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cheap travel insurance

Cheap Travel Insurance

Tony Forchione
Tony Forchione and Rebecca Rutt | Edited by Johanna Noble
Updated 2 October 2020

Many jet off without travel insurance, risking financial loss if they need to cancel, or £1,000s in medical bills. If you've booked a trip but not insurance and it's been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, there's little you can do now – you can't buy cover retrospectively. But if you have trips booked and you're looking for a new travel insurance policy, read on... 

Travel insurance & coronavirus

This guide is primarily about getting NEW travel insurance – not about the ins and outs of what's covered under your current policy. For current policies, or if you're looking for more information about your travel rights and what your existing policy might cover, see our Coronavirus Travel Rights guide.

For new policies, many insurers currently have coronavirus exclusions in place (or are not currently selling insurance), but we've managed to find a few that at least offer some coronavirus cover. We've highlighted those in our updated list of travel insurance best buys.

Your nine travel insurance need-to-knows

guy surfing

The aim of travel insurance is to cover the cost of the unforeseen, such as illness and injury or theft of your personal possessions while you are on holiday.

It's also designed to cover you if you have to cancel your trip before you go, or if you need to return early due to an emergency. But before you buy, here are nine things you should know.

  • 1. At renewal? You should still be covered for coronavirus for trips BOOKED before March if you renew with the SAME insurer

    Millions of regular travellers have annual policies covering all their trips away. When these lapse, they just get a new one. So an October trip, booked in January, may be covered by one annual policy up until say April, and a second one starting the next day. Normally that's no problem, but this year...

    • Travel insurers stopped offering coronavirus cancellation cover after it was declared a pandemic in mid-March.
    • The company you usually claim from is the one that covers you when the issue that stops you going occurs. With coronavirus, it's tough to define when that is.

    However, the Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed to us that if you had an annual policy before mid-March and renewed with the same insurer since, you SHOULD still be covered for coronavirus issues (as long as you were covered before you renewed and the trip was booked before March). All the insurers we've spoken to have confirmed this.

    So if your insurer rejects your claim, go to the Financial Ombudsman and argue the firm isn't following "standard industry practice".

    If you booked your trip since mid-March, then this trick won't help you as you knew coronavirus was an issue when you booked the trip. 

    Quick question

    • Will I be covered on my old insurance if my new insurer doesn't cover me for coronavirus?

      Some insurers (eg, Admiral, Churchill and Direct Line) tell us that you may be able to claim on your old policy in this scenario, for the amount you paid towards the holiday while the old policy was in effect. Others say no, in which case complain and then go to the ombudsman, arguing that "the policy was in place when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against travel indefinitely".

      Here's a table of what different insurers told us in response to the following specific scenario: "A customer had an annual policy with them ending in May 2020, then took out a different policy with a different insurer. The customer had booked a holiday in January 2020 for August 2020. Assuming the new policy won't cover coronavirus cancellation, can they claim on the old, now-expired policy?"

      Can customers claim for coronavirus cancellation on expired policies?

      Insurer Response
      AA Waiting to hear back
      Admiral Yes, as long as the FCO advice remained consistent and wasn't withdrawn then reinstated (1)
      Aviva No – but can cancel trip up to 31 days in advance if policy is active (2)
      Axa No
      Churchill Yes, as long as the FCO advice remained consistent and wasn't withdrawn then reinstated (1)
      Direct Line Yes, as long as the FCO advice remained consistent and wasn't withdrawn then reinstated (1)
      Leisure Guard Waiting to hear back
      LV Waiting to hear back
      Planet Earth Yes, as long as the FCO advice remained consistent and wasn't withdrawn then reinstated (1)

      1) You can only claim for the costs paid before the policy ended. So if you paid a deposit before the policy ended and the rest afterwards, you can only claim the deposit back.

      2) Customers need to have a policy in force if they want to cancel the trip and can only cancel a trip (if they have the relevant travel disruption cover and there is FCO advice in place) if it is within the next 31 days.

  • 2. Buy as soon as you've booked to cover non-coronavirus cancellation and pre-trip illness

    If you've booked a holiday and think it's no biggie to leave insurance on the 'things to do' list, you're taking an unnecessary risk. 

    This is because travel insurance doesn't just cover you while you're away – it also covers you for cancellation, events such as redundancy or an injury or death in the family, or anything else that might go wrong BEFORE you make your trip.

    So while you may not be covered for coronavirus-related cancellations or disruption, unless you have the Nationwide FlexPlus packaged account will give a better level of cancellation cover than many insurers, it's still worth buying insurance as soon as you've booked a holiday..

    sunny beach

    Quick questions

    • Do I need travel insurance for a 'staycation'?

      Standard travel insurance covers you in the UK but the cover here is not as powerful as when overseas. However, it can still prove useful, so you'll need to weigh up the pros and cons.

      Travel insurance in the UK offers all the usual protections you'd get abroad, such as theft of valuables and cancellation. You're normally not covered for hospital treatment but that's not such an issue given you should be able to use the NHS.

