Repatriation insurance

Repatriation insurance is part of your travel insurance that gets you back to the UK in an emergency. For example, if you become ill or injured when you're abroad and the country you're visiting can't treat you. Repatriation cover can pay for an air ambulance or transport to get you home. In this guide, we'll look at repatriation insurance, what it covers and what you should look out for on your policy documents.

What does repatriation mean?

Repatriation, in travel insurance terms, means getting you back to the UK because of:

• Illness
• Injury
• Death
• Terrorism
• Political unrest
• Extreme weather

If it's for illness or injury, it's sometimes called medical repatriation. This goes as far as an air ambulance transporting you home to a specifically scheduled flight.

Does travel insurance cover repatriation?

Yes, repatriation insurance is standard on most travel insurance policies, and it pays to get you back to the UK.

When you're buying your travel insurance, make sure you check how much your policy covers you for. Some might have a value limit. Exclusions might apply too. For example, if you have diabetes, you may need a specialist policy or pay more for repatriation insurance.

Do I need repatriation insurance?

Travel insurance isn't a legal requirement for most countries except for some, like Cuba. So repatriation insurance is entirely optional.

None of us like to think about the worst happening, but if it did, would you be able to afford medical care? Or even an emergency flight home? According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) the cost of medical care and an air ambulance could run well into hundreds of thousands of pounds. This is a lot to pay for yourself. Travel insurance can help cover the cost for as little as £2.80¹.

¹The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy. Based on a 30-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling to Spain for 3 nights. Confused.com data - August 2024.

How much repatriation cover do I need?

This depends on a few things, like:

• Where you're going
• If you have any pre-existing conditions

The further you're travelling, the more it might cost to bring you back to the UK. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, then you might have to pay more for your insurance to cover repatriation. Or you might have to get a specialist policy.

How much can repatriation back to the UK cost?

This varies depending on where you are, but it's expensive without repatriation insurance. Take the cost of an air ambulance, for example, here's an estimate of what it could cost to get one from different parts of the world:

• In Europe an air ambulance could cost between £10,000 to £30,000
• From the U.S to the UK it could cost between £50,000 to £100,000
• From Asia or Australia to the UK it could be £150,000 or more

Looking at this in more detail, according to our data, if you are flown home from the Canary Islands for a lung condition it would cost £67,000. This includes treatment for the condition and transport back to the UK.

What does repatriation insurance cover?

Repatriation insurance covers:

• The cost of getting you home - if you need to get home quickly, repatriation insurance can cover the cost of an air ambulance, or a private flight.
• Accommodation costs - if you need to stay somewhere during treatment while you wait for repatriation.
• Organising repatriation - if you have repatriation insurance, your insurer organises your transport home.
• An emergency helpline - most insurers offer a 24/7 emergency assistance helpline.

Does repatriation insurance cover death abroad?

Yes, if you or someone you know dies while abroad, your repatriation insurance should pay to bring their body home. Some insurers might even pay for funeral costs abroad, but you should check your policy.

What won't repatriation insurance cover?

Repatriation insurance doesn't cover:

• Pre-existing medical conditions that you didn't tell your insurer about when you bought the policy.
• Injury or illness because of drugs or alcohol.
• Injuries caused by reckless or illegal behaviour.
• Injuries because of a sport that's not covered by your travel insurance.
• Visiting a country that the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) advises against.
• Death by suicide.

No, EHICs and GHICs (European and Global Health Insurance Cards) don't cover repatriation. You can use it to get the same state-level health care as someone who lives in that country. But it wouldn't cover an air ambulance back to the UK for example.

EHICs and GHICs aren't as comprehensive as travel insurance. For example they don't include repatriation and other things like your baggage. That's why it's worth buying travel insurance even if you already have an EHIC or GHIC.

Who decides if I need to be repatriated?

The medical team in the country you're visiting can tell your insurer if you need repatriation. Usually, your insurer works alongside your medical team so they can work out whether repatriation is necessary.

Repatriation also covers natural disasters, terrorism and political unrest, to name a few other things. Again, your insurer or assistance company usually decides whether they need to sort your transport home or not.

What is 'medically necessary repatriation'?

This means the local medical services can't treat you, so a doctor might decide it's better to fly you home and treat you there.

How do I get travel insurance with repatriation cover?

It should be automatically included in most travel insurance policies. But, check the policy documents before you buy when you get a quote.

• Go to our travel insurance page and click or tap 'get a quote'
• Answer our questions on what type of policy you want, when and where you're travelling, and some other details about yourself
• Then click or tap 'continue' and your quotes will appear

When your prices appear, click or tap more info, where you'll find details of your cover. You'll also find the policy documents, which have more details on repatriation insurance.