u k insurance limited travel insurance

U K Insurance Limited

U K Insurance Limited (UKI) was established in 1974 and is an insurer that underwrites policies for many well-known brands. It provides cover for motor, breakdown, home, pet and travel products.

U K Insurance Business Solutions Limited (UKIBS) is a company in the same group that introduces customers to UKI brands for insurance and other products and services.

We’re committed to protecting your privacy and recognise our responsibility to keep personal information confidential and safe at all times.

How we use your information

Click on the options below to see a summary of the key things we think you may want to know about how your information is stored and used. To see the full details, just click on the Full Privacy Notice button at the bottom of the page.

When you ask us for a quote we check your details against our own and third party databases. We do this to be able to assess the risk in us insuring you. Some of the things we check are for fraud and money laundering and also your identity and credit status.

The credit checks we complete at this time are only visible to you and the credit reference agency. They have no impact on your credit score and the agency will be responsible for deleting the information on expiry.

We also check industry shared databases to confirm claims information and obtain things like No Claim Discount entitlement on your behalf.

We keep quotes for the quote validity period plus 30 days. We will not delete quotes prior to this time even if you ask us to, as we need to keep them to meet our legal and regulatory obligations. We may keep it longer if we have a legal requirement to.

While you hold an insurance policy with us, we’ll use your information to service and maintain it.

This will include sending you information relating to your policy, such as policy documents, and information relating to the product you hold with us, such as new associated services.

If you pay by installments we may share payment history with a credit reference agency, which will be visible to other lenders and credit providers. If you or anyone that pays your premium fails to keep up payments, it will be your credit rating that is affected. If you default on payments we may share your information with Debt Collection Agencies to collect outstanding balance.

We also collect and profile data to help us improve our products and services. If you want us to stop doing this we will be unable to provide you with a policy.

We will share information with third parties that we ask to help us deal with your claim, but we never sell our customer information to any other company.

We will always ask you before we collect or share any personal sensitive information such as medical information, unless it’s a life and death situation where we will always act in the best interests of the individual.

We will share information about your claim with other insurers and place information on industry shared databases that help prevent fraud and improve services.

As we provide you a new quote at renewal we complete many of the third party checks we do when you first take a policy with us.

This includes requesting information from credit reference agencies, which helps us decide if we want to offer you installments or allow you to continue to pay by this method. This will be visible on your credit file.

If you don’t renew your policy or you or we cancel it during the policy year, we will keep the information in line with our legal and regulatory requirements. This is for a minimum of 6 years after this date.

During this time we will use the information to manage any on going claims and share with third parties to meet our legal obligations, such as providing details to the police or other law enforcement agencies.

We will also use the information to improve our products and services.

If you are insured with us we will send you communications relating to your policy, such as contractual documents and product information. These are part of the policy and we must provide them to you.

We may also send you communications that we feel are in both your and our best interest, these include surveys, pilots for new services and postal marketing. You have the right to request that we stop sending these to you, so we will always provide you with information on how to do this within the communication, usually a simple click on the email or a return address on envelopes.

Marketing from U K Insurance Limited will only be from one of our own brands which are Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege and Green Flag and you can ask us to stop at any time. Explanation on how to do this will be detailed on the communication.

Get the full details

Brands owned by uki.

Use the button below if you’re a Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege, Green Flag customer, and want more details on how we use your information.

NIG – UKI’s Commercial Brand

UKI also owns the NIG brand which provides a wide range of Commercial insurance products. These policies are sold through a network of independent insurance brokers. Use the button below to see how we use your information.

Green Flag Booking Service

Use the button below if you’re a Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege, Green Flag customer, and want more details on how we use your information for the Green Flag Booking Service.

UKI Partner Brands

UKI underwrite insurance products for a number of well-known brands. We have individual relationships with these companies and your information is only ever shared with the one you contact us through.

Please click on the brand to see the relevant Privacy Notice

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Travel insurance

Travel insurance for UK trips

Amy Fontinelle

Alyce Meserve

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Heidi Gollub

Published 5:00 a.m. UTC Aug. 14, 2024

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• Travel insurance for a U.K. trip can be indispensable if you need serious emergency medical care while traveling.
• A standalone travel insurance plan can offer more comprehensive benefits and higher limits than your credit card or a travel provider’s plan.
• Buying a policy shortly after booking your trip will give you the best protection against trip cancellation and interruption.

Visiting the United Kingdom as an American can be a pricey proposition. Not only will you be flying overseas, but the exchange rate is perpetually unfavorable. If you have a U.K. trip on the horizon, you may want to purchase travel insurance to protect yourself against financial losses due to unforeseen events that could affect your trip.

Key benefits of having travel insurance for the U.K. 

Whether you’re visiting England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you’ll face some different risks than you would at home in the U.S.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy can help. It bundles together several types of coverage, including:

• Trip cancellation insurance .
• Trip delay insurance .
• Trip interruption insurance .
• Baggage insurance .
• Travel medical insurance .
• Emergency evacuation insurance .

Here are some ways U.K. travel insurance can protect you financially, as well as where it may fall short.

Trip cancellation insurance

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for what you’ve spent on prepaid, nonrefundable plane fare, accommodations, tours and other travel expenses, as long as you’re canceling your trip for a reason listed in your policy. These covered reasons could include you getting sick or injured, your employer requiring you to work after granting time off or a blizzard canceling flights before you leave.

