What to Look for When Buying Travel Insurance
Travel insurance became a necessity on my first solo trip through Southeast Asia. After unexpectedly spending several nights in hospital, my insurer paid the medical bills directly, arranged for a family member to fly out to be with me, covered their accommodation and helped me get home safely.
It's one of those things that's a bit like wearing a seatbelt. Most trips you'll never need it. But if something serious happens, you’ll be thankful to have it.
Buying travel insurance isn't the most exciting part of planning a trip, but it's one of the most important. It can be tricky trying to choose the right policy, and the last thing you want is to discover you're not covered when you actually need it.
Disclaimer: This article is based on my own experiences and what I personally look for when buying travel insurance. It is not financial advice or a recommendation to buy a specific policy. Coverage levels vary depending on your country of residence, destination and personal circumstances, so always check the policy wording and exclusions before purchasing.
Before you compare policies
The cost and level of cover you'll need depends on:
Your country of residence
Where you're travelling
How long you're travelling
Your age
Any medical conditions
What activities you're planning
While I might list some examples, everyone’s different and it’s important to consider what level of coverage fits your individual needs.
The number one question to ask when buying travel insurance…
Would this policy protect me if the worst-case scenario happened?
Lost luggage is stressful.
Delayed flights are frustrating.
A £100 pair of sunglasses can be replaced.
A £100,000 emergency medical or repatriation bill is hard to recover from.
Before you buy any policy, open up the policy booklet and read the policy wording. Here are some of the things I consider when looking into travel insurance.
1. Medical cover
This is the first thing I look at.
As a UK resident, I generally look for at least £1 million in emergency medical cover, although I prefer higher limits where possible. If I'm going to travel somewhere with very expensive healthcare, such as the United States, I’d look for much higher limits.
In some countries you may also need to show proof of insurance before treatment. This happened to me in Thailand, where the hospital wanted evidence of cover before proceeding.
Medical cover is the one thing I don’t compromise on.
2. Emergency evacuation and repatriation
If you can’t get the treatment you need at the location you’re in, travel insurance can arrange for you to be moved to somewhere where you can receive your necessary treatment. Depending on where you are, this can cost thousands or even tens of thousands if you’re not insured.
Emergency evacuation can involve helicopters, air ambulances or medical flights home, all of which could leave you severely out of pocket if you’re not covered.
3. Read the exclusions
This is the part you can really get caught out. While cover levels are usually obvious, this is where you need to read the policy booklet.
Every policy is different, and it’s not always the easiest to understand.
One thing I personally avoid is policies that require you to notify the insurer within a specific timeframe after a medical emergency.
If you've just been admitted to hospital following an accident, contacting an insurance company may be difficult to do. If there’s a 24-hour time frame or something similar, I’d avoid it.
I also consider if there’s a limit on hiking at a certain altitude. I like to hike a lot, so this is something I double-check.
Other common exclusions to consider:
Scuba diving
Motorbike riding
Adventure sports
Pre-existing conditions
Pregnancy
Epidemics
War or conflict
4. Declare any medical conditions
This is a must-do for your policy. Failing to declare a pre-existing medical condition could invalidate coverage if you need it.
5. Trip cancellation and disruption
If you need to cancel your trip because…
there are unforeseen travel disruptions
you or a family member become unexpectedly ill
you need to come home early due to an emergency
you’re made redundant
cancellation cover can help reduce how much you end up paying out of pocket for non-refundable travel costs.
Always check what reasons are covered in your policy, as cancellation cover only applies to the situations listed by your insurer.
6. Natural disasters
If I'm travelling to an area that's prone to hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or wildfires, I make sure my policy covers disruption caused by natural disasters.
Typically, coverage requires you to buy the policy before the event is forecast.
7. GHIC (for UK residents)
If I'm travelling in Europe, I make sure I have a valid GHIC. It doesn't replace travel insurance, but it can help you access state healthcare in participating countries, making it a useful extra layer of protection.
My checklist before I buy:
✔️ Emergency medical cover
✔️ Emergency evacuation & repatriation
✔️ Trip cancellation cover
✔️ Natural disaster cover
✔️ Required adventure activities covered
✔️ Medical conditions declared
✔️ Read the exclusions
✔️ Expensive equipment covered (camera, laptop, etc.)
Note: Other things you may want to consider include delayed baggage, lost or stolen money, personal accident, travel delays and personal liability, depending on your trip and circumstances.
Which travel insurance policy?
The best travel insurance depends on where you live, as different underwriters are available in different regions.
For longer trips, I've used World Nomads in the past, but it's always worth comparing a few insurers to find the cover that best suits your trip and your budget.
It's also worth checking whether your credit card includes travel insurance. Just make sure you understand what's covered and whether there are any conditions you need to meet before you travel.
Before you leave
Save your insurer's emergency phone number on your phone.
Email yourself a copy of your policy.
Give your policy number to someone/a family member back home.
Look into recommended vaccinations. Sometimes a policy can exclude an illness if there’s a vaccine available for it.
Ready to plan your trip? Here are some of my favourite travel suggestions.
Booking.com: For the best hotel deals! 🏝
World Nomads: Travel insurance on the go 🌎
Trip.com: A one-stop shop for flights and anything else you need ✈️
Viator: Experiences across the world 🌟
Favourite travel items: Some of my go-to travel essentials 🥾
Affiliate links above!
Mandatory Disclaimer:We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.