Travel Insurance Cost Estimator
Estimate the cost of travel insurance for any trip and understand exactly what you need covered — and what common policies leave out.
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Travel Insurance Guide
What Travel Insurance Actually Covers?
Medical emergency and repatriation: the most critical cover — UK treatment abroad is expensive; a US hospital admission can cost £100,000+. Cancellation and curtailment: if you cannot travel or must come home early due to illness, bereavement, or redundancy. Baggage and personal effects: loss, theft, or damage to belongings. Travel delay: compensation for significant delays (usually 12+ hours). Personal liability: legal costs if you accidentally injure someone or damage property. These five categories — medical, cancellation, baggage, delay, and liability — together cover the vast majority of situations a standard travel insurance claim involves.
What should I know about The GHIC and Why You Still Need Insurance?
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC, replacing the EHIC post-Brexit) entitles UK residents to the same state-provided healthcare as local residents in most European countries — it is not a substitute for travel insurance. The GHIC does not cover: repatriation to the UK, treatment in private hospitals (often the only option in emergencies), cancellation, baggage loss, or any costs outside of European state healthcare systems. Get both the GHIC (free) and travel insurance (still cheap in Europe).
What do I need to know about Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?
Most standard policies exclude pre-existing conditions unless declared — failure to declare can void the entire policy if you make a claim. Declare all conditions including those considered minor (controlled blood pressure, asthma, depression). Comparison sites (Compare the Market, GoCompare) include condition-specific filters. A 65-year-old with well-controlled diabetes and hypertension will pay 2–3× more than a healthy 30-year-old but the cover is genuinely available. Specialist insurers, such as Staysure and others focused specifically on medical-condition cover, are often a better route than mainstream providers for anyone with a significant pre-existing condition.
What's the difference between Annual Multi-Trip and Single Trip?
For three or more trips per year, annual multi-trip insurance is typically cheaper than three single-trip policies. A standard European annual policy (couple, under 65): approximately £40–80. Worldwide: £80–150. Single-trip Europe (2 weeks): approximately £20–40 per person. If you travel more than twice annually, compare annual policies — the break-even point is typically 2–3 trips per year. Annual policies also remove the risk of forgetting to purchase insurance before a last-minute trip.