You must buy your policy well in advance to take full advantage of these benefits, however.

“If you wait until there’s an event impacting the destination, such as a severe winter storm, it’s then too late to buy travel insurance and your prepaid expenses won’t be covered,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA.

Delays on your U.K. trip

Travel delay insurance helps if you’ve started your trip and encounter flight delays or cancellations. It can’t rescue you from the hell of being trapped on the tarmac for hours, but it can provide other helpful benefits.

“Travel delay coverage may help cover the cost of rerouting you to your final destination, or can provide meals and accommodations while you wait,” Durazo said.

While U.K. law and Article 19 of the Montreal Convention do entitle passengers to benefits under certain circumstances, the coverage provided by travel insurance is typically broader.

For example, travel insurance would reimburse you for prepaid expenses such as a hotel night you can’t use or a tour you can’t go on because of the delay. It would reimburse losses from delays unrelated to air travel.

Tackling trip interruption

Depending on the travel insurance policy, trip interruption coverage can reimburse 100% to 200% of your nonrefundable prepaid costs if something goes wrong after you depart or if you have to join your trip late for a covered reason. These reasons may include a natural disaster at your destination, a terrorist attack, a strike or a family member’s unexpected illness (even if they aren’t traveling with you).

Dealing with lost bags and stolen belongings

If your luggage or personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip, travel insurance can reimburse you for your losses. But baggage insurance is typically secondary coverage, so you’ll need to seek reimbursement from a common carrier, such as the airline that lost your bag, before turning to your travel insurance for help.

If you experience a baggage loss while traveling, read your policy and follow the steps your insurer requires. These might include notifying the airline that your bag is missing or reporting stolen items to the local authorities.

Handling medical bills in the U.K.

How important is it to have travel medical insurance , included in a comprehensive travel insurance policy, when visiting the U.K.? You might think you could just use your U.S. health insurance or the U.K.’s free universal healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS) if you had a problem, but this could be a costly assumption.

“Many domestic health insurance plans don’t cover medical expenses abroad, and some foreign medical facilities and providers may even require a cash payment up front and often do not accept U.S. insurance plans,” Durazo said.

For example, American visitors to England must pay upfront for most types of medical treatment, and the cost is 150% of standard NHS rates. In March 2022, a long hospital stay could have cost you more than ￡4,400 (about $5,586).

Medicare generally does not cover international health care. However, some Medigap supplement plans do, so check your existing coverage and see how it compares to what trip insurance offers. Travel medical insurance can offer incredible value for your money, with features like no deductible and 100% coverage up to $1 million for a few dollars per day.

Evacuation for serious medical issues

Should you require a medical flight to get the care you need while visiting the U.K., the money you spent on travel insurance could save your life. It could allow you to recover without the stress of exorbitant evacuation and repatriation bills.

Look for a travel insurance plan that will pay to fly you back home — not just to the nearest “capable” hospital, which may not be your best option for treatment. Even if your U.S. health insurance works abroad, it may not include this coverage.

Travel Insured

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Top-scoring plan

Worldwide Trip Protector

Covers COVID?

Medical & evacuation limits per person

$100,000/$1 million

Atlas Journey Preferred

Seven Corners

RoundTrip Basic

$500,000/$1 million

What is the cost of U.K. travel insurance?

Travel insurance for a U.K. trip will cost about 5% to 6% of the total of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. However, other factors, such as the ages of travelers and the length of your trip, will also impact the price. For instance, the average cost of U.K. travel insurance for a family of four (ages 40, 40, 10 and 7) taking a 17-day, $15,000 trip is $629. But if you’re taking a shorter, cheaper trip with fewer travelers, you’ll likely be able to find cheaper travel insurance .

Tips for choosing the right U.K. travel insurance

Many companies offer travel insurance, and the selection can feel overwhelming — especially if you’ve never bought this type of coverage before. These tips can help you choose the right company and plan.

Understand your risks

“One mistake travelers can make is assuming their domestic health insurance will cover them no matter where they are in the world,” Durazo said. In many cases, this isn’t true.

It’s also common to assume that your credit card provides all the travel insurance you might need.

Standalone travel plans tend to be more comprehensive. They may also have higher limits and shorter waiting periods for time-sensitive benefits.

Comparison shop

Coverage limits and exclusions vary by provider and by plan. Also, more expensive plans aren’t always better. Comparison sites can help you quickly understand the differences among plans.

Read the policy

Don’t just read the coverage summary. It’s important to understand the fine print and whether you’re financially protected against the risks you’re concerned about.

Travel insurance comparison sites often make it easy to review the full policy (sometimes called a plan certificate) before you buy. And most companies offer a “free look” period after you buy a policy, so you have time to request a refund if you read through it and decide it doesn’t provide adequate coverage.

The policy will also show you which insurer actually provides the coverage—it might be different from the company selling you the travel insurance plan. Check the underwriting insurer’s financial strength rating to make sure they’ll be around to reimburse you if you need to file a claim.

Evaluate travel insurance reviews

It can be tricky to tell real, unbiased reviews from fake or paid reviews. But if you read enough of them, you’ll likely get a sense of which reviews are more likely to be trustworthy and which companies have the best reputations. Keep in mind, bad reviews are often the result of customer misunderstandings regarding coverage.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The U.K. doesn’t require U.S. visitors to carry travel insurance for stays of six months or less. Still, it’s a good idea to at least buy travel medical insurance if your U.S. health insurance doesn’t offer comprehensive coverage, including medical evacuation coverage, abroad. With the U.K. being made up of islands, it could be challenging to get the care you would need in an emergency without a medical flight.

