Travel insurance: what to check before you buy
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Quick answer: Check medical limits (£2 million Europe / £5 million worldwide), declare every pre-existing condition, and treat GHIC as a complement — not a replacement. Buy when you book so cancellation cover starts immediately.
Travel insurance is regulated by the FCA and protects against the financial cost of medical emergencies, cancellation, lost baggage and personal liability while you are away. The cheapest single-trip policy can leave huge gaps — the questions below are the ones to check before clicking 'buy'.
Skip this if: Skip this if you only need a live quote — it is a checklist, not a comparison table of today's premiums. GHIC is not a substitute. This is not a product recommendation.
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Read the full insurance guide →Quick answer: GHIC explained →Primary source: www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance
What are the four main areas of travel insurance cover?
Emergency medical and repatriation: pays for hospital treatment abroad and, if needed, bringing you home. This is the most important section — bills in countries like the US can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Cancellation and curtailment: refunds non-refundable trip costs if you have to cancel or cut a trip short for a covered reason (illness, bereavement, jury service etc.). Watch the maximum cancellation limit — it should cover your total non-refundable spend.
Baggage, money and travel disruption: covers lost or stolen baggage (with per-item and total limits), cash, missed departure and travel delay.
Personal liability: covers you if you are legally responsible for injury or damage to someone else's property — useful in countries with high legal costs.
Do I have to declare pre-existing medical conditions?
Every insurer asks medical screening questions. Be honest and complete — failing to declare a pre-existing condition can lead to a refused claim or a voided policy.
If the standard insurer won't cover a condition or quotes a very high premium, MoneyHelper publishes a Medical Cover Firms Directory of specialist insurers who deal with serious or pre-existing conditions. TravelShifu also has a [pre-existing conditions travel insurance](travelshifu.com/guides/travel-insurance-pre-existing-conditions) briefing on look-back periods and stability clauses — still declare everything on the UK insurer's screening.
Does GHIC replace travel insurance?
The Global Health Insurance Card lets you access state-provided healthcare in EU countries on the same basis as a local resident — sometimes free, sometimes reduced cost.
It does not cover private treatment, repatriation, cancellation or any non-medical loss. It is a useful complement to travel insurance, never a replacement. TravelShifu's [GHIC vs travel insurance](travelshifu.com/guides/ghic-travel-insurance-europe) explainer covers the same gap from a trip-planning angle.
What does travel insurance usually exclude?
Hazardous activities (skiing, scuba, motorbiking, climbing) often need an add-on or specialist policy.
Travelling against government advice (FCDO 'advise against all travel') usually voids cover.
Alcohol-related claims are typically excluded; gadget cover for phones, laptops and cameras may need to be added separately and often has strict security/proof-of-ownership requirements.
Common questions
Do I need travel insurance if I already have it through my bank account?
Many packaged current accounts include travel insurance — check the policy document for age limits, medical exclusions and trip duration. It may be perfectly adequate or have important gaps for your circumstances.
When should I buy a policy?
Cancellation cover starts the moment you take out the policy. Buying as soon as you book a trip is usually wise so that if you have to cancel before travel, you are covered.
What if my claim is refused?
Complain through the insurer's formal process first. If you are not satisfied, the Financial Ombudsman Service can review the complaint free of charge — up to six months from the insurer's final response.