SupeR SAVE WITH TRAVEL COVER FROM £4.60*
*Based on an individual aged 30 taking single trip cover for 3 days to France. Cover starts on 14 March 2022 and ends on 17 March 2022.
Travel cover is still available from MoneySuperMarket – and every provider on our panel offers emergency medical treatment and repatriation for coronavirus claims as a minimum.
This means you can rest assured you are covered for both medical treatment and getting back to the UK if you contract coronavirus while you are on holiday. This is particularly important if you are a high-risk traveller.
Some of our providers also offer an enhanced level of cover, which offers more protection than standard policies. However, for your policy to be valid, you must not be travelling against FCDO advice. This means you will not be covered if you travel during a lockdown or to countries that do not feature on the FCDO exempt list.
With plenty of policies to choose from, compare quotes from providers across the travel insurance market
Why is travel insurance important?
Travel insurance offers financial protection against a range of travel-related emergencies, and after the coronavirus pandemic it’s proven to be more important than ever. It can offer invaluable reassurance that holiday and wallet are safe-guarded against the unexpected – so you can focus on enjoying your break.
With a travel policy, you can get cover for cancelled or delayed flights or accommodation, lost or stolen possessions, and medical treatment – which can be very expensive overseas.
When you take out travel insurance, how frequently you’re planning to travel is important to consider – as it will decide which of the following is most suitable:
Single trip travel insurance will cover you for a one-off holiday, lasting up to a year. It’s the ideal choice if you’re going on just the one trip, for any length of time up to a year, anywhere you want to go
If you’re planning more than one holiday, you might save with an annual multi-trip policy. It covers you for multiple holidays over a year, normally with a 30-day cap on trip length – perfect for regular travellers
Backpacker travel insurance offers cover for continuous travel over a long stretch of time, usually around a year to 18 months – a must for backpackers and anyone taking time off to see the world
Travel insurance policies usually provide cover for the following:
If you have to cancel your holiday as a result of an incident or event covered by your policy, you’ll be able to claim for the cost up to a certain amount.
If your trip is disrupted, delayed or unexpectedly cut short, you’ll be able to claim for parts of your trip that are affected, like flights or accommodation.
If you need to be brought back home during your trip in a medical emergency, this will cover the cost of arranging your repatriation.
If your baggage or personal belongings are lost, damaged or stolen during the course of your holiday, you’ll be able to claim up to a certain amount.
Medical treatment can be expensive abroad, especially in places like the USA, but with medical expenses cover you can claim for the cost of care.
Should you be at fault in an incident, for example if you injure someone or damage their possessions, you’ll be covered for the cost of legal fees.
If you have a pre-existing illness or medical condition that you’ve previously had treatment for, you must tell your insurer – including details about heart problems, diabetes, cancer and respiratory illnesses like asthma.
You might need to pay more for medical treatment cover as a result. But if you don’t mention them at all, and a condition flares up while you’re away, you likely won’t be able to claim for the cost of treatment – which can be very expensive.
If you're struggling to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPs) also provide a list of specialist insurers on the MaPs directory website or you can call the British Insurance Brokers Association on 0307 950 1790
If you’re planning a snowboarding or skiing trip, a winter sports policy provides cover for medical treatment or high-value equipment related to your activities
Likewise if your holiday involved scuba diving or other water sports, a specialist travel policy will extend cover to your equipment and medical treatment if needed
A gadgets policy as part of your travel insurance can ensure you have the right level of cover for your phone and laptop should they be damaged, lost or stolen
Your passport and other documents are important to keep safe and protected, and if the worst should happen an insurance policy can help you resolve the issue
Golfing equipment can be expensive as well as special to you personally – a golf travel policy can protect your gear and also cover non-refundable green fees
There’s nothing you can do when a disaster disrupts your holiday – but having cover in place can make sure you’re recompensed for losses you incur as a result.
You can get a travel insurance policy from as little as £4.602. This is a small price to pay for cover that could potentially save you money, as well as giving you peace of mind that you're covered for those unexpected situations. How to get cheap travel insurance:
Run a free travel insurance quote where you’ll be able to see how different policies stack up against each other.
It’s worth checking if your gadgets are covered abroad by your home insurance, or if protection is provided through your bank account, credit card or employee benefits package.
If you’re only planning to travel once or twice annually, single-trip cover might be for you, but if you’re going away any more, you might benefit from an annual multi-trip policy.