      That said, you'll still need to declare all pre-existing conditions as insurers want to know how likely you are to have to be driven or airlifted home in a medical emergency. The problem is not all trips are covered, eg, most insurers only cover you if you've booked accommodation. 

      Also, there can be other restrictions. For instance, LV gives cover if you're more than 25 miles from home or your journey involves a sea crossing. So the message is to check policies carefully as they can vary.

      For more information on what's covered for UK trips affected by Covid-19, see our Coronavirus Travel Rights guide. 

    • Which is cheaper, a combined or individual policy?

      If travelling with your partner or family, you have two options – you can cover everyone under one policy, or each person takes their own. It's often cheaper to get a combined policy, but always check.

      If you're travelling with your family, a policy would normally cover your immediate family only, so check exactly who is covered when buying. Bear in mind too that children going on a school trip may be covered automatically on a family policy (as long as they're with a responsible adult).

      However, there are times when separate policies will be a better option (so always check, to be safe), including:

      • If one of the travellers is over 65, as the group price you'll pay is based on the oldest traveller, or the person deemed to be the highest risk, so the insurer will usually hike the price for all (see our Over-65s' Travel Insurance guide for ways to cut costs).
      • If one of the travellers has a medical condition, as it will increase the price for all.
      • If just one of the travellers is going outside Europe, in particular to the US, or on a skiing trip (or even both), it could be better to have separate policies, rather than the whole family buying extended cover when it's not needed.
    • Should I buy travel insurance from a travel agent or airline?

      If you buy travel insurance from a travel agent or airline, be it for a single trip away or an annual policy, you are likely to overpay massively. 

      Always compare the price of any insurance a tour operator offers with other policies. 

  • 3. Make sure the policy is right for your needs – as new coronavirus restrictions have been added

    While choosing a travel insurance policy isn't rocket science, don't think you can buy cover without first giving it considerable thought, as policies vary greatly – and this is especially true since the coronavirus pandemic.

    Each insurer and policy has its own inclusions and exclusions, such as not offering cover for coronavirus cancellation due to travel restrictions or disruption, or not covering non-essential travel while a Foreign Office warning is in place.

    Before you decide what you are going to buy, ask yourself the following questions:

    • Will I be bringing expensive personal belongings? 
    • Will I be carrying a large amount of foreign currency? 
    • Am I taking part in winter sports? 

    This will help you decide what cover's right for you.

    When deciding on a policy you'll need to choose between annual or single-trip cover.

    Quick questions

    • What's typically covered under a travel insurance policy?

      Every travel insurance policy covers different things but all would offer a varying degree of cover on:

      Medical cover
      Unforeseen illnesses, injuries or accidents will be covered under the medical section of your policy. This covers the cost of receiving treatment overseas – including dental emergencies in most cases – and repatriation, the cost of having to fly you back to the UK.

      On a slightly more morbid note, most policies cover cremation costs or the repatriation of a body should you or someone else covered under the policy die during your holiday.

      Cancellation 
      Travel policies also cover cancellation if you can no longer go on your holiday or you need to come back early. However, there needs to be a valid reason for you to abandon your trip.

      Being made redundant, having to do jury service, or having to take care of a seriously ill family member are among the list of valid reasons. But if you decide you no longer fancy a trip to the Canary Islands because you would rather go to the Maldives, or you want to return to the UK because you forgot to put EastEnders on series record, your claim will probably be rejected.

      Important: You need to know that new policies won't cover you against coronavirus-related cancellation, or if you're travelling against Foreign Office advice.

      Baggage and personal belongings
      Your travel policy will also cover you if your stuff is lost, stolen or damaged while you are on holiday. Almost everything you take overseas, including computers, phones, cameras and expensive clothing is included. Many providers will also cover you for the loss of a passport, cash or a driving licence.

      However, policies can vary greatly both in the amount covered and in the excess – the amount you have to pay towards the claim yourself. For example, items such as cash or expensive goods can be subject to an additional higher excess.

      Personal liability
      Personal liability protects others and their property from accidents you may cause while on holiday. For example, the personal liability element of your insurance would cover you if, during a skiing trip, you crashed into another skier and injured them. Insurers will typically cover you for up to £2m, which is generally more than enough.

      Delays
      Travel schedules are often the victim of adverse weather, so delay cover is one of the more important aspects of travel insurance. Most policies cover against more than just storms, with many including events such as industrial action and mechanical breakdown.

      If your flight's been delayed for more than three hours or it's been cancelled you may be able to claim compensation of up to £530 directly from the airline but the reason for the delay or cancellation must be the airline's fault, so bad weather for example, won't count.

      This compensation is only for EU-regulated flights. An EU flight is where the flight departed from an EU airport, regardless of the airline OR where an EU airline landed at an EU airport. Under this law, EU airports also include those in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. See our Flight Delay Compensation guide for more info.

      If this doesn't apply – perhaps because you flew both from and to an airport outside the EU – you can also try making a claim on your travel insurance policy. Insurers typically pay out for each 12-hour period you've been delayed, but the payouts are often tiny compared to what you can get from your airline.

