Do I need travel insurance?
No one plans for things to go wrong on holiday, but life happens abroad too. And if the unexpected happens, a travel insurance policy will make sure you’re sorted so you can go back to enjoying your trip. Without it, you might be left to cover certain costs on your own, especially in an emergency.
By comparing policies, you could avoid overpaying for features you don’t need. We’ve brought together a range of travel insurance providers, so it’s easy to find the right cover for you. The best part? You just need to answer a few questions and you’re good to go. It's best to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way, you’ll be covered before you’ve even left home. It’s especially helpful for that all-important cancellation cover – in case the unexpected happens before your trip.
What does travel insurance cover?
Whether you plan on going on a long trip around the world, cruising in the Caribbean, or flying to Paris on a weekend trip, travel insurance is built to protect you if something unexpected happens.
To find a great deal for your trip, compare travel insurance quotes to make sure you get complete protection. Travel insurance policies come with plenty of benefits – but make sure yours includes cover for:
- ✓ Cancellations and delays – if you’re stranded or are unable to travel
- ✓ Repatriation – if you need to get home if medically necessary
- ✓ Lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items – if you need to recover belongings and replace passports
- ✓ Medical emergencies – if you need to cover costs for sickness and need medical care
- ✓ Travel disruptions – if you're impacted by a natural disaster or a strike
- ✓ Personal liability – if you're held responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage to a third party
It’s important that you declare any pre-existing medical conditions so that you’re fully covered during your trip.
What does travel insurance not cover?
Travel insurance is the reassurance you need to have a worry-free trip. But there are claims that are often not included in policies, like:
- ✗ Accidents related to alcohol or drugs – having an accident while under the influence will often lead to an unsuccessful claim
- ✗ A medical condition you should’ve declared – if you fail to tell your insurance provider about your medical condition, you might not be protected if something goes wrong
- ✗ Choosing not to travel – simply deciding not to go on your trip is not reason enough to make a claim
- ✗ Travelling against the advice of your doctor – if you chose to not listen to your doctor and travel anyway, your claim could be denied
- ✗ Travel for medical treatment – you can’t get support for pre-arranged treatments, only unexpected emergencies
Travelling with medical conditions
Going on holiday should be exciting, but if you’re travelling with medical conditions, it can be tricky knowing what cover to get.
Not all travel insurance providers offer cover for health conditions because it's more likely to lead to a claim. But PayingTooMuch makes it easy for you to compare policies to find one suited for you.
Explore travel insurance extras
A quick travel insurance comparison on PayingTooMuch is a simple way to find cover that suits your holiday plans.
Do you need extra cover for certain parts of your trip? You can add these during the quote process – and we’ll only show you policies that include them.
Cruise cover
Cruise cover is a specialist type of policy designed specifically for cruise holidays. You can select a cruise policy when you tell us about your travel plans, to view options that include cruise-specific cover. This may include:
- cabin confinement
- cruise interruption
- missed port
Read more about cruise cover
Winter sports cover
If things like skiing and snowboarding are on your itinerary, it’s worth getting winter sports cover to avoid getting a hefty bill if the unforeseen happens. Cover includes:
- medical emergencies
- lost, damaged or stolen equipment
- piste closures
Read more about winter sports cover
How do I find the right travel insurance?
Figuring out how to get travel insurance can feel like an overwhelming task. But it doesn't have to be. Travel insurance comparison sites like PayingTooMuch can help save you time and money before you even take off.
How much does travel insurance cost?
The price of travel insurance can vary, as it’s based on several factors.
Age
Older travellers tend to face higher medical claim risks, which can increase the price of a policy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find quality cover with us. You can easily compare travel insurance for over 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Medical conditions
You may have to pay a higher cost if you have pre-existing medical conditions. You’ll have to declare your health conditions when getting a quote to make sure you’re offered the right policy for you.
Where you’re travelling to
Planning on city hopping in the US or going on a safari in the Serengeti? Where you travel will influence the cost of your travel insurance. Some countries require higher limits because their healthcare is more expensive. You may also have to pay more if you’re travelling to a destination that has a higher chance of experiencing natural disasters.
The length of your trip
Longer trips mean more potential claims, regardless of where you decide to travel.
If you want to know more about what impacts the cost of holiday cover, you can read more on our blog.
Compare quotes
What if I can’t find travel insurance?
PayingTooMuch meets the eligibility requirements to be included in the Money Helper travel insurance directory, which the FCA has confirmed meets its criteria for a ‘medical cover firm directory’. This means that PayingTooMuch may be able to find cover for customers who may not be able to find travel insurance from other travel insurance providers. To be part of this directory, PayingTooMuch went through a thorough checking process to prove that cover can be provided for particular scenarios without exclusions for customers.
In some cases, we might not be able to find travel insurance for you. If that happens, try the Money Helper website. If you’d prefer to speak to someone, you can call them on 0800 138 7777 – they’ll put you in touch with other specialist travel insurance providers.