Decide if trip protection is right for you: Is travel insurance worth it?  

A travel insurance policy for a trip to the U.K. will typically cover not only travel medical expenses but also trip cancelation, delay and interruption; lost or delayed baggage and emergency evacuation.

See what coverage is included: What does travel insurance cover?

Maybe. Some domestic health insurance plans might cover you in the U.K. Review your summary plan description for details, or ask your insurer for a letter explaining your out-of-country benefits. Medicare typically does not cover health care for Americans outside of the U.S. 

If your U.S. plan includes international coverage, see how it compares to the benefits available through a travel insurance plan. If you buy travel insurance with primary coverage for emergency medical benefits, you won’t have to file a claim with your U.S. health insurance company first.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience helping people make informed decisions about their money, whether they’re refinancing a mortgage, buying insurance or choosing a credit card. As a freelance writer trained in journalism and specializing in personal finance, Amy digs into the details to explain the products and strategies that can help (or hurt) people seeking greater financial security and wealth. Her work has been published by Forbes Advisor, Capital One, MassMutual, Investopedia and many other outlets.

Alyce Meserve is an experienced insurance, personal finance and travel writer. Alyce is a licensed insurance professional in life, health and property and casualty, and holds an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duke University.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Travel Insurance

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Churchill Travel Insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited who are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Financial Services Register number: 202810. To view visit www.fca.org.uk

Tell us about yourself

• Have suffered or are suffering from a heart- or cancer-related condition.
• Have received medical advice or treatment or been prescribed medication (whether or not it was taken) in the last 12 months, including repeat prescriptions.
• Are awaiting medical investigation, awaiting a diagnosis, receiving treatment or awaiting treatment.
• Cross-country skiing (on recognised tracks)
• Dry slope skiing or snowboarding
• Skiing or Snowboarding (on piste, or off piste with a qualified guide)
• Snowmobiling, ski-dooing or ski-bobbing
• Snow shoeing
• Tobogganing
• Any hazardous activity unless we have specifically agreed to it in writing
• Any activity you do as a professional, or in a race or competition
• Any activity carried out against local warnings or advice
• Any activity if it is not carried out in a safe way
• Any activity if you act irresponsibly or put yourself in needless danger
• Certain activities if the activity is the sole purpose of your trip

We will use your information to assess your insurance application and the terms on which cover may be offered. We may exchange your information with other insurers, reinsurers or other carefully selected third parties in order to manage your policy and offer you the best possible service. We will also obtain information about you from credit reference agencies to check your credit status and identity. The agencies record our enquiries but your credit standing will not be affected.

Churchill insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited (UKI). The information you give us may be used by owned brands within UKI to submit to and check your details with fraud prevention agencies and other organisations. If you provide false or inaccurate information, we will record this. We and other organisations may use and search these records to prevent fraud and money laundering.

If you would like full details on how we will use your information, please refer to our

Important information

• Everyone insured under the policy is a resident of the United Kingdom
• Cover is only available for trips that haven't yet started when cover is purchased, and that both start and end in the United Kingdom
• There are no known reasons why anyone would need to cancel or curtail the journey
• Nobody insured under this policy has had any insurance cancelled or declared void by an insurer
• They have been prescribed medication whether taking it or not
• They have been referred to, treated by, or put under the care of a Healthcare Specialist. (For example a general practitioner, Hospital specialist or consultant or any other healthcare practitioner including physiotherapist or osteopath)
• They are awaiting any treatment or the results of any tests or investigations whether diagnosed or not
• They have a condition with a direct or indirect link to cancer; or
• They have any circulatory or heart problems
• Nobody to be insured under this policy has a close relative or travelling companion suffering from a medical condition which has caused them to have been hospitalised in the last 12 months or be put on a waiting list for hospital treatment
• Accessibility
• Telematics privacy

©1999-2022 U K Insurance Limited

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited. Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ Registered in England and Wales No.1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registration number 202810. The Financial Services Register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk .

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Reviews 1.9.

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I will never use UK Insurance again.

I receive travel insurance as part of my monthly account subscription with my bank, Nationwide. The travel insurance is provided by UK Insurance. I recently travelled and phoned UK Insurance to add 2 young adult family members with no medical conditions to the policy for our ten day trip. It was basically a rip off. The amount they charged me would have bought an annual stand alone policy with better benefits with a different company. Thankfully Nationwide are not using UK Insurance from October. I will never use UK Insurance for anything else in future.

Date of experience : 10 July 2024

Staff are ALL under trained or just…

Staff are ALL under trained or just don't give a damn. Promises of call backs, emails, ect that never happen. Agents won't direct you or connect you to the correct line if you've ended up on the wrong one. I have been dealing with one customer service agent (James) who will tell you whatever you want to hear to placate you and get you off the phone. Trying to get money rightfully owed back to you is damn near an impossibility. Looks like the only way to get anything done with them is to go to the ombudsman

Date of experience : 17 May 2024

One of worst insurance you will ever…

One of worst insurance you will ever come across, absolute useless company and some of the staffs are rude, not friendly. I took travel insurance they said it covers baggage damages and my baggage was damaged during transit, one suitacase one of the wheel is missing and another one is cracked. They replied stating this can be repairs therefore its not covered. Ofcourse any or most damages can be repaird but it will cost fortune which is why people take out the insurance. Absolute disagrace!!!!!