    • What is typically left out of travel insurance cover?

      Like all insurance policies, there are a number of things that providers will not pay out for. Here are the most common:

      Alcohol-related injury
      You may be on holiday to unwind but if you are badly injured while you are more than just a little tipsy, your insurer is likely to reject your claim. The same goes for drugs. Insurers have different classifications of 'drunk', with some using blood alcohol limits, so check your policy carefully before you buy.

      Medical conditions
      Insurers will often cover you if you have pre-existing medical conditions, but if you fail to tell your insurer and then need treatment for that condition, or a related condition, you won't be covered. You may also struggle to get a claim paid if you ignore advised medication or jabs needed to enter a country. So, if you go to Kenya and decide against getting jabs for diphtheria, hepatitis A, poliomyelitis and tetanus do not expect your insurer to foot the bill if you get ill from one of these diseases.

      Dangerous sports
      If you are going on an adventure holiday, or you are planning to take a winter sports break, you must get extra cover or a specialist policy. Taking to the Alps for a spot of snowboarding with just a basic travel insurance policy in your bag is a risk not worth taking. If you get injured you could end up paying £10,000s in medical bills.

      Refused entry (to visiting country)
      No one wants their holiday to end before it begins, but most standard policies won't cover this type of scenario. Insurance policies have a list of scenarios they do cover (eg, theft, medical assistance).

      To mitigate against problems, as it's your responsibility to check your travel documents are valid and you meet the entry requirements, always check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for the entry rules of the countries you're visiting well before travelling and give yourself plenty of time to get your paperwork in order.

      Unattended possessions
      Travel insurance will cover your personal possessions when you are abroad but it doesn't mean you can be gung ho with your stuff. If you leave your items unattended and they are then stolen, your insurer will not pay for their replacement.

      Travel to dangerous countries
      The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) outlines which countries are unsafe for travel. If you travel to a country on the FCO's list your cover is likely to be invalid. Check out the FCO's current travel advice for more.

      Here is a rundown of eight things many do on holiday that could invalidate their insurance.

    • Does it matter which country I'm going to?

      Insurers will classify your trip as 'European' or 'worldwide'. Worldwide is often further broken down to include or exclude the US, Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico. Selecting the option to include these countries increases the premium due to the high cost of medical treatment – particularly in the US – and possible repatriation.

      European annual travel cover isn't just for Europe
      If you're travelling just outside Europe, you don't always have to select worldwide cover. Many insurers actually allow you to use their European cover in a handful of non-European countries too.

      If you're visiting Egypt, Morocco, Turkey or Tunisia, it's worth getting a quotation for European cover first and then checking the policy's geographical area definition to see if the country you're going to is included. The following insurers – Allianz, Insure and Go and Coverwise* – all class Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Tunisia as Europe.

      It's also worth noting that not all insurers automatically include Spain (and the Balearic/Canary Islands) in their European cover – you may have to pay extra to include Spain if you plan to travel there.

      As always, check your policy carefully to make sure you're getting the right cover.

    • What is an excess and how does it work?

      An excess is the amount you have to pay towards any claim you make. For example, if you cancel a trip and are entitled to £3,000 back from your insurer but have a £500 excess you will only receive £2,500.

      However, many travel insurance products have separate excesses for different sections of the policy. For instance, some providers may make you pay an excess on both stolen cash and luggage. So if your suitcase was nicked and your wallet was inside you would have to pay an excess on both.

      It's important to check all excesses so you know exactly what you will have to pay if you make a claim.

    • Does it matter what type of holiday I am going on?

      Most travel insurance policies are traditionally designed to cover package holidays, as historically that's how 90% of us booked our holidays, and not all providers have kept up. This leaves them ill-equipped to cover DIY trips, where flights and accommodation are booked separately.

      The biggest issue is a lack of cover for knock-on consequences. If a policy covers scheduled airline failure, for example, and the airline goes under, you'll typically be able to claim for the flights and any consequential losses, such as hotel costs. Without this cover, you'll lose the money you paid for it.

      To beat this, you need a policy that specifically covers 'indirect loss' or 'scheduled airline failure'. Check the small print as some insurers include this cover as standard, while with others it is an optional extra.

      Remember, packaged holidays feature extra ATOL and ABTA protection. And as of 1 July 2018, you're fully protected if you create a DIY package by selecting elements separately via the same website (or shop or call centre) and then buy them in the SAME transaction. See Holiday Rights: ATOL, ABTA, cancellations & delays explained for more.

    • What should I check in my policy before I buy?

      As with any insurance product, check all the terms, conditions, exclusions and inclusions before you buy. Travelling without the right cover can leave you seriously out of pocket.

      Remember to check your excesses too. High excesses may result in a cheaper policy but should only be considered if you can afford to front a large portion of the costs of any claim yourself.

    • If I get taken to private hospital, will I be covered?

      There's no clear answer on this: some insurers will cover you, some won't, so double-check your policy – whether out of curiosity or if you need to make a quick decision on which to go to.

