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What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is sometimes called holiday insurance, but it’s not just for vacations. Travel insurance can cover you on holiday or on business. It protects against things like luggage loss, medical expenses, flight delays, trip cancellation and more.

Buy travel insurance to protect you if the unexpected happens – for international travel or trips within the UK.

There are many types of travel insurance and the things they cover vary. Also, the financial limits can be very different. Medical expenses are a good example. Getting sick while you are abroad can be expensive. Don’t assume the NHS will pay for you. They may not.

In a country with high medical costs like the USA, a long stay in hospital can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Make sure the policy you buy has enough financial firepower to cover emergencies like these.

Finally, if you’ll be taking part in specialist activities when travelling, such as winter sports or hang-gliding, make sure your travel insurance covers them. Some don’t. Buying travel insurance that’s tailored for specialist sports is the best way to go.

What details do I need to get a cheap travel insurance quote?

To compare travel insurance and get the best deal is easy. Just provide some basic information. Such as:

Type of travel

Is it for a single trip, many trips or for a specialist activity such as a cruise or skiing?

Where are you travelling to?

Are you staying in the UK or going abroad? Which countries will you visit? Some destinations are more expensive to insure. Where you are going will affect what you pay for travel insurance.

When are you travelling?

If you’re not buying an annual, multi-trip policy, what dates will you be leaving and coming back? In the event you’re taking overnight flights or voyages, provide the dates you leave and return to your UK airport or seaport — not the dates you arrive and leave your destination.

Who is travelling?

Provide the names of everyone who will be covered by the insurance.

Cover details

Finetune parts of your travel insurance to get the best quotes. This means setting financial limits on things like:

The excess

The sum you are willing to pay as part of a claim.

Baggage limit

If you lost your luggage, what would it cost to replace? Raise or lower the maximum pay-out the insurer will pay.

Medical cover

Medical costs can be very high in foreign lands. Make sure you have enough financial cover if the worst happens.

Cancellation

How much could you bear to lose if your trip was cancelled and you had already paid for it? (Such as a package holiday). Set the maximum pay-out you would receive. You may wish to cover the whole trip or just part of the cost.

Single item

Are you travelling with something of high value? Most travel insurance has a pay-out limit per item. That may not be enough for some things like an expensive camera or jewellery. Specify these items to insure their full value in case of damage, loss or theft.

Pre-existing medical conditions

Does anyone travelling have an existing medical condition? If so, please provide basic information about this.

Remember, the more accurate you are with the details you provide, the less chance there is that your insurer will decline to pay in the event of an emergency. When In doubt, tell us.

What types of holiday insurance policies are there?

Single Trip

Insurance for one trip only, with rigid start and end dates. If you won’t travel again within 12 months, this can be the cheapest way to go.

Annual Multi-Trip

Covers multiple trips in a 12 months period. If you’re travelling more than once a year, this is often the best travel insurance to buy.

Worldwide

A special multi-trip insurance for someone who is going to many countries. The insurance provides blanket cover for going anywhere, anytime within a set time period.

Winter Sports and Ski

For those who like to play in the snow. Has higher allowance for the greater risk of injury and medical needs than standard travel insurance. Covers most winter sports activities.

Cruise

Special insurance for cruises. Covers things like multiple destinations. Missed sea-ports and excursions. Emergency medical flights if you’re taken ill while at sea.

Backpacker

Like worldwide insurance, but for someone who is travelling light. Covers lost tickets, possessions, medical etc. Ideal for students or those on a sabbatical.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Covers the insured’s pre-existing health issues. Reduces the chance that a claim will be rejected because of failure to disclose. If you have a medical condition that can raise your risk level, this is the insurance for you. Also worth considering if you’re pregnant. Not all travel insurance covers emergencies for mums to be.

Family

An economical insurance for family groups. Usually covers two adults who live together at the same address and their children (up to a maximum number) and under the age of 18.

Group

Travel insurance for large groups, such as sports teams and clubs. Can be cheaper than buying many single person policie. Depending on the size of the group and if they are travelling for a special reason, such as a sports event, coverage may be limited.

Over 65s

Insurance for those who have reached retirement age but still want to travel. Usually has beefed up medical cover, as seniors are more likely to make a medical claim.