Date of experience : 22 March 2024

this company auto renews and does not…

this company auto renews and does not email or posts and then lives bad credit on your credit profile i have stopped using this insurance company but they have not cancelled the policy beware its a scam company using worst commercial techniques.Just found out they are leaving negative credit report

Date of experience : 24 March 2024

As part of Natwest Insurance these guys…

As part of Natwest Insurance these guys are terrible. Conveyancer missed the issue, refused to come put again and legal were interested in just closing the case. Awful way to treat 20 plus year customer.

Date of experience : 14 May 2024

Excellent help with complicated house insurance

UKInsurance have given us excellent service. We insure our house with them. Every member of staff we have spoken to over our very complicated insurance needs has been friendly, helpful, speedy and very efficient. They always go to great lengths to find an insurance company who will cover us. We could not be more delighted with UK Insurance and certainly will keep renewing our house insurance through this broker.

Date of experience : 24 March 2020

Our experience so far has been very…

Our experience so far has been very positive I had pre existing conditions which were covered with this company via our flexpus account for a fraction of what we would have paid elsewhere. When I notified them of a recent flare up with oine of my conditions I expected a vast increase or a "no we wont insure" thankfully neither was the case and I still have cover (though with a bit of extra cost) for my forthcoming trips

Date of experience : 06 February 2024

Overrated & False

Direct Line were quick to grab my money but weren’t that helpful when I made a query about something which seemed contradictory to what was said. This was back around 2003 and I’ve seen how they are connected to the RBS group and premiums they have offered are excessive. The premium for my car was over twice the dearest of all others. I sniff greed here and while some customers give it top rating, that makes no difference to me as they have that money-grabbing mentality as well as looking to give customers false security and making innocent customers victims. I play the fool sometimes to see how they try to pull the wool over my eyes, but I am not going to let them fleece me. The overall picture I have is “avoid them”.

Date of experience : 23 February 2024

See Laura Rush's review mine is almost…

See Laura Rush's review mine is almost identical. ByMiles are UKinsurance's broker, they do not help in anyway at all, like Laura I have been put through to other companies like Aviva and spent hours trying to get put through to UK insurance. Once through everything with very disjointed I felt like I was being pushed from one to the other. My car has been in the repair shop for over 2 months now waiting for a simple headlamp and when I ask how long is acceptable to wait I am repeatedly told it takes as long as it takes. I asked if I could have a 2nd hand part in place until a new one was available and was told No as this would PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER??? it's flipping headlamp not the brakes!! I will not be renewing with ByMiles as I do not want to renew with UK Insurance and I will source an insurance company who do not use a Broker in future and I will definitely look up the reviews first...........

Date of experience : 12 February 2024

Natitionwide Flex plus insurance

Absolute con merchants which Nationwide peddle with their flex plus currents accounts. Try making a claim and they will just keep asking you questions via email and everytime you answer them they send another series of questions and push you to the point of giving up and stressing you out for a claim which is so simple. Avoid and pay a bit more or do your research and get an honest company to cover you.

Date of experience : 17 October 2020

DO NOT TOUCH THEM WOTH A BARGE POLE IF…

DO NOT TOUCH THEM WOTH A BARGE POLE IF YOUR’E A NATWEST CUSTOMER UNLESS YOU WANT ONE OF THEIR STAFF TO SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ON! These are the underwriters of all NatWest Insurance. A manager of U.K. Insurance openly admitted that someone has toggled my marketing to off allowing them to sell my information to whomever they like, breaching GDPR regulations.

Date of experience : 28 June 2023

Completely pointless travel insurance…

Completely pointless travel insurance product through Nationwide. My one star rating is generous. My flight was cancelled two hours before it was due to leave and the replacement I was offered was a week later. I booked a hotel and train travel home for the next day yet they won't accept my claim for any of this. The travel insurance is the only reason I have a platinum account.

Date of experience : 28 October 2023

VERY poor service

I took out insurance on property under offer and said I was expecting sale to go through in a matter of days I was told just to get in touch when sale went through to cancel It has proved impossible to get through to discuss this only answer machine message saying leave a message and someone will ring back Left 3 messages NO CALL BACK! Sent 3 e mails NO REPLY! Very poor service would not recommend you use this company !

Date of experience : 17 May 2021

Their customer contact number is…

Their customer contact number is unreachable. Tried twice and was left holding for 20 and then 30 minutes before I gave up. If so busy, simply train and employ more staff. They take your money and give poor service in return. Dont bother and look elsewhere.

Date of experience : 29 November 2023

Overall pleased with the service

This is via Nationwide current account. Had some travel insurance claims and although it was a bit slow (which I put down to covid), when I did speak to somebody they were very good and helpful. Overall am pleased with the service although I now note that they no longer cover claims relating to covid!

Date of experience : 17 July 2020

Absolutely awful

Absolutely awful. Don't answer the phone. Claim 22nd March 2022. Advised they'd pay 4 weeks ago - nothing! 2 complaints and no answer. Check they are not underwriting your policy! Mine is via Nationwide who are equally inept.