      Of those we asked, it was a mixed bag. For example, if you're overseas and know you need to go to hospital to check out a chest pain, LV says it would cover you in a private hospital, but not all the insurers we asked would.

      However, if you're in an emergency, eg, you've a ruptured appendix or had a serious accident and are taken to a private hospital by emergency services without your knowledge, you're more likely to be covered by insurance, though there is still a chance of rejection.

      If rejected and you're unhappy, you can always go to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which can arbitrate.

      Remember, too, a European Health Insurance Card WON'T cover you for any private treatment, or repatriation.

    • Is upgraded travel insurance cover worth it?

      Insurance providers go all out to scare us into upping cover levels. Don't be duped into upgrading for no reason. Platinum policies with £10m medical cover are bunkum.

      "Why," you ask? Well, you're charged more but the chances of you making a claim that high are slim. According to the Association of British Insurers, the average cost of a medical travel insurance claim in 2017 was £1,300 – a far cry from £10m!

  • 4. Always declare medical conditions, including coronavirus, or your claim may be rejected

    The thought of having to declare medical conditions can be daunting but travelling without making your insurer aware of any issues can result in any claim you make being rejected.

    Just let the insurer know, even if you don't deem it particularly important, especially as each insurer will have its own list of conditions it deems as more serious.

    Make sure you give a full and frank rundown of all the health problems you have, or have had – including any coronavirus-related health issues – usually in the last five years. Plus you'll need to tell the insurer if you're pregnant too.

    For much more, including tips, tricks and how to find the cheapest deals, see our Pre-Existing Conditions Travel Insurance guide.

  • 5. Going to Europe? Don't forget your free EHIC as it can help with medical costs including if you catch coronavirus while away

    get your free EHIC

    The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to treatment in state-run hospitals in EU countries, plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. You'll be treated at the same cost as a local would pay. So if they pay nowt, you pay nowt. It's not a substitute for insurance, which covers far more.

    The EHIC will also cover you if you're admitted to hospital for coronavirus-related symptoms in a participating country.

    The card is free so if a copycat site pretending to the the real thing advertises a fee (often about £35), run a mile. For full info and how to get it for free from the legitimate NHS site, read the Free EHIC guide.

    What's happening to the EHIC after 31 December 2020?

    While the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, EHICs will continue to be valid and you'll be able to apply for a new card or renew yours if needed during the 'transition period', which ends on 31 December 2020. After that, we still don't know for sure what will happen to EHICs, though the Government says it's discussing the future of reciprocal healthcare arrangements – including the EHIC – with the EU. For more information, see our What Brexit means for you guide.

    Once you have your EHIC, consider a Europe Plus policy (previously known as EHIC Plus). It covers most pre-existing conditions, as long as you use an EHIC, plus it gives you all the usual protection travel insurance gives, such as for delays, baggage and cancellation.

    Do note that Europe Plus is not Government-backed. The underwriter is Mapfre Insurance.

    Quick question

    • Do I need an EHIC if I have travel insurance?

      An EHIC should be seen as an extra to travel insurance, not a replacement. Travel insurance covers far more scenarios, as well as possessions, delays, repatriation and more. Plus, even using an EHIC you may need to pay, and travel insurance will cover that (and often using the EHIC means you don't pay the excess).

      Equally, many travel insurance exclusions don't apply with EHICs. So If you've been drinking you'll still be treated (not an excuse to push it); or if you've got a pre-existing condition, it still works. Though medical tourism – going abroad to get treatment – is definitely not covered.

  • 6. Heading away twice or more this year? Annual cover is often cheaper

    If you know you're going to travel at least twice in a 12-month period, consider an annual policy instead of single-trip cover. This is because annual cover often works out cheaper than buying two single-trip policies. But always do the calculations.

    Of course, this varies depending on where you're travelling and for how long, but if you get an annual policy you also have the added comfort of knowing if you have a third trip within that 12-month period, you already have the cover in force.

    Quick question

    • How many days can I travel for on my annual policy?

      Annual cover will insure you for an unlimited number of trips over a 12-month period. However, the number of days you can be on holiday for per trip may be capped – it can often be as low as 17 days, with other setting the limit at 31 or 45 days but can sometimes be as as high as 90. If you're planning a backpacking trip or gap year travelling where you'll be away for months on end, you'll need specialist backpacker insurance.

  • 7. Check if you're already covered via your bank account, and if it covers coronavirus claims

    You may already have travel insurance without knowing. Some bank accounts that charge a monthly fee have extra benefits such as travel insurance. If you think your account offers insurance as a sweetener, check the terms to see if it is appropriate for your trip.

    If you have one of these accounts, and you've had it since before March 2020, most insurers that provide the banks with these policies should cover you for coronavirus-related issues for any trips that were booked pre-pandemic. However, if you were to book a trip now, that wouldn't be covered. Check your bank account's website to see what's covered.

    While travel insurance with these packaged accounts is a decent perk, do NOT confuse it with a benefit offered with credit cards called travel accident insurance. This only covers accidents on a train, plane or in a hire car paid for on the card. Never think travel accident insurance means you're completely covered.

