving them unattended while you take a dip in the sea – then your insurer is likely to reject your claim if something unfortunate were to happen.
Consider your choice between a Single-Trip or Multi-Trip Policy
Multi-trip policies can be great value if you travel abroad frequently, but it may be cheaper to buy Single-Trip policies for each trip if you don’t travel as frequently.
Buy your policy early and leave enough time before your trip
One of the most useful types of cover offered by Travel Insurance is Cancellation Cover. Buying your policy far ahead of going on your trip means that your insurance protection will be in place if anything happens that causes you to cancel or delay your trip. In fact, the best time to buy your policy is when you book your trip.
Don’t ignore the excess
If you are looking for cheap Holiday Cover then there are plenty of basic policies to choose from that still offer valid cover for things that matter. However, it is important that you look out for your policy’s excess before shopping around. Some of the cheaper policies available may be so because the excess is a lot higher than normal.

How Much Does the Best Travel Insurance Cost?

When comparing Travel Insurance policies, it is important that you look at more than just the cost. While it can be tempting to opt for a cheaper policy, some of the low-cost Travel Insurance options may have a high excess or may not offer enough cover to fulfil your needs while you’re abroad.

Level of Cover
The extent of cover that you get from your policy will be depend on the insurer you choose and the available options they offer you. Many of the best Travel Insurance companies offer a range of policies that give different levels of cover. More expensive policies may offer more types of cover while you’re abroad or more compensation for your claims.
Excess
Most policies – apart from some of the most comprehensive – will have a mandatory excess that will apply to certain types of claims.
Health and Medical History
If you aren’t in a good state of health or if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you may face the difficult choice of having to pay more for your cover to ensure you are covered or having your health problems excluded from your cover. Fortunately, there are certain providers on the market who will consider cover for those with pre-existing conditions.
Destination
European trips will typically cost less compared to trips elsewhere around the world. The level of risk that comes with travelling to your country of choice will contribute to the cost of your policy. Worldwide policies that cover you anywhere in the world will cost the most.
Multi-trip or Single Trip
Multi-trip Travel Insurance can sometimes cost as much as double a Single-trip policy. If you travel frequently throughout the year, however, a Multi-trip can save you money in the long run provided you travel frequently enough to get the most out of your policy.

By choosing a policy and the appropriate options that apply specifically to your needs, you can avoid overpaying for cover you don’t need or settling for insufficient, cheaper cover.

Common Travel Insurance Definitions...

What is medical cover and what does it include?
This will cover the cost of some or all of your medical bills while you are abroad if you suffer from a serious accident or illness during your trip. This does not cover the cost of medical tourism or any procedures arranged prior to your trip.

What to look for: If you have any pre-existing health conditions that you require cover for, it is important that you find a policy with the right type of underwriting that will not exclude the health problem(s) from your cover.

You’ll typically pay more for Travel Insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, but when thinking about premiums consider just how much your medical costs could be while you’re abroad if a pre-existing condition flared up while you were on your trip.
What does delay cover include?
This cover will pay out a daily benefit if your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours, although usually up to a limit.

What to look for: When you choose this type of cover, it’s worth it to consider policies that cover the delay of your luggage as well. It’s one thing to be forced to hang around for your flight, but the situation can be just as dire if you are stuck in a different country without any of your luggage. Compensation for your luggage will ensure that you can at least afford a change of clothes and toiletries if your luggage is delayed for more than 12 hours.
What does Accidental Death and Disability cover?
Accidental Death & Disability Cover will pay out a lump sum if a person covered by your policy dies or is made severely or permanently disabled while you’re travelling.

What to look for: Most insurance providers will offer this or a variation of this benefit to provide you with general compensation and support. Cover can reach up to £50,000, which can provide valuable financial support, but should not be relied upon if you return home from your holiday with a severe disability and unable to work.
What is cancellation and curtailment cover?
If you find that you need to cancel your holiday plans at the last minute or if you need to cut your holiday short due to an emergency, this cover could allow you to reclaim some or all of the cost of your trip.

What to look for: This type of cover is usually included as standard with the best Travel Insurance policies, although some providers can offer extended cover for any derailments of your trip. Some even offer cover if you need to cancel your trip because a pet is taken ill, so it’s important you look at just what’s covered by this element of your insurance policy.

Other Travel Insurance Cover Definitions

Baggage and Personal Belongings Cover

Definition: This cover will pay out to cover the loss or damage of any of your baggage or personal belongings up to a certain amount.

What to look for: If you plan to take any particularly valuable items with you while you are abroad, you will need to look carefully for your policy’s ‘per item’ cover limit. Some policies offer quite a low cover limit per item for your valuables but instead offer optional Gadget Cover or Tech Cover that will cover your expensive electronics for an extra fee. You will need to work out for yourself the value of your luggage and decide how much cover is the appropriate amount.

Money and Travel Documents Cover

Definition: This cover will provide you with compensation if your travel money, travel documents or passport are stolen or lost while you are abroad.

What to look for: This type of cover often has strict terms that ensure that you are not responsible for losing your money. Cover for these types of items can also be split up in some policies, with different cover limits applying to travel money, tickets, passports etc. Check the cover limits carefully and avoid carrying around an excess of travel money that may exceed your policy’s cover limit, otherwise you will not be fully compensated.

Personal Liability and Legal Expenses Cover

Definition: Personal Liability and cover for Legal Expenses are usually offered at the same time, but not always. Personal Liability Cover will cover you if you are guilty of accidentally injuring someone or damaging property while you’re abroad. Legal Expenses Cover will pay out if the opposite occurs and if someone is responsible for harming you or your personal property and you wish to take legal action.

What to look for: Some of the best Travel Insurance companies will appoint a lawyer on your behalf if you need one, which is a great benefit to have in addition to cover for the other legal expenses. Other providers will typically give you access to a legal helpline or remote service where you can make your claim and get basic advice about your case. These can be valuable benefits to look out for while you shop for your policy.

Sports / Winter Sports and Hazardous Activities Cover

Definition: You will usually find most insurance companies exclude ‘risky’ activities such as winter sports cover when you take out your policy. However, most insurers have an optional extra Ski Travel Insurance that will allow cover for winter sports if you add it to the policy. This usually even covers mountain rescue if you’re injured on the slopes.

Some providers are willing to cover – either as an option or automatically – dangerous activities such as skydiving and even base jumping, depending on the provider and the policy.

What to look for: Cover for dangerous activities can be expensive when you are given the choice to add it to your policy. If you tend to take part in a lot of sporting activities while you are abroad, then this cover can be very valuable as you don’t want to risk being injured in the pursuit of such activities and not being able to claim.

Major Incident / Catastrophe / Force Majeure Cover

Definition: If a major incident ruins your holiday plans, like an earthquake, flood or fire, this cover will pay for the cost of alternative accommodation and your travel expenses.

What to look for: This cover is vital if you prefer to organise your own holidays rather than booking package holidays. While resorts and agencies may offer some compensation if these incidents happen, booking your holiday alone means that you may need to pay out of your own pocket to resolve the problem if, say, a hurricane destroys your hotel. However, look carefully at exactly the types of incidents that your provider will cover because some will not cover all serious natural disasters.