Travel Medical Insurance — Emergency Cover That Goes Where You Go

A broken arm in New York. An emergency appendix operation in Bangkok. A cardiac episode in Dubai. Medical treatment abroad can cost tens of thousands of pounds — and without the right cover, you're footing the bill yourself.

Travel medical insurance is the most important type of cover any UK traveller can carry. At CompareSelect, we make it straightforward to find a policy that covers the costs that matter most — so the only thing you need to worry about is getting better.

Travel medical insurance is designed to cover the cost of emergency healthcare when you're outside the UK. Depending on the policy level you choose, cover typically includes:

Emergency medical treatment Hospital visits, GP consultations, surgery, and prescription medication needed as the result of a sudden illness or accident during your trip.

Emergency hospitalisation Inpatient care if you need to be admitted to hospital while abroad, including room, board, nursing care, and treating physician fees.

Medical evacuation and repatriation If you're in a location that can't provide adequate care, a good medical policy covers the cost of transporting you to the nearest suitable hospital — or back to the UK. This alone can cost £20,000–£100,000+ without insurance.

Emergency dental treatment Relief of sudden, acute dental pain and emergency dental repairs are included in most comprehensive plans.

24/7 emergency assistance A multilingual emergency helpline, staffed around the clock, to coordinate your care, communicate with hospitals, and liaise with your family at home.

Accompanying family member expenses If a travelling companion needs to stay by your side during a hospital stay, many policies cover their additional accommodation and travel costs.

The cost of travel medical insurance depends on several factors:

• Destination — the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean typically attract higher premiums due to elevated healthcare costs
• Trip length — longer trips cost more to insure
• Age — premiums rise with age, particularly for travellers over 65
• Pre-existing medical conditions — declared conditions may add to your premium
• Cover level — higher benefit limits and lower excesses mean higher premiums

Rough price guide (single trip, per person):

Prices are indicative and based on a healthy adult under 45 travelling for up to 2 weeks. Your actual quote may vary.

Your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a useful card to carry — but it's not a substitute for travel medical insurance. Here's why:

The GHIC covers you for state-level care in EU countries and a small number of others. The moment you step outside that network — or need a private ambulance, air evacuation, or treatment in the US — you're on your own without insurance.

Our advice: carry both. Your GHIC is free and can reduce your insurer's costs. Your travel medical insurance covers everything the GHIC can't.

One of the most common concerns UK travellers have is whether their existing health conditions will be covered. The short answer: many will be, if you declare them honestly.

Most insurers will ask you a series of screening questions about your medical history. Depending on your conditions and their severity, the insurer may:

• Cover your condition at no extra cost
• Cover it with an additional premium
• Exclude that specific condition while covering everything else
• Decline to offer cover (in which case, specialist providers may help)

Common conditions that are often covered (with declaration): Controlled hypertension, well-managed type 2 diabetes, asthma, anxiety and depression, previous cancer (in remission), and many others.

Important: Never withhold a pre-existing condition to reduce your premium. If you need to claim and the insurer discovers an undisclosed condition, your claim could be voided entirely.

CompareSelect's quote engine asks the relevant medical screening questions and matches you with insurers whose underwriting criteria fit your profile.

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How much medical cover do I actually need?

The answer depends largely on where you're travelling. As a guide:

• Europe: A minimum of £1 million in emergency medical cover is recommended, though £2 million is standard on most good policies.

• USA and Canada: Healthcare costs in North America are extraordinarily high. Look for at least £5 million in emergency medical cover, and ideally £10 million. Many UK insurers offer this as standard on their worldwide plans.

• Rest of world: £2–5 million is generally considered adequate for most destinations.

These figures sound large — but a single serious accident requiring surgery, ICU care, and medical repatriation from the USA can easily exceed £500,000.

Is emergency medical cover included in standard travel insurance? Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include emergency medical cover as standard. However, the cover limits and exclusions vary significantly. When comparing on CompareSelect, we clearly show you the medical cover limit for each policy.

What happens if I need hospital treatment abroad? Call your insurer's 24/7 emergency assistance line as soon as possible — before treatment if you're able to. They will advise you, contact the hospital directly in many cases, and either provide a guarantee of payment to the hospital or arrange for you to pay and be reimbursed later.

Does travel medical insurance cover COVID-19 treatment? Many UK travel insurance policies now include cover for emergency medical treatment if you contract COVID-19 abroad. However, terms vary — some policies require you to be vaccinated; others don't. Our comparison tool highlights which policies include COVID-19 medical cover.

Am I covered for adventure sports and activities? Standard policies typically cover common activities but may exclude higher-risk ones (skiing, scuba diving, mountain biking, etc.) unless you select an appropriate add-on. Always check the activities list before you travel.

Can I buy travel medical insurance for a single trip or annually? Both options are available. If you take more than two or three trips per year, an annual multi-trip policy usually works out better value — and means you're never caught out travelling uninsured.

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