    For accounts that offer travel insurance (and other perks), see our Top Packaged Accounts guide.

  • 8. Going skiing? Make sure you've got winter sports cover

    Winter sports can be dangerous, so as soon as you've splashed out on your break, make sure you are insured on the slopes. As well as covering you for the basics you'd get under a standard travel policy, you'll also be insured for activity-related injury and your winter sports equipment.

    Quick questions

    • Is winter sports cover automatically included?

      Many holidaymakers wrongly assume they're automatically covered for winter sports as part of their travel insurance. While some providers offer winter sports as standard under certain policies, other travel insurers only cover you if you extend your insurance and this will typically cost extra, which will not necessarily break the bank to get this extension.

      All winter sports policies will cover you for skiing and snowboarding and many will also cover other activities, such as husky dog sleigh riding and sledging, as standard. If you are doing something a bit more unusual, such as ski jumping or snowmobiling, check the terms and conditions of your policy first. If you are planning to take part in something even more crazy – such as luging or stunt skiing – specialist providers such as BMC and Snowcard may be able to offer you cover.

      If you opt for a specialist travel policy, check your details closely to make sure you know the limits of your cover.

      Don't forget to pick your specialist provider like any other travel provider. Make sure you tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions and remember to pack your EHIC if you are going somewhere in Europe.

    • Is it worth getting a basic policy and hoping for the best?

      The cost of medical bills if you get injured on the slopes can be extortionate so it is essential to have the right cover.

      The Association of British Insurers have said one Brit required £90,000 of treatment for a fractured rib and punctured lung.

      Even a smaller injury, such as damage to a knee ligament, cost as much as £3,800 to treat.

      Add being airlifted from the mountain to hospital, repatriation if you need to be flown home injured from the US or Canada and this would significantly increase the claim.

      As well as covering yourself, winter sports insurance will also cover your ski pack and cancellation of your holiday.

    • Do I need extra cover if I want to go off-piste?

      In most cases, you'll be allowed to ski off-piste but with certain restrictions. You'll have to be within the boundary of the resort or supervised by a qualified instructor.

    • I am skiing twice this year. Should I get an annual policy with winter sports cover?

      Lucky you. It may be cheaper to take out an annual policy with a winter sports add-on. However, check the price against the cost of covering single trips to ensure you're getting a bargain.

    • Can I claim for piste closure?

      If your piste closes (usually due to lack of snow or an avalanche) and you're unable to hit the slopes, your insurer may give you back a set amount per day. This can range from £10 to £50 – up to a limit of £200 to £500.

    • Is my equipment covered? What if it is rented?

      Most winter sports policies will cover you for accidental damage, theft or the loss of equipment. The onus will be on you to keep your gear safe, so don't leave it at the mercy of crooks.

      Your equipment will usually be covered but different providers offer different limits. The sum insured is usually in addition to your standard baggage cover. For example, Axa will cover up to £1,500 worth of equipment, Admiral will cover from £500, up to £1,000 (depending on the policy), while Aviva and Direct Line give cover up to £500. Think about the value of your stuff and pick your policy accordingly.

      If you've hired ski equipment, it may be covered by your insurer if it's lost, stolen or damaged. Some providers insure any rented kit as part of your baggage up to the limit of the coverage. Other insurers only pay up to 50% of the sum insured for hired equipment. Some ski equipment providers may also cover their gear for you so it is worth checking with the resort before you buy your cover.

      In most cases, your ski pack – including ski school fees, a lift pass and hired ski equipment – is covered. The amount can range from £150 to £500, but can be as high as £5,000. As always, check your policy closely for any potential exclusions.

    • What happens if I don't wear my skiing helmet and have an accident?

      Check your policy carefully before you buy. If you go skiing ignoring weather warnings and – with some providers – or go skiing without wearing a helmet, your claim could be rejected. In some counties, it's also a legal requirement to wear a helmet, so don't fall foul of the rules.

  • 9. Going on a cruise? You're likely to need an add-on to your policy to be fully covered

    Cruise ship holidays are growing in popularity but while most regular travel policies will cover you for loss or theft of goods and medical costs on a cruise, you may not be for other eventualities unless you upgrade your policy. These include:

    • Missed departure
    • Unused cruise excursions, eg, a day trip to a city port
    • Cruise itinerary change
    • Cabin confinement, eg, onboard virus

    To get cover for these, you can usually select an add-on to get the right protection – which won't break the bank. If you want to buy one, a quick way to get a quote is to use a comparison site such as MoneySupermarket*, Confused.com*, Gocompare or Compare The Market.

    It's also worth comparing seeing if any of the top-pick policies below let you add cruise cover.

Annual & single-trip travel insurance for under-66s with some coronavirus cover

Important – please read first: Coronavirus and these policies. When the coronavirus crisis started, many travel insurers stopped selling insurance, or offered no cover for ANY coronavirus-related issues. 

