What does standard travel insurance include?
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Travel insurance is designed to cover the unexpected: the costs that arise when something goes wrong before or during your trip. A standard policy typically bundles several types of cover together, each addressing a different risk. Understanding what is included helps you judge whether a policy meets your needs, and what you might need to add.
Emergency medical treatment and repatriation
Medical cover is the part of a travel insurance policy that most often justifies its cost. The NHS does not pay for treatment abroad, and private medical care in many countries is expensive. A straightforward hospital admission in the USA can run into tens of thousands of pounds, and even within Europe, treatment costs are not always fully covered by the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) scheme.
A standard policy covers emergency medical treatment overseas, including hospital stays, surgery, and ambulance transport. It also covers repatriation: the cost of flying you home for treatment, which in serious cases may involve a medical escort or air ambulance and can itself cost tens of thousands of pounds. In 2024, medical claims made up 34% of all travel insurance claims paid by ABI members, making this the single largest category of claims by share.
Trip cancellation and curtailment
Cancellation cover reimburses prepaid, non-refundable costs (flights, accommodation, excursions) if you have to cancel before you travel for a covered reason. Covered reasons typically include serious illness or injury affecting you or a close relative, jury service, redundancy, and bereavement. Cancelling because you've changed your mind, or because of a foreseeable event, is not covered.
Curtailment cover applies if you have to come home early for a covered reason, and reimburses the unused portion of your trip. Both cancellation and curtailment cover have per-claim limits, commonly between £2,000 and £10,000 depending on the policy tier.
It's worth noting that cancellation cover starts from the date you buy the policy, not the date you travel. Buying cover well before your trip gives you the benefit of cancellation protection for longer.
Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage
Baggage cover reimburses you if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip, up to a per-item and overall limit. Per-item limits are typically £200 to £500 on standard policies, which may be lower than the value of phones, laptops, or cameras you are travelling with. If you need higher per-item limits, gadget cover or a specified-item add-on may be appropriate.
Delayed baggage cover provides a payment to buy essentials if your baggage is delayed in reaching you, usually after a waiting period of 12 or 24 hours. You will normally need to keep receipts and obtain written confirmation of the delay from the airline.
Travel delay
If your outbound or return travel is delayed, the policy typically pays a fixed amount per full period of delay (often per 12 hours) up to a maximum. After a longer delay, usually 24 hours, you may have the option to abandon the trip and claim under the cancellation section instead. The delay must usually be caused by something outside your control, such as weather, mechanical failure, or industrial action.
Missed departures
Missed departure cover applies if you fail to reach your point of departure on time due to a covered reason, such as a car accident on the way to the airport or the failure of public transport. It reimburses reasonable costs to catch up with your trip, including additional accommodation and onward travel. Missing a departure because you set off too late, or because of routine traffic, is not covered.
Personal liability
Personal liability cover protects you if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while abroad, and you are held legally responsible. It covers legal costs and any damages awarded against you, up to a limit that is often £1 million or £2 million. It does not cover liability arising from the use of motor vehicles, watercraft, or aircraft, which need separate cover, and it does not cover liability to your travelling companions or family members in most policies.
What sits outside a standard policy
Several common types of trip and activity are not covered by a standard policy and require add-ons or specialist cover. Cruises, winter sports, and hazardous activities are the most frequent examples. Pre-existing medical conditions must be declared and may attract an additional premium or specific terms. Trips to destinations the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against may not be covered at all.
What this means in practice
A standard travel insurance policy covers the most common things that go wrong on a typical trip. Whether it is enough for your trip depends on where you are going, what you are doing, how much your belongings are worth, and your personal circumstances. Reading the policy wording, particularly the exclusions and per-claim limits, is the best way to judge whether the cover matches the trip.
A note on getting help
This is general information about what a standard travel insurance policy covers, not a personal recommendation. If you are unsure whether a policy meets your needs, or your trip involves circumstances that standard cover doesn't address well, speaking with an FCA-authorised insurance broker can help. The British Insurance Brokers' Association offers a free find-a-broker service on 0370 950 1790 or at biba.org.uk.