Travel Insurance For UK Holidays

Do I need travel insurance for a holiday in the UK?

Technically? No, you don't legally need UK travel insurance. But, should you still consider buying it? Absolutely.

When planning a holiday nearer to home, it can be easy to think "Do I really need travel insurance?" After all, if you get ill or injured, the NHS has you covered. But, travel insurance can cover so much more than just medical care.

For example, what if your trip gets cancelled last minute, your accommodation falls through, or your luggage goes AWOL while you're out and about? Travel insurance can offer protection for those situations, so you can focus on making the most of your holiday.

Could I be covered by a policy I’ve already taken out?

Yes, you might be!

If you've got annual travel insurance, there's a good chance your UK trip is already included. In fact, 37% of Brits don't realise their annual policy covers UK holidays*. So, before you buy extra insurance, check your annual policy to see what's covered.

Annual policies can cover multiple trips in a year—whether you're heading abroad or enjoying a weekend away closer to home. They can help with things like cancellations, lost bags and other unexpected hiccups.

So, if you love a last minute UK getaway and the occasional holiday abroad, a multi-trip policy can make life easier. No need to sort insurance every time you decide to travel—you'll likely already have cover, wherever you're going.

Did you know? Some paid-for bank accounts include annual travel insurance as part of the package. If that sounds like it might apply to you, check your account—you might already be sorted.

What does travel insurance for the UK cover?

• Cancellation cover. If you can't travel because of unexpected circumstances, your policy could compensate you. For example, like injury, or being called for jury service.
• Lost, damaged or stolen baggage. If your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Usually, policies also cover personal items.
• ABTA and ATOL protection. If you're going on a trip that includes travel by boat, train, or car, you may be covered by ABTA protection. But, if your trip involves flights, you could be covered by ATOL protection.
• Personal liability. If you accidentally damage someone's property or injure them. In this case, you'll be covered financially for legal costs if a claim is made.
• Hospital transfer and benefit. The NHS covers you for medical treatment, but some policies can offer a 'hospital benefit'. This is usually a small amount of money you can use to buy things to make your hospital stay more pleasant.

What isn't covered?

• Incidents involving alcohol and drugs. If illness, injury, or death occurs as a result of alcohol or drugs. In these scenarios, your travel insurance policy won't be valid.
• Medical cover. Your policy won't cover you for medical treatment. This is because any treatment you need will be covered by the NHS.
• If you stay too close to home. If you stay too close to home, it might not be counted as a trip by insurance providers. Check restrictions before you buy a policy to make sure you have cover.
• Extreme sports and activities. If you plan to do high-risk activities and sports, it's likely your standard policy won't cover you. So, you may need to buy a policy add-on, like adventure travel insurance.
• Staying with relatives. If you plan to have a staycation with family, you won't be covered by your UK travel insurance. 

What about travelling with a pre-existing medical condition?

We know that travelling with a pre-existing medical condition can feel a little stressful. The last thing you want is to worry about what happens if you need medical help while you're away.

That's why it's important to declare any pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance for a trip abroad. This ensures you have the right cover in place, so you can focus on enjoying your well-earned break.

But things work a little differently for UK staycations. If you fall ill or get injured during your trip, the NHS will have you covered for any medical treatment you need. Because of this, UK policies don't typically include emergency medical cover.

So, while you might still want to look into coverage options like cancellations or lost luggage—there's no need to worry about medical cover for a UK holiday.

Are the channel islands covered by UK travel insurance?

This depends on your policy!

Some UK travel insurance policies do include trips to the Channel Islands, but not all of them. If this cover is important to you, it's always best to check the details before you buy.

When it comes to medical cover, here's what you need to know:

• Jersey and the Isle of Man: You'll have access to emergency medical treatment under a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. So, you won't need to worry about getting medical coverage.
• Guernsey: Unlike Jersey and the Isle of Man, Guernsey doesn't have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. This means you might need to pay for emergency medical treatment yourself, unless you have a travel insurance policy that covers it.

When you get a travel insurance quote with us, you can specify that you're travelling to Guernsey. We'll show you quotes from providers that offer cover for trips there. Just double-check that medical care is included in your policy, so you're not left out of pocket if you do need treatment.