 

However, we've found some policies which cover medical costs if you catch coronavirus while on a trip, plus a few that also cover you if you need to cancel because you or a family member gets coronavirus before travelling and can't go. The tables below detail what each policy covers for single trip and annual insurance.

 

Yet, the policies which cover you cancellation due to medical issues won't cover you for trip cancellation if Foreign Office warnings are put back in place for your intended holiday destination, or local lockdowns mean you can't go. We've only found one policy that covers you for cancellation here - and it comes with Nationwide's FlexPlus packaged bank account – see below.

 

Travelling against FCO advice? We've found four providers who give some level of cover for this if you are looking for a new policy. The level of cover, and restrictions, differ. 

 

We've based our picks on levels of coronavirus cover and price, plus we've made sure insurers meet our normal travel insurance minimum cover levels. We don't know how good service will be, though, especially in these extraordinary times. We hope this helps.

We're about to take you through our cheapest top picks – but before we do, you must know...

  • As long as there's no Government warning in place against travel, you'll be covered for all the normal scenarios travel insurance covers, eg, bereavement, theft, loss. We've concentrated the tables below on cover offered for coronavirus.

Single-trip travel insurance policies which include medical coronavirus cover

If you're only planning one trip during the year, single-trip insurance is usually cheaper than annual cover. Here are the policies we've found that give some coronavirus cover, ordered by price...

Insurer One-week single trip – from (i) How far ahead can you buy before your holiday starts? Medical cover abroad for coronavirus? Is there any cancellation   cover for coronavirus? Excess
Leisure Guard (Standard)* £6.98 One year Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus
 £100
Insurefor.com (Premier)* £7.30 One year Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £75
Coverwise (Silver)* £7.42 Two years Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £100
Staysure (Comprehensive)*
 £10.72 Two years Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £65
CoverForYou (Silver)* £11 One year Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £0
Avanti (Classic) £11.30 18 months Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured is diagnosed, or a family member passes away after testing positive, with coronavirus £75
AllClear (Gold Plus)* £13.56 One year Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured is diagnosed with coronavirus £75
ABTA (Travel Sure) £15.45 18 months Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £99
Axa (Silver) £16.85 One year Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £100
Saga* (must be aged 50+) £19.36 One year Yes No £70
Trailfinders £28 Two years Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £75
LV (Premier)  £28.08 One year Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured, a family member or travel companion is diagnosed with coronavirus  £90 (ii)
(i) Price based on an individual, to Europe. The price will vary depending on your age, and will increase if you require worldwide travel, winter sports, or need family cover, for example. Prices correct as of 30 Sep 2020. (ii) This excess is for medical claims, and reduces to £50 for baggage claims

Annual multi-trip travel insurance policies which include medical coronavirus cover

If you're planning to go away two or more times, annual cover is usually cheaper than buying a policy for each trip. However, most policies need you to go away within a few weeks or a few months of buying the policy - so make sure you find a travel insurer that meets your needs within this regard.

Here are the policies we've found that give some coronavirus cover, ordered by price...

Insurer Annual cover – from (i) First trip must be within x days of buying policy Medical cover abroad for coronavirus? Is there any cancellation cover for coronavirus? Excess
Leisure Guard (Standard)* £17.99 60 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £100
Coverwise (Silver)* £18.55 90 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £100
Insurefor.com (Premier)* £24 90 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £75
Axa (Silver) £26.70 90 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £100
AllClear (Gold Plus)* £31.96 (ii) 90 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured is diagnosed with coronavirus £75
Staysure (Comprehensive)*
 £32.13 30 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £65
CoverForYou (Silver)* £32.75 94 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £0
Avanti (Classic) £35.36 30 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured is diagnosed, or a family member passes away after testing positive, with coronavirus £75
ABTA (Travel Sure) £37.23 18 months Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £99
Saga* (must be aged 50+) £45.43 30 days Yes No £70
Post Office (Standard)* £46.85 30 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured is diagnosed, or a family member passes away after testing positive, with coronavirus £100
LV (Premier)  £82.56  30 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured, a family member or travel companion is diagnosed with coronavirus  £90 (iv)
Trailfinders £165 (iii) 90 days Yes Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus £75
(i) Price based on an individual, to Europe. The price will vary depending on your age, and will increase if you require worldwide travel, winter sports, or need family cover, for example.
(ii) The provider is currently giving 15 months' cover for the price of 12 months.
(iii) Annual policy automatically includes worldwide cover with winter-sports extension as standard.
Prices correct as of 30 Sep 2020.
(iv) This excess is for medical claims, and reduces to £50 for baggage claims

Top-of-the-range policy with medical AND FCO-warning coronavirus CANCELLATION cover for £13/mth (through a packaged bank account)

Since March, the only travel insurance policies that would cover your holiday being cancelled if the Foreign Office were again to warn against travel are those taken out pre-pandemic for holidays booked pre-pandemic. Even the top picks above only cover medical-related trip cancellations.

If want travel insurance that covers you for cancellation in a decent range of circumstances, including situations where there are local lockdowns or Foreign Office warnings, we've now found one provider that does it. However, it's through Nationwide's FlexPlus packaged bank account - and it's not cheap.

