Compare travel insurance for family holidays

Frequently asked questions

Do I need travel insurance if I have a GHIC/EHIC card?

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Yes, as your GHIC/EHIC card won’t cover you for other areas such as lost luggage, broken valuables, and cancelling your holiday.

GHIC/EHIC cards are helpful for some medical treatment abroad, but they don’t offer the same level of protection as travel insurance. If you needed to be flown back for specialist treatment, your GHIC/EHIC card wouldn’t cover the cost of this.

There are some restrictions on which countries you can use your GHIC or EHIC card. A GHIC card covers all 27 EU countries plus Switzerland and Montenegro. If you have a valid EHIC card, this covers all 27 EU countries, plus Montenegro, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

How do I make a claim on my travel insurance?

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If you need to make a claim on your travel insurance, here’s what you need to do for the best chance to get your claim accepted:

• Keep your policy documents to hand, including your policy number. This makes it much easier when contacting your insurer so they can find your details quickly.
• Contact the local police or relevant authorities if it is related to a crime, so you can get an official report of the incident.
• Get hold of your insurer as soon as possible. This way you can find out if they can confirm whether they’ll cover you for treatment you need before you go ahead with it. In some cases you might have to pay upfront and claim the cost back when you’re home.
• Keep any evidence you have so that you can use them to support your claim, such as medical reports, police reports or receipts.

Do I need travel insurance for holidays in the UK?

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Travel insurance is a good idea for any staycations, or holidays in the UK. While the NHS will cover medical treatment, your travel insurance covers you against other areas such as cancellations.

Most policies will cover UK trips, but conditions will apply. This could include a minimum number of days and the distance from your home. You can check your policy documents for more details.

What does excess mean in travel insurance?

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An excess is the amount you pay when you make a claim on your travel insurance. If you had an excess of £150 and you claimed on your insurance for £500, then the amount your insurer would pay out would be £350. This varies by providers, so always check your policy.

When do I need to buy travel insurance?

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It’s a good idea to take out travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. This means that you’ll be protected for anything that could happen before you go away, such as flight delays or if you have to cancel your holiday.

Can I get travel insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

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If you tell us about your medical condition when applying for your policy, you’ll only see travel insurance policies that can cover your conditions.

Can I get travel insurance if I’m pregnant?

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Pregnancy isn’t classed as a pre-existing medical condition so you should be able to get travel insurance like you normally would. If you have any conditions related to your pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, then it’s important to tell us. This way you’ll get the right cover in case of any unexpected medical treatment you might need on your holiday.

Can I extend my travel insurance?

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Many travel insurers can allow you to extend your travel insurance if your holiday lasts longer than expected. But you’ll need to speak to your insurer who will let you know if it’s possible to extend your travel insurance.

It’s important you tell your provider when you want to change your travel insurance dates before extending your holiday. Providers will still have individual trip limits and will likely ask for additional payments to cover your extended duration.

Can I get travel insurance cover for COVID-19?

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As long as you’re not going to a country that the FCDO advise against travelling to, all of our policies should offer cover for COVID-19. This typically includes:

• Being diagnosed with COVID-19 before departure
• Denied boarding
• Close family relatives or those you live with getting COVID-19
• Family deaths or hospitalisations resulting in ventilation with COVID-19
• Being told to self-isolate (at home and abroad)