# Travel Insurance

> What travel insurance covers, why a GHIC is not a substitute, declaring medical conditions and single-trip versus annual policies.

Canonical page: [/insurance/travel-insurance](/insurance/travel-insurance/) · Last reviewed: 2026-08-22

Travel insurance can cover the cost of medical treatment abroad, cancellation and lost belongings. Here is what to look for and why a health card alone is not enough.

## Key information

- Cover typically includes emergency medical costs, cancellation and lost or stolen belongings
- A UK GHIC or EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance and never covers repatriation
- You must declare pre-existing medical conditions when asked
- Choose single-trip or annual multi-trip cover depending on how often you travel

## What travel insurance covers

A typical policy covers emergency medical treatment and getting you home if you fall ill or are injured abroad, cancelling or cutting short your trip for insured reasons, and loss, theft or damage to your baggage and money. Cover levels and limits vary widely between policies.

The most valuable element is usually the medical cover, because treatment overseas — and the cost of flying you home if needed — can run to very large sums that a health card will not meet.

## A GHIC is not a substitute

A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or older European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives access to state-provided, medically necessary healthcare in the EU and some other countries, often at the same cost as a local resident. It is useful, but it is not the same as travel insurance: it does not cover private treatment, cancellation, lost belongings, or the cost of repatriation to the UK.

The official guidance is to hold both — a GHIC for state healthcare and travel insurance for everything else.

## Declaring medical conditions

When you buy travel insurance you must answer the insurer’s health questions honestly and declare any pre-existing medical conditions it asks about. Failing to do so can mean [a claim is refused](/insurance/complaints-rejected-claims#why-claims-are-rejected). If a mainstream insurer will not cover a condition, there are specialist providers, and a signposting service exists to help people with serious conditions find cover.

## Your rights

- Travel insurance is general insurance and is normally protected at 90% by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if the insurer fails.
- You must take reasonable care to answer the insurer’s questions accurately, including about your health and your trip.
- If a claim is turned down or handled poorly you can complain and escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.

## Official sources

- [Foreign travel insurance (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance)
- [Apply for a free UK GHIC (NHS)](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/)
- [How the FSCS protects insurance](https://www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/insurance/)
- [Financial Ombudsman Service](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk)

## Related

- [Health Insurance](/insurance/health-insurance/)
- [Making a Claim](/insurance/making-a-claim/)
- [Complaints & Rejected Claims](/insurance/complaints-rejected-claims/)
- [FSCS protection explained](/banking-savings/fscs-protection/)
- [Financial Directory](/tools-calculators/financial-directory/)

## Sources

- GOV.UK — [Foreign travel insurance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance) (accessed 2026-08-22)
- NHS — [Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/) (accessed 2026-08-22)
- MoneyHelper — [Travel insurance](https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk) (accessed 2026-08-22)