What is repatriation travel insurance?
Key takeaways
Repatriation travel insurance helps cover the cost of bringing you back to the UK in a medical emergency
Most standard travel insurance policies include cover for repatriation, but be sure to check the details of your policy to be sure
If you have pre-existing medical conditions, you need to tell your insurer - and check if repatriation cover is included for these conditions
What does repatriation mean?
Repatriation is when a person is returned to their country of origin. For insurance purposes it generally refers to bringing you home as a result of a medical emergency. It usually kicks in if you aren’t able to get the right treatment for an illness or injury when you’re abroad, or if it works out cheaper for you to continue treatment in the UK.
What is repatriation travel insurance?
Repatriation travel insurance covers the cost of bringing your back home in an emergency, whether it’s a medical situation, an accident or even political unrest.
Is repatriation covered by standard travel insurance?
Yes, fortunately you’ll find that most travel insurance policies include cover for repatriation as standard. This means you’ll be able to claim on your travel insurance policy for the cost of getting back to the UK for medical treatment if you become ill or injured while away. You should also be covered for making new travel arrangements to get home if you had to receive medical treatment abroad that meant you missed your original flight back.
Additionally, most policies will cover you for bringing your ashes or body home if you pass away while abroad.
How do I know if I need to be repatriated?
If you’re abroad and you need medical treatment, you should contact your insurer as soon as you can. They’ll communicate with your treatment provider to determine the situation, including what treatment you’ll be covered for and whether you need to be repatriated.
Your insurance provider is more likely to opt for repatriation if the medical facilities or treatment standard of the country you’re in is poor. But if you’re not in good enough condition to travel then you may need to wait until you’re better in order to be repatriated.
What does repatriation insurance cover?
The exact level of cover you get will depend on your provider and the policy you take out, but generally speaking most travel insurance will cover the following:
The travel costs of returning you home
Associated costs for medical assistance or an escort for your travels
The cost of any medical treatment you need
Travel expenses and accommodation for your journey home
24/7 emergency assistance if you need it
Repatriation of remains such as ashes or a body if you die abroad, and possibly even a contribution towards funeral or cremation costs
What isn’t covered by repatriation travel insurance?
Like most insurance policies, you’ll find that your travel insurance generally won’t cover you in the following situations:
If you want to claim for a pre-existing condition that you didn’t declare when taking out cover
If your injury or illness resulted from alcohol, drugs, violent conduct or dangerous activities you weren’t covered for
Will travel insurance cover death abroad?
If you pass away while abroad, your travel insurance policy may pay out for certain things, including funeral costs and the repatriation of your remains.
However, cover may differ between providers so it’s always good to check your policy documents thoroughly to be sure.
Will I be covered for repatriation if I have pre-existing conditions?
Yes, you should still be covered for declared pre-existing medical conditions if they flare up and result in you needing to be brought home.
However if you didn't declare these conditions when you took out cover, your claim might be rejected - leaving you out of pocket.
How much does medical repatriation cost?
The cost of medical repatriation can vary depending on where you are and how serious your condition is, but often it can reach into the thousands if not tens of thousands of pounds.
The Association of British Insurers references one case where an insurer paid out £25,000 in repatriation and medical costs for a policyholder who was injured in a forest fire. Other instances referred to by the ABI include £70,000 for a traveller returning from Cyprus after getting Covid, and £124,000 for a traveller in Spain being repatriated after a fall.
This is why travel insurance can be so crucial when you go abroad. It can cover these high medical treatment costs, as well as cancelled bookings or lost and stolen possessions. The below table shows the average cost of travel insurance to destinations alongside the average cost of an air ambulance from them to the UK.
Country | Average insurance price | Air ambulance cost |
|---|---|---|
France | £14.00[1] | £4,500 |
Egypt | £18.29[2] | £30,000 |
USA | £38.39[3] | £50,000 |
Brazil | £33.99[4] | £85,000 |
Do I need repatriation insurance?
It’s hard to imagine your travel plans resulting in medical repatriation, but if the worst should happen then you’ll be thankful that it’s part of your travel insurance. Fortunately, most travel insurance policies include repatriation cover as a standard part of medical treatment insurance, so you won’t need to worry - just be sure you have enough cover in place.
How much medical treatment insurance cover do I need?
Most travel insurance policies will offer at least £1 million in medical treatment cover. If you are travelling far from home or have existing medical conditions you may want to look for cover around £5-£10 million. Medical costs can add up quickly, and vary highly depending on where you are.
Is repatriation covered by an EHIC/GHIC?
No, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (EHIC) won’t provide cover for the cost of bringing you home in an emergency, medical or otherwise, nor will it pay for any assistance you might need.
These cards entitle you to medical treatment within many European countries at the same cost as a resident would pay, but not repatriation costs.
What is emergency evacuation insurance?
Emergency evacuation insurance is a separate type of travel insurance that covers the cost of arranging travel in a non-medical emergency, such as political uprisings and civil unrest or natural disasters. It’s usually included in specialist travel insurance that you take out when going to a high-risk location.
Compare travel insurance quotes
Finding affordable travel insurance with repatriation cover is easier when you compare quotes with MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us about your travel plans, including where you’re going and what activities you’re planning as well as any pre-existing medical conditions you might have.
We’ll search the market for quotes that meet your needs, so you can compare them by the overall cost and the cover you’ll get. Once you’ve found the one you want, just click through to finalise your purchase.