Date of experience : 08 June 2022

We finished up going to the ombudsman…

We finished up going to the ombudsman about this company. We won our case. It took nearly a year to get our money back. Not customer focused at all. An absolute disgrace. Avoid at all costs

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

They lied, Bad company ,pure costumer service they can collect the information right, I make claim 2018, after that they tried to find the reason to not pay the claim, they cancel my insurance because they say I was lied where I am working, I did missed any payment. After they report me for fraud of lied of information on police it’s the worst insurance I ever had. I will take him to the court. Don’t recommend any one.

Date of experience : 09 May 2021

Made a claim for quarantine hotel as…

Made a claim for quarantine hotel as caught covid in Berlin. They would not cover food costs as charged by hotel but I could not leave the room for 6 days nor order in. The food was integral to the package. And inedible btw. Also took ages / time and effort - 94 pieces of evidence uploaded - every five days asked for more then took 5 days to process it. Anyway, cancelled my £13 pm flex plus account. Will find a better insurer.

Date of experience : 14 December 2021

We ended up stuck abroad after Ryanair…

We ended up stuck abroad after Ryanair cancelled our return flight to Scotland. We had Flexplus travel Insurance through UK Insurance, and needed to extend the cover for a longer period. They were extremely helpful, especially Hugo Bozzoni, the repatriation consultant, who was very patient, and thorough exploring all options to get us home. Eventually they succeeded in getting us a flight back to Luton, from where we drove back to Scotland. They refunded the hire car costs within a week of my submitting the claim. All in all an excellent service I cannot recommend them highly enough, they were so helpful during what turned out to be a worrying and stressful few weeks.

Date of experience : 01 April 2021

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Travel Insurance for USA to UK (2024)

with our partner, Faye

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Sabrina Lopez is a senior editor with over seven years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products and personal finance. When she’s not working, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and their two parrots.

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best travel insurance companies

The United Kingdom is one of the world’s most popular countries for tourism. It welcomed more than 40 million visitors in each of the three years before the coronavirus pandemic. The U.K.’s four Home Nations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) feature quaint villages and cosmopolitan cities, accessible natural areas, adventure and winter sports and historical attractions.

The top destinations are well-connected by road and rail, and the use of English makes the U.K. accessible to tourists from the U.S.

Although the U.K. is user-friendly and can be an ideal introduction to international travel, trips there are not without risks. According to the U.S. State Department , petty crime, muggings, traffic accidents and adventure sports injuries are common hazards. As of October 2022, the State Department also issued a Level 2 travel advisory due to the potential of terrorist attacks. Also, though the U.K. has an excellent healthcare system, tourists and short-term visitors must pay for care out of pocket.

Compare UK Travel Insurance Companies

Do i need travel insurance for u.k travel.

The U.K. does not require U.S. citizens to have travel insurance when they visit. However, coverage can be beneficial for several reasons.

First, a comprehensive or medical emergency policy can pay healthcare expenses if you are injured or ill in the U.K. According to the State Department, tourists may have to pay 150% of the cost of medical treatment received through the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS). A travel policy can limit these out-of-pocket costs.

Also, trip insurance lets you engage in sports activities, such as a trek, cycle, ski or snowboard adventure without worrying about affording injury treatment.

While weather-related problems and natural disasters are relatively rare in the U.K., cancellation insurance could be a good idea. Your trip represents a significant investment, and this coverage can reimburse you for the cost of a transatlantic flight and hotel or holiday rental reservations in the event of a cancellation.

Finally, in 2022, there were 75.88 crimes per 1,000 people in the U.K. and 2.6 million of these crimes involved theft. Insurance can cover the cost of valuables that thieves often target in the U.K.

Even if you do not use your insurance, it will provide peace of mind by covering problems that would otherwise ruin your trip.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

A standard travel cancellation insurance policy reimburses you if your trip plans get derailed by circumstances beyond your control. For example, if you cannot travel due to an injury, or a flood occurs in your chosen U.K. destination, the insurance will pay for your trip. These policies have exclusions limiting coverage for cancellations that aren’t beyond your control.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage lets you cancel your trip even if the circumstances are not beyond your control. If scheduling conflicts arise, such as a wedding or a change in relationship status with your travel partners, you can use CFAR to cover the cost of your trip.

Some tourists may not need this type of coverage. However, groups or people booking well in advance may want to consider CFAR coverage to protect against potential scheduling conflicts.

Gear Theft Protection

In the U.K. and throughout Europe, petty theft is the biggest crime risk for most travelers. Insurance can protect against the loss of a wallet, gadget or device. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include some theft protection for your personal belongings or offer coverage as one of the optional extras.

You should always check the limits of theft protection on your policy documents. Some insurers only have a few hundred dollars of coverage. While this may be enough to replace a stolen phone, it usually isn’t sufficient for expensive devices or valuable sports equipment.

You should make sure the policy has high enough limits to protect your valuables and purchase additional coverage if needed.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

As the U.S. State Department points out, tourists in the U.K. need to pay for any medical services out of pocket and could have additional fees adding 50% to the bill. Though the U.K. does not mandate travel medical coverage, the additional medical costs are a way to strongly encourage visitors to opt for insurance covering medical care.

Travel insurance for medical emergencies is available as a stand-alone product or as part of a comprehensive single-trip policy. Frequent travelers can also get an annual multi-trip policy to pay out for emergency medical expenses.

