Travel insurance is one of those things you hope never to use — but when you need it, you'll be immensely grateful you have it. The key is knowing what cover matters, what's optional, and what's just padding the premium with features you'll never use.
Non-Negotiable Cover: Medical & Emergency Evacuation
This is the single most important cover. Medical treatment abroad — particularly in the USA — can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. A simple broken leg in the US can result in a £50,000 hospital bill. Serious illness or major accident can reach £200,000+. Emergency evacuation (say, air ambulance from a remote location) can cost £100,000+. This cover is essential. Do not travel without it.
Cancellation & Curtailment Cover: Essential for Expensive Trips
Protects you if illness, bereavement, injury or other covered reasons force you to cancel before departure or cut short your trip. For a £5,000 holiday, this is genuinely valuable. For a budget city break, less critical. The key: declare any pre-existing medical conditions honestly. Failing to do so may void your entire policy.
Baggage & Personal Possessions Cover
Loss of baggage is rare but devastating — covers your belongings if lost, stolen or damaged. Covers a reasonable portion of value, typically £1,000–£2,500. If you're travelling with expensive items, increase cover limits or consider leaving items at home.
Travel Delay & Missed Connections
Covers you for disruption if flights are delayed 12+ hours or you miss connections through delays. Useful, but only if your trip includes tight connections or you're very risk-averse. Many travellers skip this.
What You Can Often Skip (Honestly)
Gadget insurance: Often wildly overpriced and offers poor value. Your home contents insurance may already cover portable electronics abroad. Check your existing policies before buying duplicate cover.
Pet/Rental car cover: Necessary only if applicable. Most people don't need this.
Winter sports cover: Only if you're actively skiing/snowboarding. Standard policies exclude winter sports unless you specifically add it.
The Multi-Trip Alternative
If you travel frequently (3+ trips annually), annual multi-trip insurance offers better value than buying individual policies. Typically £100–£150/year for comprehensive cover versus £15–£30 per trip.
Red Flags to Avoid
- Policies excluding the US (US healthcare is expensive — don't use a policy excluding it)
- Policies with extremely low medical cover limits (under £5 million)
- Policies requiring you to declare pre-existing conditions but offering extremely limited cover for them
- Policies with excessive exclusions for "high-risk" activities (hiking, skiing, etc.)
Bottom line: Medical cover and cancellation cover are essential. Baggage cover is valuable. Everything else is optional. Buy accordingly and don't overpay for features you'll never use.
