Travel insurance is rarely the most exciting part of planning a trip, but it’s one of the most important. The biggest mistake people make is thinking it only matters once they’re abroad. In reality, good travel insurance protects you both before you leave and while you’re away.
When should you buy travel insurance?
You should buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Not the week before you fly, not once you’ve paid off the hotel—immediately after booking.
This is because travel insurance doesn’t just cover problems that happen overseas. It also covers cancellation before you travel. If you fall ill, have a family emergency, or something unexpected means you can’t go, insurance can reimburse non-refundable flights, accommodation, and tours. If you wait to buy it, you’re unprotected during this period, which defeats the point.
What travel insurance actually covers
ravel insurance is designed to protect you from serious and unexpected costs, not minor inconveniences. Most standard policies cover:
- Emergency medical treatment and hospital stays
- Medical repatriation (getting you home if needed)
- Trip cancellation or curtailment
- Lost, stolen, or damaged belongings
- Personal liability if you accidentally injure someone or damage property
Medical cover is the most important element. In countries such as the United States or Canada, even a short hospital visit can cost more than an entire holiday. Insurance is what prevents a bad situation from Travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. Common exclusions include:
- Missed flights due to poor planning
- Injuries caused by excessive alcohol or drugs
- Dangerous activities you haven’t declared
- Valuables left unattended
- Pre-existing medical conditions that haven’t been declared
Undeclared medical conditions are one of the most common reasons claims are rejected. Reading the exclusions is just as important as checking what’s included.
Single-trip or annual insurance?
If you’re only going away once, single-trip insurance is usually fine. But if you travel two or more times a year, annual multi-trip insurance often works out cheaper and saves you having to arrange cover each time. Annual policies still have limits, such as maximum trip length, so check these carefully.
Does who you travel with matter?
Policies are available for individuals, couples, and families. Family policies usually cover parents and dependent children living at the same address, but definitions vary, so it’s worth checking the small print—especially for older children.
Destination makes a difference
Where you’re travelling affects both the price and the cover. European policies don’t always include every country you might expect, and “worldwide” policies sometimes exclude the USA and Canada unless specifically stated.
Always check that your exact destination is included, especially where healthcare costs are high.
If you’re buying annual cover and know you won’t be travelling to the USA or North America, check the price with those destinations excluded. Where offered, this can significantly reduce the cost.
Make sure it covers the right activities
Certain activities—most notably winter sports and cruises—often increase the cost of insurance. If you plan to do them, make sure they’re included.
Equally, if you know you definitely won’t be skiing, cruising, or taking part in higher-risk activities, remove them from your policy to get the best price.
Travel insurance if you’re over 65
Travel insurance works the same way regardless of age, but prices often rise sharply as you get older. That doesn’t mean you should accept the first quote you see.
Specialist providers and careful comparison can still offer good value, particularly for frequent travellers.
Pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it’s essential to declare it fully and honestly. This doesn’t always mean you need specialist insurance, but the condition must be covered by the policy.
Not declaring something—even if it seems minor or unrelated—can invalidate your cover entirely. If your health changes before you travel, update your insurer.
Do you already have travel insurance or can you get it through another means
Some people already have travel insurance through packaged bank accounts or certain credit cards. If so, check exactly what’s covered and whether it’s suitable for your trip.
While it’s rarely good value to take out these products solely for the insurance, there are exceptions. For example, older travellers may benefit because the account fee is fixed regardless of age, whereas standalone insurance becomes more expensive as you get older. Always read the terms and conditions carefully.
Best travel insurance comparison sites (If your holiday is in the next 12 months)
Most people book holidays within the next 12 months—largely because that’s when flights are released and annual leave is planned. In these cases, comparison websites are usually the easiest way to find cover.
Below are a list of the major comparison sites, there are also several others. They all provide much the same service. For the particular price conscious or those with high cost quotes it might be worth running the search on a couple of comparison sites as sometimes prices and providers covered can change slightly.
- Compare the Market
- USwitch
- Go Compare
What if you have a trip more than 12 months from now
If you’ve booked a trip more than 12 months in advance, your options depend on the policy type. Some insurers allow you to buy single-trip insurance up to 18 or even 24 months ahead, though the choice of providers is more limited. For example:
- Staysure and Coverwise: up to 18 months
- Aviva: up to 24 months
Are you hiring a car
Most travel insurance policies do not cover the excess payable if a hire car is damaged or stolen. While rental companies offer this cover, it’s often cheaper to buy standalone excess insurance.
See our guide to hiring a car abroad for more details.
Additional protection
While travel insurance is the most important safeguard, there are other ways to reduce risk:
- Use a GHIC card when travelling in Europe
- Pay by credit card for additional consumer protection
- Ensure package holidays are ATOL protected
It is also worth sometimes considering flexible options such as refundable hotels (balancing cost vs flexibility). See our guide to booking hotels for more details.
The bottom line
Travel insurance should be a core part of trip planning—not an afterthought. Buy it as soon as you book, make sure it fits how and where you travel, and don’t cut corners on medical cover.
You may never need it. But if you do, the right policy can save you thousands—and a great deal of stress.
Holiday Nerd 