Most travel medical coverage also includes evacuation and repatriation. These add-ons can cover the cost of a flight back to the U.S. if you require long-term medical care or pass away during your trip.

In a few cases, this coverage may be unnecessary. If you have a European Health Insurance Card, you can access care through the NHS in the U.K. Some U.S.-based insurers may cover medically-necessary care for you or a qualifying family member when traveling abroad. Check your policy documents or inquire about coverage before you leave.

If you purchase insurance, you should look closely at the policy wording to see if it covers pre-existing medical conditions.

Rental Car Protection

All drivers in the U.K. must have third-party auto insurance to cover the cost of damage and accidents. Because of the requirement, car insurance is included in the vehicle rental fees. U.S. auto insurance policies usually do not extend to the U.K., though some premium credit cards offer coverage if you use them to pay the rental costs.

Depending on your travel plans, you might consider getting your own third-party auto insurance or purchasing a comprehensive policy that includes rental protection.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation cover offers reimbursement if your vacation gets canceled due to events beyond your control. If you have a single-trip travel insurance policy , it will pay out if you can’t go on your trip. Acceptable reasons for not traveling include an accident or unexpected illness, jury duty, military service or a death in the family.

Coverage may or may not extend to illnesses caused by pre-existing conditions. However, cancellation policies reimburse you for trips canceled due to unexpected events, like a natural disaster in the U.K.

Most cancellation policies get paired with travel disruption insurance. These policies pay expenses during any delays you experience and cover the costs necessary to get your back on your itinerary.

Because of the expense of transatlantic travel, cancellation insurance is usually a good investment. It can be especially useful if your trip has multiple legs. For example, if the itinerary has a flight and a cruise, you have an increased chance of a delay or cancellation of one leg interfering with subsequent legs.

What is the average cost of travel insurance for the U.K?

According to our analysis of five providers, the average cost of travel insurance for the U.K. is $93 or £74.

Rather than focusing strictly on price, you should look at limits, deductibles, and maximum coverage amounts. Cheap travel insurance options may have lower maximum payouts, so you should review the policy details before purchasing.

Comprehensive coverage with a medical emergency, evacuation, lost baggage , gear theft, cancellation and interruption coverage is often the most convenient option for travelers going to the U.K.

We requested quotes from ten travel insurance companies for their most affordable plan for a trip to UK. The below quotes are for a 30-year-old traveler from Florida, traveling to UK for ten days in September 2024, with a total trip cost of $4,000. Policies include coverage for cancellations, interruptions, delays, medical care and evacuation.

These quotes were collected in April 2024 for a trip in September 2024.

Long-term travelers, such as businesspeople or backpacker-style travelers , may want a travel insurance quote for an annual or multi-trip policy. Annual travel insurance often focuses more on medical costs and emergencies and may have limited options for trip cancellation.

You can gain more insights into the costs of travel insurance here: How Much Is Travel Insurance?

How Do I Get Travel Insurance for the U.K.?

All major travel insurance providers offer policies for U.K. travel, allowing you to select the option with the level of coverage you need.

The key to selecting the right travel insurance is limiting redundancies . For example, if you book your vacation with a credit card offering cancellation insurance, you do not need to purchase a policy from an insurer. However, you would still need medical and evacuation coverage .

Medical-only policies are cheaper than comprehensive coverage, saving you money overall.

If you need additional coverage, such as car rental protection, you can add it on its own.

U.K. Safety Tips

Travel insurance coverage can protect you from the unexpected, but fundamental safety practices can limit the dangers of travel in the U.K.

Crime and Safety

The State Department puts the U.K. on a Level 1 travel advisory, meaning it is safe to travel if you take common-sense steps. The U.K. sometimes has Level 2 advisories due to an increased threat of terrorism.

Violent crime does occur in the U.K., but you can limit dangers by staying in crowded, well-lit areas, avoiding unfamiliar places at night and following advice from trusted locals.

According to the U.S. State Department, the crimes you are most likely to encounter are pickpocketing, bag snatching or muggings. You can leave valuables at your hotel, carry them in zippered pockets or use a money belt or interior pockets to carry money and travel documents.

Day Trips, Tours, and Excursions

The level of coverage you need depends on the activities you plan to engage in during your trip. For example, if you spend time skiing in Scotland or mountain biking in Wales, you may consider adventure or winter sports coverage.

You should always work with reputable outfitters and guides when engaging in these activities. Luckily, the U.K. has a wealth of information about activities, and dangerous areas are marked.

The U.K. has ended all coronavirus-related restrictions and requirements. You do not need to show test results or vaccination status or prove essential travel when entering the country.

Is Travel Insurance for a U.K. Vacation Worth It?

Because of the cost of transatlantic travel and healthcare in the U.K., travel insurance is worth it . A good insurance policy can give you peace of mind and let you focus on enjoying your stay instead of worrying about potential medical costs or trip delays. We recommend getting quotes from a few different providers to make sure you get the coverage you need at the best price.

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance in the U.K.

How do i claim compensation for cancellations in the u.k..

U.K. law requires airlines to reschedule passengers after cancellation and provide food, accommodations and transport if necessary. In some cases, you will pay for your lodging or food but can apply for reasonable compensation later.

Agencies like the Financial Conduct Authority regulate the activities of service providers in the U.K. These firms ensure fair treatment of consumers.

Can I use my U.S. health insurance in the U.K.?

