By Tim Maxwell
Edited by Michelle TipswordTravel Insurance for the UK
By Tim MaxwellEdited by Michelle Tipsword
Quick Answer
You’re not required to carry travel insurance in the UK, but it can protect your wallet if you get sick, injured or must change your plans. Its cost is relatively moderate in exchange for protection against a variety of bills you could incur.
The United Kingdom is a bucket list destination for many travelers. The UK is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which offer a mix of experiences you won't find anywhere else. From exploring London's rich history and culture to strolling along Northern Ireland's rugged coastline, there's plenty for you to discover.
If you're visiting the UK, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance. While it isn't required, a travel policy can give you peace of mind by helping with unexpected costs that might otherwise put a cloud over your experience. Here's what you need to know about getting this coverage, what it covers, what it doesn't and how to get the best travel insurance for the UK.
Do I Need Travel Insurance for UK Trips?
You're not required to carry travel insurance to visit the UK, but it is recommended. Both the U.S Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise travelers to consider getting travel insurance before traveling to the UK and other foreign destinations. That's because this coverage helps to pay for costs you may incur from an accident, illness or travel delays.
Keep in mind, your current U.S. health insurance may not cover you abroad, and Medicare generally isn't accepted outside of the U.S. Some travelers mistakenly believe that the National Health Service (NHS), the UK's public health care system, covers medical costs for foreign travelers if they are injured or become ill while in the country. The reality is, the NHS is a residence-based system, and nonresidents staying for less than six months could be charged 150% of the national NHS rate for hospital treatment.
What Does UK Travel Insurance Cover?
Comprehensive travel insurance policies can vary from one provider to another, but they generally cover the following:
- Trip cancellation and interruption: Your coverage can reimburse you if you cancel your trip before it begins or cut it short once it has started. To qualify for reimbursement, your cancellation must be due to a covered reason, such as illness, injury, a family member's death, natural disasters, jury duty or job loss.
- Emergency medical expenses: Travel medical insurance can cover emergency care, ambulance transport, hospital stays, X-rays and other covered costs. Policy limits can range from as low as $10,000 to as high as $8 million. It's recommended to carry at least $100,000 in coverage in the UK.
- Travel delays: Travel delay coverage can help pay for your meals, hotel stays and other extra costs if an extended delay disrupts your travel plans. That could come in handy if, say, a winter storm shuts down your flight back to New York overnight. You could receive reimbursement up to your policy's limits as long as the delay time exceeds the waiting period in your policy.
- Lost baggage: Your policy may cover your luggage and its contents if they are lost, delayed or damaged. Coverage limits apply, and you may need to file a claim with the airline or report the incident to the local police to receive reimbursement.
- Medical evacuation: If you get sick or injured in a rural area of the UK, evacuation coverage can pay for transportation to the nearest hospital. As you might expect, the cost for medical evacuation can be steep, so carrying a policy with at least $100,000 coverage may make sense.
What Isn't Covered by UK Travel Insurance?
- Natural disasters: You can't purchase coverage for a storm or disaster once it has been forecast or named. You may have coverage for disaster-related trip cancellations and disruptions if you bought the policy before it was announced, but not after.
- High-risk activities: Policies typically exclude skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping and other risky activities from coverage. Even more recreational activities, like jet skiing, may not be covered, so check your policy for specifics and consider purchasing an add-on for any necessary protection.
- Preexisting medical conditions: While travel insurance will generally cover you for injuries and illnesses you sustain while you're in the UK, it's unlikely to cover treatment for a chronic condition that may require attention during your trip. If you need coverage for a preexisting condition, it may make sense to purchase the appropriate add-on.
- Accidents while under the influence or unlawful acts: Enjoying a pint is fine, but if intoxication leads to an accident, travel insurance likely won't cover it. Likewise, any illness or injury stemming from illegal activity isn't covered.
Tip: Consider adding cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage if your plans aren't set in stone or you like having more flexibility. As its name suggests, this additional coverage allows you to back out of your trip for reasons that aren't covered under a standard policy. You may be reimbursed up to 75% of your nonrefundable travel costs if you cancel your trip. But be aware, CFAR coverage can add up to 50% to the cost of your policy.
