Complete guide to travel insurance in the UK for hassle-free trips

Travel Insurance is essential when taking a trip out of the UK, turning your dream vacation into reality without unnecessary stress.

The mere thought of going abroad, leaving behind the hectic work routine, and enjoying your free time sounds incredibly exciting.

However, if something unexpected happens—like falling ill or losing your luggage—how would you cope in a foreign country where you may not know anyone?

That’s where travel insurance steps in, protecting your trip and ensuring that you’re not left stranded. Keep reading to learn how it can save your holiday from disaster.

What is travel insurance?

Traveling is a passion for many people even if it is a pain for a few. If you are one of those people who are always excited and ready for a vacation aboard, then you may consider travel insurance. 

According to a survey, 15 million trips were made abroad by UK residents in 2022, which is four times of 2021 as people were forced to stay home due to COVID.

This figure even increases when popular events like the Euros and Olympics take place. 

Travel insurance keeps you covered in case you face any problems abroad.

It depends on the type of coverage you choose, but usually, travel insurance will cover you if you have an accident, fall sick, or lose your luggage.

You will also be covered if you have to cancel your trip due to some uncontrollable reasons.

So if you want to enjoy your vacations to the fullest then you should consider taking travel insurance as they are not expensive yet give you the ultimate comfort of feeling secure.

 What does travel insurance cover? 

Traveling is fun for those who like it, or those who are going on vacation. But it can be turned into a stressful and troublesome journey if something bad happens.

Travel insurance can save you that trouble by covering you for mishaps. Different lenders offer different covers, but here’s what’s included in travel insurance:

• Lost luggage or stolen bags
• Hospital bills in case of a medical emergency, such as heat stroke, high BP, etc, or accidental injury
• Legal cost, if you are sued by someone for damaging property etc
• Cancellation of the trip due to unexpected and uncontrollable conditions, or if you have to delay or cut short your trip
• You will also be covered for going back to home in case of medical emergencies
• Cover for trouble with accommodation

Policies can be varied from lender to lender, but now you have an idea of how much trouble you can save yourself by taking a travel insurance policy.

However, it is important to get quotes from multiple lenders before you choose one. 

What isn’t covered? 

Now you know what’s usually covered in travel insurance policies, let us talk about what’s not included.

Once again, there could be a significant difference in what’s included and what’s not, depending on the insurer and your requirements, but here’s what to know:

• You need to tell your insurer if you have an existing or ongoing medical condition, otherwise, it will be a violation of policy. If you are above 65, you might need specialist insurance.
• If you are an adventure-loving champ, then you might want to add extras to your policy because adventurous and dangerous sports like winter sports, climbing, rafting, etc are not included in standard travel insurance. 
• You may want to reconsider the thought of taking expensive items on your trip like jewelry, watches, etc, because they will most likely not be covered by the policy.
• If the country you are traveling to has some ongoing issues like civil unrest, strikes, or terrorism, or your trip is disrupted by a natural disaster like an earthquake, then travel insurance will not be responsible.

How much is travel insurance? 

Travel insurance policies are mostly inexpensive, but they may not be the same for all travel insurance companies.

If you are looking online for travel insurance, make sure you visit 2 or more sites. And if you are seeking help from a broker, make sure you compare rates and requirements.

Getting quotes from several insurers will help you find the best policy.

Point to ponder: You should know that the cheapest isn’t always the best option. You need to be careful about how the policy is tailored if you are looking for one that’s in your budget. 

What types of travel insurance are there?

UK residents are most likely to travel abroad in their vacations, especially during the occurrence of special events such as the Olympics, Euros, etc.

If you are planning an abroad trip for your upcoming vacations, then you might want to consider travel insurance, but how do you find the right one?

Here’s a brief overview of different types of travel insurance policies:

• Single trip: If you only go once on a vacation in a specific period, then this one is suitable for you.
• Multi-trip: This policy is more suitable and cost-effective for those who are on more than 2 trips annually because the multi-trip policy will cover you for all the trips you take in a year.
• Family trip: If you go on a trip along with your family most of the time, then this plan is suitable for you as it includes two adults and up to 4 children, who are 18 or younger.
• Winter sports: Many people plan their trips specifically at the time when winter sports are scheduled, so if you are going skiing or snowboarding, etc, then this policy will cover you in case of any harm. 
• Worldwide: Travel insurance policies are supported worldwide, but they also fall into two categories; one that includes the US, and the other that doesn’t.

Point to ponder: You should know that every travel insurance might have different plans, but most plans include the options mentioned above.

What is the best travel insurance company? 

If you are looking for the best travel insurance company, then might want to try one of these:

Saga

Saga is the most suitable travel insurance policy for you if you are above 50 because it includes medical conditions such as diabetes.

It also lets you include up to nine family members of your family.

Aviva

Aviva is an ideal choice for you if you basically and most importantly want to be covered for medical expenses as they offer up to £10 million in cover for medical claims. 

LV=

LV= gives you multiple packages. It also includes cruise cover, winter sports cover as well as family travel.

If you want ultimate peace of mind, this is your go-to option as it also has a comprehensive policy for medical claims.

Do I need travel insurance? 

If you are a UK resident and you take more than two trips a year, then you need travel insurance.

However, it depends on you if you do or do not prefer to take a travel policy. But it is recommended to consider one if you are a regular traveler as it can save you a lot of trouble and stress.

It’s like having someone on the lookout for you while you are off to have some fun but are going to another state. 

Conclusion

We hope that you have found this guide helpful and will be finally able to decide about your travel insurance if you need one.

Being a UK resident, taking a travel insurance policy means getting one thing off of your chest.

And now you can peacefully enjoy the time you have taken off to spend with your loved ones or exclusively yourself. 

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