U.S. travelers cannot access the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) that U.K. residents can use to get care in Europe. If you have annual multi-trip coverage, you may not need additional single-trip medical insurance. However, if you do not, you should purchase coverage to avoid paying expensive healthcare costs out of pocket.

Can I get travel insurance when I am already traveling?

You can purchase travel insurance while you are already on your trip. However, it may not cover events occurring before the policy took effect. For example, if you are already ill, a new policy may not cover the cost of treatment. Many insurers have a 72-hour waiting period before the insurance takes effect.

When does travel insurance coverage start?

Technically, coverage starts on your departure date. However, it can account for events occurring after the purchase date but before departure, if they lead to trip cancellation.

For instance, if you are in an accident two weeks before your trip and are unable to travel because you are still recovering, insurance will reimburse you. However, if you recover before departure, you will not receive compensation.

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides. com .

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The compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear, but it does not influence the recommendations the editorial team provides. Not all companies, products, or offers were reviewed.

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Free Spirit

Medical Travel Insurance With No Age Limits

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What You Need to Know About Travel Insurance Claims

Travel insurance claims and the stories behind them usually appear in the media when a traveler comes into difficulty after setting out without suitable insurance.

These stories make it clear how vital it is to ensure we have suitable insurance to cover a trip.

Are you aware of the types of things that can invalidate a travel insurance claim?

To assist, we’ve provided an insight into our claims process from start to finish. We’ll cover what you need to include on your claims form and what may affect it before sending it off. We also have some insider tips to share – so if you ever need to make a claim, it will assist in avoiding unnecessary delays and communication.

Will my travel insurance claim’s history affect the price of my policy?

No. It’s not like car insurance. When you purchase a travel insurance policy from the same or a different insurance company, we don’t request information about any previous travel insurance claims.

If you take out travel insurance regularly you may notice that the price of your policy can go up, which is primarily due to the number of claims and their value that an insurer has received when compared to the premium received.

Recently, due to the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic, the cost of overseas medical claims has increased, leading to a significant rise in premiums.

What types of claims can I make?

If you refer to our Free Spirit Travel Insurance Policy , under each section, you can see what the cover limits are and what travel insurance claims you can make if you’re insured on the policy.

When taking out a quality travel insurance policy, you should be able to claim for the following:

• Cancellation or cutting short your trip.
• Delayed flights, missed departures, or connections.
• Medical expenses.
• Loss of Baggage, Personal Money and documents.
• Claims on gadgets.

Also, before purchasing any travel insurance policy, pay particular attention to what it won’t cover by referring to the benefits, exclusions, coverage limits plus any required waiting times under trip or baggage delay.

If you require a greater range of cover or cover for an activity not included in a Free Spirit policy, contact our team who can suggest a suitable policy for your trip.

Is there a time limit on making a travel insurance claim?

Some policies require you to claim within 48 hours of returning home. Be sure to check the time limit for making a claim by reading your policy post-purchase. Also, it’s advisable to keep all receipts and reports as you might need to submit this as evidence with your claim form.

How do I claim my travel insurance?

Free spirit’s claims process.

• Visit Free Spirit’s making a claim page.
• Download and print the right claims form.
• Complete your claim form in full.
• Identify and locate the correct documents you’ll need to send to the claims handler.
• Send the correct documents and form to the relevant address.

Our Free Spirit policy has two Claims Handlers you’ll need to contact.

• Roger Rich & Company looks after most claims. These include medical, cancellation claims and more (Cover Sections A-M).
• The Bastion Davis Group manages the gadget claims.

What happens when the form reaches the Claims Handler?

• Additional information may be requested from you in support of your claim.
• A claim will either be paid in accordance with policy terms or declined.

What information do I need to provide a Claims Handler?

The information you need to provide will depend on the type of claim you wish to make. Providing as much information as possible will help to speed up the claims process.

Cancellation claims require:

• A cancellation invoice to illustrate that the trip was cancelled or cut short. This could come from your travel agent, hotel, airline, or tour operator.
• Evidence of any refund or credit, that the supplier has given you as part of your reimbursement .

Quite often, the supplier may refund a portion of your costs. However, your insurer needs to see evidence of what the supplier has (or hasn’t) refunded you.

Medical claims require:

• All receipts and/or invoices for medical expenses.
• Your medical certification.

If you need medical treatment, contact your 24-hour Medical Assistance Company as detailed in the policy immediately to ensure they’re happy to cover the treatment and you are getting treatment from the appropriate facility.

All claims require:

• Evidence that the trip took place to confirm all costs, this includes the trip booking.
• All receipts and/or invoices that relate to the claim.
• The travel insurance policy schedule (single or annual) will provide the date the trip started and finished.

What can cause a travel insurance claim to be declined?

1. non-disclosure..

Which is industry jargon for not telling us all the information we have asked for. This is especially important when it comes to providing details of any existing medical conditions.

2. Not being able to provide evidence of the loss.

For example, if you have lost your luggage during your trip and you have not logged this with the relevant authorities/airline.

3. Travelling to a destination not covered by your policy.

For instance, if you buy a policy to cover Worldwide destinations excluding the USA, Canada etc, an insurer will not pay a claim if you travel to a destination outside of this geographical area. The exception to this is if you are transiting through a country to get to your destination. Stopover rules will vary from policy to policy, so it’s important to check the rules on this.