"Travel insurance offers protection when taking trips either in the UK or abroad, and is particularly important now more of us are travelling on DIY holidays rather than packaged. MoneySuperMarket works with over 40 insurers who have specific products for anyone with previous or existing medical conditions, as you’ll need to declare these when you take out a policy. The biggest reasons for claims are generally for medical treatment and cancellation of trips, so it’s especially important that you check the cover for these elements."
- Anna Sant, senior partnership manager of travel insurance
Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
We combine independence, so we can negotiate the best prices, with excellent technology, to find the best value products and services for you.
Give a few details about you, your travel plans, and what you need cover for.
We’ll put together a list of travel insurance quotes, so you can pick one that works for you.
Once you’ve chosen, you can purchase your policy and you’ll be covered for your trip.
A decent travel insurance policy is a sensible thing to buy for any holiday or overseas trip. If you’re injured whilst away, travel insurance can cover your medical expenses and any repatriation if it’s a serious injury. If your trip needs to be cancelled for some unforeseen reason, such as the illness or death of a close family member, then travel insurance may cover any monetary loss. And if your baggage or belongings are damaged or lost, then travel insurance could compensate you up to a set limit.
Travel insurance doesn’t have to cost the earth: policies start from as low as £4.60† for a personal single trip cover, or £11.85† for annual cover.
How much your travel insurance policy costs depends on what sort of cover you opt for and how long the policy covers you for. Travel insurance quotes will also take into account if your policy is personal or if you are travelling with a partner or your family.
†Based on an individual aged 30 taking single trip cover for 3 days to France. Cover starts on 7 October 2021 and ends on 10 October 2021. Annual cover from £11.85 based on an individual aged 30 with no pre-existing conditions taking annual cover for travel in Europe. Cover starts on 7 October 2021 and ends after 12 months.
It’s advisable to purchase travel insurance the moment you book your trip, because without it you risk not being covered in the event of something disrupting your holiday.
For example, if an illness or weather disruption affected your trip, you would not be able to claim for any damages or refunds if you haven’t already bought insurance.
Travel insurance covers you after the event, which means that you will normally need to pay for any costs upfront and then make a claim to the insurance company, much like any other type of insurance. You will need to keep any documentation for this reason, hospital bills for example, as otherwise your claim may be refuted.
You should always read the small print to know exactly what you are getting and what you are covered for. Some policies might not cover everything you need, so double check before you depart.
As with any insurance policy, an excess is the amount you will need to pay when making a claim, and it varies by insurer. This is the part of the claim you must pay to allow for the insurer to pay for the remainder. If you have a policy with a £150 excess, for example, then you claim for a baggage loss of £800, you would pay the £150 and the remaining £650 would be paid out by your insurer.
You still need travel insurance if you’re staying in the UK for your next holiday (staycation). Although the NHS will cover the cost of any medical treatment, travel insurance can pay to transfer you to a hospital closer to home. Travel insurance will also bring you or a family member home if you have missed your flights, trains, coach or your family have to drive home separately.
Travel insurance for the UK also covers you against the risk of holiday cancellation, baggage loss, losing spare cash and anything happening to your mobile phone and other gadgets while you’re away from home.
Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it can provide peace of mind for your holiday so you can concentrate on enjoying your trip. This is because travel insurance can offer useful coverage for things like cancelled flights and accommodation from before you even leave the country.
Travel insurance also offers medical treatment coverage, which can be helpful in countries like the USA and Canada where treatment costs can reach the thousands. You’ll even have the option to cover your personal possessions and belongings, so if you lose your phone or passport you’ll be able to claim for any resulting costs.
Without a good travel insurance policy, you’d have to pay out of pocket, which could put a damper on your holiday plans.
If you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy, you should consider the following to make sure you have the best chance of your claim being accepted:
If you’re travelling to Europe a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be useful, as it entitles you to medical treatment in certain countries for free or at a reduced cost – essentially the same that applies to citizens of that country. However it isn’t a replacement for travel insurance as it won’t cover you for private medical costs, nor will it be useful for rescue and repatriation. It also doesn't offer additional protection for your belongings and possessions, accommodation, or flights.
Even though Britain has now left the EU, your EHIC card is still valid - existing cards can run until they expire (most cards have a five year life). Check the expiry date before you travel.
As the EHIC is phased out it is being replaced by the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for UK nationals living in the UK.
It’s recommended that you take out a travel insurance policy as soon as you can after you’ve booked your holiday. This is because it can cover part or all the cost of cancelling your holiday before you leave if you need to, as a result of:
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