What is a packaged bank account and how much does it cost?

A packaged bank account is one you pay for, which comes with benefits such as (hopefully) useful insurances. With Nationwide FlexPlus, you get worldwide family travel insurance up to your 70th birthday, smartphone insurance for the family and UK and European breakdown cover for the account holders. It costs £13/month (£156/year).

What does the travel insurance cover?

From 1 Jan 2021, Nationwide's travel insurance cover will change.
While this is still a top-of the-range policy, it will mean that any holidays booked from 1 Jan 2021 will have restricted travel insurance cover.

 

What we know will change:
After 1 January, you won't be able to claim for Covid-related cancellation:

  • If you or a travelling companion have been told to self-isolate but don't actually have Covid-19
  • If the Foreign Office is advising against all travel or all but essential travel to your destination.
  • If your pre-booked accommodation goes into local lockdown.
  • If you, or a close relative, were suffering from coronavirus when you booked the trip.

The travel insurance allows multiple trips worldwide and includes winter sports, business, wedding and golf cover (including golf fees). It covers you and your partner (even if it's not a joint account) and children under 18 (or under 24 if in full-time education and unmarried), providing they live at the same address. 

It covers coronavirus cancellation due to Foreign Office warnings, as long as there was no warning in place when you booked the holiday or got the insurance, whichever of these is later.

But if you've got an existing condition, you need to tell Nationwide as you may need a medical screening before getting cover and could be charged extra to cover it.

For coronavirus-related issues, it covers you:

  • For cancellation if there is an FCO warning in place regarding the country you're going to (provided there was no warning in place when you booked your trip or purchased your insurance, whichever is later).
  • For cancellation if there's a lockdown overseas meaning you can't go on your trip (providing there was no FCO or local country advice in place at the time you purchased your insurance or booked your trip).
  • If you get ill abroad with coronavirus.
  • If you can't go away because you or a family member catches coronavirus.

Like with all insurance there will be nuances that mean you may be excluded at times, so check the full policy wording (as well as Nationwide's coronavirus travel insurance FAQs). 

We've more details of the travel insurance and what coronavirus cover it has in the quick questions below.

What do the other insurances cover?

The smartphone insurance covers repair or replacement after theft, loss, damage or breakdown (max handset value £1,500). All family phones are covered, your children's too provided they live with you (and are aged under 19, or under 22 if in full-time education, and unmarried). You're allowed a total of four claims a year.

The breakdown cover's for the UK and Europe, and includes home assistance and onward travel. It covers you, travelling in any vehicle, and up to seven other people travelling in that vehicle (so everyone would be taken to their destination). On a joint account both account holders would be covered.

Who can get the account?

Anyone aged 18 or over can get the account provided they pass a credit check.

It provides travel insurance as standard up to your 70th birthday. If you're 70 or over, you can still get the account, but you'll need to pay a £65/yr premium for your travel cover (on top of the usual £13/mth).

Should I get it?

You'll need to weigh up whether you'll use the other insurances, and if not, whether the £156/yr is worth it for the travel insurance alone. Remember, the policies above are likely to be cheaper, though don't offer the same level of cover.

Quick questions

  • What coronavirus-related cancellations are covered? What's not covered?

    You can claim for Covid-related cancellation:

    • If a trip's cancelled because the FCO is warning against travel to your destination (as long as when you booked your trip or purchased your insurance, whichever is later, there was no warning in place).
    • If the advice is against 'all but essential travel', cancellation cover is only available when that advice is in place within 28 days of your departure. 
    • If the FCO advice changes while you're on your trip and you need to change your travel plans.
    • If you, or a close relative, catch coronavirus before you go on your trip so can't go (and you didn't know you had it when you booked the trip or took out the insurance).
    • If you need to self-isolate when your trip was due to start (and you didn't know you needed to when you booked the trip or took out the insurance).
    • If you need to quarantine on arrival and you weren't aware of this when you booked your trip.
    • If your area goes into local lockdown (and you weren't aware this was likely when you booked your trip or took out the insurance).

    The insurance still has coronavirus cancellation exclusions, for example, you won't be covered:

    • If you booked the holiday or the insurance, whichever was later, when there was an FCO warning in place, and it's still in place when you're due to travel.
    • If you bought the holiday or the insurance when there was an FCO warning against travel, then the warning disappeared, but then returned by the time you go away. 
    • Non-disclosure of existing medical conditions.
    • If you decline a travel voucher or credit from the travel provider to rebook your holiday for a later date.
    • If you want to cancel your trip because you have to self-isolate on your return to the UK.
    • If you are refused entry to your destination because you do not have the correct visa or passport.
    • If you just don't want to go.

    If your scenario isn't covered, check out Nationwide's coronavirus travel insurance FAQs, or give it a call before you apply for the account.

  • Are you covered if you get coronavirus while away?

    Yes, as long as you are not travelling against your doctor's advice and are not travelling to an area where the FCO has advised against all travel, then you will be covered for medical issues – including coronavirus.

