Best travel insurance UK 2026: what is covered, GHIC, and medical exclusions

Insurance

Travel insurance is one of the most complex insurance products to compare because the value of a policy only becomes apparent when a claim is made, often in difficult circumstances abroad. Emergency medical evacuation alone can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Trip cancellation claims can run to thousands for a long-haul family holiday. The difference between a comprehensive policy and a budget one shows up in the detail: sub-limits on individual sections, exclusions for specific activities, and the process for approving emergency treatment while you are overseas.

UK consumers choose between single-trip and annual multi-trip policies, and between standard cover and policies enhanced for winter sports, business travel, or high-risk activities. Pre-existing medical conditions are one of the most significant variables: insurers handle them differently, with some offering cover at a higher premium, some excluding the condition entirely, and some declining cover. The FCA expects insurers to signpost customers who cannot get cover to specialist providers through MoneyHelper's travel insurance directory. All travel insurers operating in the UK must be FCA-authorised.

What travel insurance covers: the main sections

A standard travel insurance policy is divided into several distinct coverage sections, each with its own limit and conditions. The emergency medical and repatriation section covers hospital treatment, surgery, ambulance costs, and medical evacuation if clinically necessary to bring you back to the UK. This is the most financially critical section: a medical emergency in the US without insurance can result in bills exceeding £100,000. Cancellation and curtailment covers non-refundable travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel before travel or cut a trip short due to covered reasons, including sudden illness, death of a close relative, redundancy, or a Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advisory issued after booking. Baggage and personal effects covers loss, theft, or accidental damage to luggage and belongings up to the policy limit, with sub-limits per individual item, typically £200 to £500 per item on standard policies. Travel delay covers additional costs if you are delayed at departure; missed departure covers costs if you miss your outbound transport due to an insured reason such as a vehicle breakdown on the way to the airport. Personal liability covers legal costs and damages if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property abroad. Personal accident provides a fixed benefit sum in the event of permanent disability or death caused by an accident during the trip.

GHIC explained and its limits

The UK Global Health Insurance Card replaced the European Health Insurance Card for UK residents following Brexit. Applying is free at gov.uk/global-health-insurance-card, and the card is valid for five years. The GHIC gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare in EEA countries and Switzerland at the same cost as local residents, which means free in countries where residents pay nothing and subsidised where residents pay co-payments. It covers medically necessary treatment in state hospitals and clinics, not private hospitals, and does not cover elective or cosmetic procedures. The GHIC has several important limitations that mean it does not replace travel insurance. It does not cover the cost of repatriation to the UK if your condition requires treatment only available at home. It does not cover any non-medical costs, including cancellation, baggage, or personal liability. It does not cover healthcare in countries outside the EEA and Switzerland, which includes popular long-haul destinations in the US, Caribbean, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. For travel outside the EEA, comprehensive travel insurance is the only financial protection against medical costs. Even within the EEA, a GHIC will not cover private medical treatment, which may be the only option available in some areas or for some conditions. Carrying both a GHIC and travel insurance provides the most complete protection for EEA travel.

Pre-existing medical conditions: declaring and comparing cover

Pre-existing medical conditions are one of the most common sources of travel insurance claim disputes. Under FCA ICOBS rules, insurers can decline or void a policy if a material fact was not disclosed at the time of application, and a pre-existing medical condition is nearly always a material fact. This means that if you have a condition that was not declared when you bought the policy and you make a claim connected to that condition, the insurer may decline not just the medical claim but the entire policy, leaving you uninsured for all other claims too. When applying for travel insurance, you must declare all conditions that you have been diagnosed with, are receiving treatment for, or have seen a doctor about in the past two to five years, depending on the insurer's screening questions. Do not assume a condition is too minor to declare; disclose and let the insurer decide. If you have a significant or complex condition, comparison sites may not be the right tool. Specialist travel insurers who use detailed medical screening questionnaires can often provide coverage that a standard insurer would decline. MoneyHelper's travel insurance directory, available at moneyhelper.org.uk, lists FCA-authorised specialist providers for travellers with medical conditions who have been declined by standard insurers.