4. Exceeding your trip limits.

An insurer won’t expect you to be completely T-total on holiday. However, a claim could be refused if an incident has occurred because you have had too much alcohol by exceeding the policy limit.

5. Not following the rules and laws of the country you are visiting.

This is an obvious one, but it’s important to check that you are aware of the laws and local customs. Refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to review up-to-date travel advice for each country around the world.

6. Staying overseas for longer than the period of insurance covered by your policy.

7. private facilities..

Travellers should be aware that the policy might not cover treatment in private facilities if there were medically capable public facilities available. If it’s possible, you should contact the medical assistance team before undergoing any treatment as they will be able to tell you where the nearest suitable facility is located. A tour operator, your hotel, or the taxi company might try and direct you to a private facility, so be sure to check this!

8. Expensive items.

If you take an expensive item that exceeds the maximum amount you may not be able to claim on your policy. To cover this item, you might need to source a policy with increased baggage cover or check whether your home contents insurance covers this. Our F ree Spirit Super Duper Policy covers gadgets up to £1,500. Plus, £3,000 worth of cover if personal possessions are lost, stolen, or damaged. However, cover for a single article, pair, or set limit is only £500.

Why would a travel insurance claim be thrown out?

A claim could be rejected if there is evidence of fraud, dishonesty, or misrepresentation.

What are the most frequently seen travel insurance claims?

Cancellation claims.

Cancellation claims are quite common on travel insurance. Usually the closer you are to your departure date, the less chance there is of you needing to make a cancellation claim. So this might be reflected in the price of the policy.

What cancellation claims would be valid? 

• When a trip has to be cancelled due to a family bereavement.
• If you had to cancel a trip because you became unwell due to an unexpected illness.
• If you’re suddenly called for jury service.
• In the event you’re made redundant.

Medical claims

Medical claims relating to treatment that you need on holiday, whether that’s inpatient or outpatient treatment. However, pre-existing conditions must be declared and screened or they may not be covered (and a claim may be refused).

Always remember: Travel insurance covers unexpected and unforeseen risks. 

Baggage claims

This covers lost passports, lost bags, and missing items.

See the pie chart below which illustrates the percentage of claims Free Spirit received between the 1st of January 2023 to July 30th, 2024. As you can see the most frequent travel insurance claims received are cancellation claims followed by medical expense claims.

(Data sourced from Roger Rich claims log)

Travel insurance claims are paid out

Despite the media coverage, there is evidence of travel insurance claims paying out when a valid claim has been made.

Here are some figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) that were released in April 2023, which gives some examples of the different claims that insurers have paid:

• One traveller needed extensive medical treatment due to a serious blood infection while in Thailand. Their insurance covered the £250,000 medical bill plus, their air ambulance back to the UK.
• An insurer met medical costs of £92,000 after a traveller suffered a heart attack during a Caribbean cruise.
• To treat a kidney infection in Spain the cost was £15,000. Thankfully this was paid for by travel insurance.

Overall in 2022, travel insurers paid out £352 million .

Purchase a Free Spirit Travel Insurance Policy with confidence

After discussing the claims process with our Claims Manager and Product Manager, and referring to a few sources above, we have hopefully helped to give you a clear and thorough understanding of how the claims process works.

If you have recently returned from a trip and wish to claim on a Free Spirit policy proceed to our making a claim page .

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UK’s TBIG picks majority stake in BEAM Insurance parent JPM Group

This acquisition is the eighth for TBIG this year and follows a previous 49% stake purchase in March last year.

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UK-based The Broker Investment Group (TBIG) has secured a majority stake in JPM Group, the parent company of BEAM Insurance Solutions.

This acquisition is the eighth for the investment group within the current year and follows a previous 49% stake purchase in March last year.

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Established in 2005 and headquartered at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill, JPM Group employs more than 20 people across general insurance, financial services, and pensions.

The company relocated to its premises in 2008 and has since continued to develop its market presence. 

TBIG’s latest move involves the purchase of the remaining shares from JPM Group chairman Dave Johnston.

The group envisions BEAM as a “regional powerhouse” broker and has set a target for the company to surpass £20m ($25.9m) in gross written premiums (GWP) within the next three years, TBIG said in a LinkedIn post.

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BEAM Insurance Solutions currently manages approximately £14m in GWP.

With organic growth plans and three potential deals in the pipeline, TBIG is optimistic about reaching its GWP objective ahead of schedule.

Dave Johnston will maintain an active role in the company by assuming the position of JPM Group’s chairman post-acquisition.

He will support the management team and facilitate a smooth transition. 

TBIG group CEO Dave Clapp said: “We are excited that we have been able to deepen our relationship with BEAM and take on a further shareholding.” 

Meanwhile, Steve Faulkner, who is the strategic director of JPM Group, will transition to the role of managing director and spearhead the business after the completion, with operations director Sarah Cooksey providing support.

Insurance Business quoted JPM Group chairman Dave Johnston as saying: “I look forward to my continued involvement in the business, and supporting Steve and Sarah, as they step forward to take on the day-to-day management.

“The business has a great future, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with Steve, Sarah, and the wider TBIG team to continue the growth trajectory.”

TBIG is known for making both minority and majority investments in UK-based insurance brokers and managing general agents.

The company engages in partnerships for various strategic reasons, including succession planning, accelerated growth, as well as the provision of network-style products and services.

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