    You'll also be covered for "reasonable and necessary" additional travel expenses that you may have to pay out as a result of becoming ill while on your trip.

Travel insurance if you're travelling against Foreign Office advice

If you decide to travel to a country that has an Foreign Office warning against travel (though note we're not encouraging you to do so) and are looking for travel insurance to cover it, we have found some insurers that give some level of cover. Here's how it works...

  • You WILL be covered for normal medical issues while overseas.
  • You WILL have cover for the normal things travel insurance covers, such as loss of belongings, theft etc.
  • You MAY NOT have cover if you catch coronavirus overseas, so check the policy.

Here are some insurers to consider: 

Insurer Is the cover given as standard, or as an optional extension Medical cover abroad for coronavirus? Is there any cancellation cover for coronavirus?
Battleface Standard Yes - but no repatriation cover No
Insurefor* Standard (but only for Single-trip travel, to Europe) Yes - with repatriation cover Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus
Leisure Guard* Standard (but only for Single-trip travel, to Europe) Yes - with repatriation cover Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus
Staysure* Optional, by adding the European FCO Travel Advice Extension No Yes, but ONLY if the insured or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus

Want to tailor cover to suit your needs?

For a wider selection of insurers, and if you want more protection, eg, gadgets, delays, airline failure, missed departure and more, then it's worth doing a full check using comparison sites such as MoneySupermarket*, Compare The Market, Confused.com* and Gocompare as they allow you to adjust your quote to suit your needs.

How to claim on your travel insurance

making a claim on your travel insurance

Claiming on your travel insurance shouldn't be daunting and – if you understand the terms and the excesses on your policy – you shouldn't be in for any nasty shocks. Follow the five steps below if you do need to make a claim.

  • 1. Submit your claim as soon as possible

    Contact your insurer as soon as you can. Some parts of your policy may have a short window to submit a claim and it may take a while to be processed.

  • 2. If it's a medical claim get an insurer to accept it first

    If you need to make a medical claim – and it's not an emergency – get an insurer to accept the claim over the phone first. For example, if you sprained your ankle, call your insurer – if it accepts the claim and approves you to go and get it treated, you're less likely to have the claim rejected later on.

    For obvious reasons, don't delay treatment if it is an emergency.

  • 3. If you're claiming for theft or loss, you'll need to notify the police

    If something goes missing or is stolen when you are abroad you may need to get a crime reference number or the overseas equivalent to make a successful claim. Report the incident to the police as soon as you can – you often have to do it within 24 hours – to make sure your claim doesn't hit the skids.

  • 4. Keep your receipts

    If you are claiming for lost luggage or delay, remember to keep receipts of essential items you have bought in the interim, such as clothing, or food and drink. Many insurers allow you to add these expenses to a claim and may ask for receipts as proof.

  • 5. Complain if you feel your claim was unfairly rejected

    If your insurance company rejects your claim and you think it has done so wrongly, do not take it lying down. Complain to the free Financial Ombudsman. The ombudsman is an independent adjudicator that will make the final decision on a claim if you are locked in a dispute with your insurer. For more on how to make a complaint, read our Financial Rights guide.

Travel insurance FAQs

  • Will any policy cover me if I'm travelling for a month, or two?

    If you're going away for more than 60 consecutive days then standard travel insurance is unlikely to cover you.

    You'll therefore need specialist backpacker insurance – sometimes called gap-year or extended leave insurance. These policies can protect you for up to 18 months as standard in most cases, and can even be extended.

  • Could ONE drink invalidate my claim?

    Many people aren't aware that if they have an alcoholic drink on holiday, and lose something or have an accident, their insurance may not cover them – even if they only had the one drink. Insurers all have different interpretations – which we have seen in the T&Cs – ranging from 'drinking too much' to 'approx four pints' to 'alcoholic abuse'.

    In practice, what most say is that it's all about if the drink has affected your decision-making ability. As we all have different tolerances, for some this could mean that just one drink could invalidate a claim.

    It's also been reported that some insurers have gone as far as testing blood samples for your alcohol level (although we wonder how this works in practice) but as stressed, this does vary from policy to policy.

    Having a claim refused could hit hard, possibly excluding you from medical or possessions cover. As a general rule, use your common sense as it's about safety as well as insurance. For example, if you're skiing and have two or three glasses of wine at lunch before hitting the slopes again, you're increasing the chance of an accident – which you also may not be covered for.

    See our Eight things many of us do on holiday that could invalidate our insurance blog – it's an eye-opener.

How to complain about your insurance provider

The insurance industry doesn't have the best customer-service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others. Common problems include claims either not being paid out on time or at all, unfair charges, or exclusions being hidden in small print. It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but, if not, then…

Free tool to help you complain

This tool helps you draft and manage your complaint. It's totally free to use, and it's offered by Resolver, a firm we work with to help people get complaints justice.

RESOLVER – FREE COMPLAINTS TOOL*

If the company you're complaining to won't help, the Resolver tool also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.

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