Single Trip
Insurance for one trip only, with rigid start and end dates. If you won’t travel again within 12 months, this can be the cheapest way to go.
Annual Multi-Trip
Covers multiple trips in a 12 months period. If you’re travelling more than once a year, this is often the best travel insurance to buy.
Worldwide
A special multi-trip insurance for someone who is going to many countries. The insurance provides blanket cover for going anywhere, anytime within a set time period.
Winter Sports and Ski
For those who like to play in the snow. Has higher allowance for the greater risk of injury and medical needs than standard travel insurance. Covers most winter sports activities.
Cruise
Special insurance for cruises. Covers things like multiple destinations. Missed sea-ports and excursions. Emergency medical flights if you’re taken ill while at sea.
Backpacker
Like worldwide insurance, but for someone who is travelling light. Covers lost tickets, possessions, medical etc. Ideal for students or those on a sabbatical.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Covers the insured’s pre-existing health issues. Reduces the chance that a claim will be rejected because of failure to disclose. If you have a medical condition that can raise your risk level, this is the insurance for you. Also worth considering if you’re pregnant. Not all travel insurance covers emergencies for mums to be.
Family
An economical insurance for family groups. Usually covers two adults who live together at the same address and their children (up to a maximum number) and under the age of 18.
Group
Travel insurance for large groups, such as sports teams and clubs. Can be cheaper than buying many single person policie. Depending on the size of the group and if they are travelling for a special reason, such as a sports event, coverage may be limited.
Over 65s
Insurance for those who have reached retirement age but still want to travel. Usually has beefed up medical cover, as seniors are more likely to make a medical claim.

FAQs

Do I need travel insurance?

If you’re travelling outside your local area, either abroad or in the UK, then yes you do. Ask yourself what you would do if you were in a foreign country and you suddenly got ill? How would you pay for treatment? The NHS may not cover you. In some places, medical costs can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Also, what would you do if your flights were cancelled, or the tour operator went out of business? What would you do if your luggage was lost or stolen?

Fact is, all travel carries risk and the financial impact of some events can be devastating. It makes no sense to travel without best protection. Ask Quidco Compare to find the cheapest travel insurance for you and go away with complete peace of mind.

How do I make a travel insurance claim?

Follow these steps to make the process of making a claim stress-free:

Take a copy of your travel insurance and the insurer’s emergency contact details with you. Refer to it in the event of an emergency.
If you fall ill, and there’s time, get your insurer to confirm payment for your medical treatment before it begins.
If you suffer loss or theft, report the facts to the local police within 24 hours of the event. Get a copy of the police report.
Keep all receipts for any expenses you have incurred, (such as new flights because your old ones were cancelled).
Check the excess amount you will have to pay. If your claim is small, it may cost you more in excess payments than the claim is worth.
Check your insurance to see what the time limit is for making a claim. Submit your claim before the deadline passes.
Submit your completed claim along with all receipts, reports and papers. If you have witness statements, include those too. Keep copies of everything you send.
To speed the process, try to submit your claim by email. Some insurers prefer this.
After submitting your claim, follow-up to check it’s being processed.

When should I buy travel insurance?

As soon as you know you’ll be travelling. Some insurers will only provide full cover if insurance is booked a specific number of days in advance of departure.

If you do not know when you will travel until the last minute, (often the case with business travellers), buy an annual multi-trip policy. Be covered all the time.

Leaving your travel insurance to the last minute can cost you more. Compare travel insurance as early as possible to get the best price and the best cover.

Does travel insurance cover cancellation?

Yes, in most cases. Cancellation covers out of pocket loss for tickets, package holidays, hotel deposits and more. It typically pays out if the loss is caused by illness, death of a close family member, redundancy, bankruptcy of travel operator, natural disaster, or war and civil unrest in the destination country.

Travel insurance does not cover cancellation if the person or people insured cancel simply because they don’t want to travel. It pays out when the cancellation is caused by something beyond the insured’s control.

Can I buy travel insurance after departure?

Yes, you can, but only a few insurers allow this. Most demand that you take out travel insurance before you depart. Those that will insure you after you have left home will only provide cover moving forwards. You cannot back-date the policy. Anything that happened before the start date is not covered.

Useful information

Please note: by clicking the "Get a quote" button, you consent to your details being used by the comparison partner and insurance quote providers. Don't worry they won't call or email though.

When using the Quidco Compare service, you must take reasonable care to answer insurers questions fully and accurately and if you volunteer other information, you must take reasonable care to ensure that the information is not misleading. If any information that you have provided changes before you take out your insurance, during the life of the policy or at renewal you must inform the insurer or broker of the change. If you deliberately or carelessly misrepresent any information in relation to this insurance, then your policy may not pay all, or part, of a claim and could in certain circumstances be avoided altogether.

The comparison service for travel insurance accessed via Quidco Compare is provided by Quotezone, 100% independent UK insurance comparison. Quidco is a trading style of Maple Syrup Media Ltd, who are an Introducer Appointed Representative of Seopa Ltd, trading as Quotezone, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA, number 313860. Quotezone run and operate the insurance comparison service. By using this system you are agreeing to our terms and conditions & privacy policy.

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