Single-trip versus annual multi-trip policies

A single-trip policy covers one specific journey from the point of departure in the UK to the return. Annual multi-trip policies cover an unlimited number of trips in a 12-month period, subject to a maximum trip duration per journey, commonly 31 days but varying between 17 and 45 days depending on the policy. For anyone taking more than two or three overseas trips per year, an annual policy is almost always more cost-effective than buying single-trip cover each time. Annual policies also eliminate the risk of forgetting to buy cover before a trip. The key limitation is the per-trip duration cap: if you are planning a trip longer than your annual policy allows, you need to buy a single-trip or long-stay policy for that specific journey. Long-stay policies are available for gap year travel and extended stays abroad but are priced at a significantly higher premium than standard cover and typically require medical screening.

Activity and sports cover

Standard travel insurance policies exclude or limit cover for activities classified as hazardous. Winter sports, including skiing and snowboarding, are almost universally excluded from standard policies and require either a specific winter sports add-on or a dedicated winter sports policy. Other commonly excluded or restricted activities include scuba diving below certain depths, white water rafting, bungee jumping, motorcycle riding, and contact sports. Some policies use a tiered activity list and charge additional premiums for higher-risk sports rather than excluding them outright. If you plan to participate in any activity that is not clearly included in the standard policy, contact the insurer before departure to confirm coverage or purchase the appropriate extension. Participating in an excluded activity that subsequently results in an injury or accident will typically invalidate the medical and associated sections of the claim.

FCDO travel advisories and cancellation cover

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) publishes travel advice for every country at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. If the FCDO advises against travel to a destination before you book your trip, most travel insurers will not cover cancellation related to that advisory, as it was a known risk at the time of booking. If an FCDO advisory is issued after you booked, most policies cover cancellation costs as a result. Some policies also cover cancellation or curtailment if a Foreign Office advisory changes from cautionary to advising against all travel during your trip. Check the exact wording of the cancellation section: some policies require the advisory to advise against all travel; others activate at the lower threshold of advising against all but essential travel. This distinction can significantly affect whether a cancellation claim is paid.

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Frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance cover cancellation if the airline goes bust?

Some policies include end supplier failure cover, which pays out if an airline, hotel, or tour operator becomes insolvent before or during your trip. This is not included in all standard policies; check the policy schedule for supplier failure cover explicitly. Separately, if you paid by credit card you may be able to claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for the cost of the flight if it was over £100 and was booked directly with the airline. ATOL protection covers package holidays arranged through ATOL-licensed operators.

Can I get travel insurance if I am over 70?

Yes, though standard insurers may impose age limits on annual policies or charge significantly higher premiums for older travellers, particularly those with health conditions. Specialist providers offer travel insurance for older travellers and for those with pre-existing conditions regardless of age. MoneyHelper's travel insurance directory at moneyhelper.org.uk lists specialist providers. The FCA expects insurers not to discriminate unfairly on grounds of age, and the Equality Act 2010 applies to insurance, though some age-based pricing differences are permitted.

What does travel insurance not cover?

Common exclusions include: events that were foreseeable at the time of purchase (such as travelling to a country already under FCDO advisory); pre-existing conditions not declared; self-inflicted injury or illness related to alcohol or drug use; participation in excluded activities; losses arising from war or terrorism in most standard policies (some add terrorism cover); and losses caused by the traveller's own negligence in leaving belongings unattended in a public place. Always read the full policy exclusions section before purchasing.

Is a GHIC the same as travel insurance?

No. The GHIC gives access to state healthcare in EEA countries at resident rates. It does not cover repatriation, cancellation, baggage, personal liability, or any non-medical costs. It does not cover treatment in private hospitals or in countries outside the EEA. Travel insurance provides a much broader range of protection. The GHIC complements travel insurance by potentially reducing medical costs within the EEA but does not replace it.

How do I make a travel insurance claim abroad?

For medical emergencies, contact your insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line before incurring significant costs where possible; some insurers require pre-authorisation for non-emergency treatment. Keep all receipts, medical reports, and police reports (for theft). For cancellation claims, obtain written confirmation of the reason from the relevant party (GP letter, airline written confirmation, etc.). Most insurers allow online claim submission; submit promptly as there are usually time limits.

How we verified this guide

All coverage descriptions and regulatory rules were verified against FCA ICOBS, ABI travel insurance guidance, NHS GHIC guidance, FOS travel insurance complaints data, and FCDO travel advice methodology during May 2026. We do not accept payment from insurers and do not earn commission on travel insurance sales.

Primary sources

• ABI - Travel insurance guidance
• Financial Ombudsman Service - Travel insurance complaints
• MoneyHelper - Travel insurance guide and specialist directory
• Citizens Advice - Holiday cancellations and compensation

Last reviewed: May 2026.