How Much Does UK Travel Insurance Cost?
The cost of travel insurance for a trip to the UK depends on the level of coverage you choose and the duration of your stay. According to data from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, travelers paid an average of about $351 for comprehensive coverage on a 17-day trip with roughly $5,200 in expenses, which works out to about $20.70 per day. A medical-only policy is less expensive because they don't cover travel expenses. It will run you about $86 for a 20-day trip, or $4.31 per day. With both policy types, the price is modest for the peace of mind it affords.
Insurers typically price policies as a percentage of your total trip cost, which can range from 4% to 8%. Your premium may be higher or lower than those quoted above, depending on how many people you're insuring and what activities you have planned.
Learn more: Average Cost of Travel Insurance
Is UK Travel Insurance Worth It?
UK travel insurance varies depending on the traveler and their preferences. It may be worth it for you if:
- Your travel plans are expensive. It'll sting if you must cancel pricey, nonrefundable bookings for costs like West End theatre tickets, castle tours or a London hotel stay. Travel insurance can protect you financially if you must cancel your trip.
- Your family is on the trip. If you're traveling with several people, the odds that someone will get sick or plans may change are higher, so a policy may be worth it.
- Your trip is at risk of delays. If you're traveling in the winter, be aware that fog and storms commonly delay flights at Heathrow and other airports in the UK. Your policy may help cover extra hotel nights, meals and transportation costs you incur due to travel delays.
- Your health is a concern. The NHS does not cover nonresidents, so you'd have to pay out of pocket for an emergency hospital visit or ambulance ride.
On the other hand, you may not need a comprehensive travel insurance policy if your trip is short and inexpensive. If you're in the UK strictly on business, for example, and only plan on staying in the hotel or in meetings, you may not need coverage.
It's also worth taking a look at your credit cards' travel insurance benefits to see if you already have strong coverage. In that case, an inexpensive medical-only policy might be enough.
Learn more: Should You Buy Travel Insurance?
How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for the UK
Follow these guidelines to ensure you have the best travel insurance for your UK trip:
- Buy early. If you buy within 14 to 21 days of your trip deposit, you qualify for add-ons like CFAR coverage. You can also add a waiver for preexisting conditions. Remember, you want to be covered before something happens, like bad weather or a disaster, that forces you to cancel.
- Check policy limits. Review any travel insurance plan you're considering to see how much it pays for medical care, evacuation and other coverages. Experts suggest purchasing at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and a $250,000 evacuation limit, but limits can extend to $1 million.
- Consider extra coverage for activities. As mentioned, comprehensive plans typically don't cover high-risk or recreational activities. If you're planning an active trip, confirm your plans are covered and consider purchasing add-on coverage if necessary.
- Confirm full itinerary coverage. If your travels include stops in countries outside the UK, confirm the coverage applies for each country, as insurers sometimes limit or exclude certain countries from their coverage—or you may need a different policy entirely.
- Review coverage and deductibles. Before purchasing a policy, carefully review the plan details to understand exactly what's covered and what isn't. Make sure the deductible is an amount you can comfortably afford. Deductibles can range from $0 to $5,000.
- Shop and compare. As with any financial product, it's always wise to compare policies to ensure you're getting the best balance of price and coverage. You can buy travel insurance through insurers, airlines or membership groups such as AAA and AARP.
Cover Your UK Trip With Travel Insurance
A trip to the UK will undoubtedly leave you with countless unforgettable memories. But, unexpected circumstances beyond your control could make it costly if you don't have adequate travel insurance. Coverage isn't required, but it could provide peace of mind knowing you're protected if things go south.
While you're preparing for your trip, check if any of your credit cards offer travel insurance. While it usually doesn't cover as much as a comprehensive travel insurance policy, it may provide enough protection, especially if it's a short business trip with little travel outside of the hotel. To find a card with travel protections, try Experian's credit card comparison tool to explore options that match your credit profile.
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About the author
Tim Maxwell
Tim Maxwell is a former television news journalist turned personal finance writer and credit card expert with over two decades of media experience. His work has been published in Bankrate, Fox Business, Washington Post, USA Today, The Balance, MarketWatch and others. He is also the founder of the personal finance website Incomist.
Read more from Tim