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Travel insurance UK

By Jack Dona ·
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St Michael's Mount, UK.

The United Kingdom, home to the royal family, James Bond, scones with whipped-cream and jam, and the birthplace of (arguably) some of the most innovative music since we started plugging our guitars into amplifiers. From culture to country-side, the UK is a very popular destination for Australian travellers, being the fourth most visited country in 2019, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Whether you’re catching a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, doing a Beatles pilgrimage, or simply experiencing the melting-pot of cultures in London via your tastebuds, there’s a whole wealth of experiences to be had in the Queen’s country. Just remember to pack a travel insurance policy, to ensure you’re financially protected if the unexpected happens. After all, you don’t want to have to fork out thousands of Pounds in shock expenses if your flights are cancelled, you end up in hospital, or your luggage goes missing.

What should my travel insurance policy for the UK include?

Depending on what type of traveller you are, the kind of international travel insurance policy you choose will come down to a few different factors. These include how long you’re travelling for, if you think you’ll need any specific benefits, like cover for cancellations and delay, and if there are any optional extras you think you’ll need. 

Whether you’re driving around the UK in a rental vehicle or motorbike, backpacking, or sightseeing, an international travel insurance policy should fit your needs and budget. If you’re cruising in style through the British Isles, then make sure your policy offers cruise travel insurance as an optional-extra, for example. Also, if you’re travelling with a pre-existing medical condition, make sure that your insurance provider covers your condition. You don’t want to foot the bill in an overseas hospital if your health acts up while travelling.

Generally, travel insurance providers offer different tiers of cover on their international policies. These often range from basic or essential policies, to premium or comprehensive policies. 

A basic policy will often cover benefits like overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, and personal liability. However, cover for things like flight delays, cancellations, loss of travel documents or cash, might only be available if you pay a higher premium. The question you have to ask yourself is, what can I afford to risk?

Do Australians need a visa to travel to the UK?

As an Australian, if you’re travelling to the UK for less than 6 months, you likely won’t need a visa. However, if you’re planning on staying longer than 6 months, you can find information about visa eligibility on the UK Government’s website.

Travel insurance tips for UK

  • Excess fees. When you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy, you may be required to pay a certain part of the total value of your claim. The rest would be paid by the insurance provider. This amount that you need to pay yourself is called an excess. This excess fee can vary according to your policy. Generally, the cheaper the cover, the more likely your excess fee will be higher.
  • Pre-existing conditions. Travel insurance providers ask you to declare any pre-existing conditions at the time of purchasing the policy. If you fail to do so, the insurance company can reject a claim you later make regarding that condition. Also, remember that pregnancies are considered as a pre-existing condition.
  • Unattended baggage. Remember that if your bags go missing while you’ve left them unattended, your insurance provider may reject your claim. In fact, even when you leave your bags with the hotel concierge after you’ve checked out, that’s often considered ‘unattended’ in the provider’s eyes. So, leaving your luggage with the concierge at the hotel could result in your provider refusing to reimburse you for it, if it goes missing. 
  • Report incidents ASAP. Whether you’ve injured yourself while hiking through the countryside, or had your bags stolen from your hotel, you need to report any incident as soon as possible. Again, if you’ve read your policy’s product disclosure statement (PDS) carefully, you’ll know the exact documentation that you will be required to submit with your claim. Generally, these will be doctors reports, hospital bills, police reports, or receipts, depending on the nature of your claim. So, make sure you hold onto these when it comes to contacting your travel insurance provider. 
  • Driving in the UK. First of all, don’t drive a vehicle you aren’t licensed to drive. Australians who hold a valid Australian driver’s licence, you’re able to drive for up to 12 months on UK roads, after which you’ll need to apply for a UK licence. If you’re renting a car, make sure you have the right paperwork and consider whether or not your policy covers rental vehicle insurance excess, in case there’s an accident in your hire car. And like in any part of the world, don’t drink and drive – your insurance will not cover you for any accidents while under the influence.
  • Drink responsibly. For some, it’s all too easy to set yourself up in a UK tavern, pint in hand but always remember to be responsible with your drinks. If you face a medical emergency or injury while you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurance company could refuse to reimburse you for those expenses. The worst type of hangover might not come from pints of beer – but be induced by bills.

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Read more about the winners and compare plans to find the best insurance for you at our best travel insurance page.

Compare internaitonal travel insurance policies

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Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
Last updated 21 November 2024 Important disclosures
  • International Travel Insurance
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $5,000 limit per policy with option to increase limit

    Get protection in a few simple steps with Freely travel insurance all in the palm of your hand. Freely Travel offers 24/7 emergency and medical support, 24/7 customer service. Plus, you can tailor your policy so you only pay for what you need, and adapt your cover in near real time. Add-ons such as car rental excess, snow sports or other activities also available. Receive 10% off your travel insurance policy with promo code: MOZO10. T&Cs apply, go to site for full detail.

    Go to site
    Details
  • Comprehensive
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Unlimited

    Enjoy unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get unlimited cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $5,000,000 personal liability cover.

    Go to site
    Details
  • Comprehensive
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose $10,000 to Unlimited

    Backed by the NIB, one of Australia’s largest travel insurance providers, Travel Insurance Saver brings you peace of mind on your travels. Compare three tiers of insurance cover, featuring benefits like 24 hour emergency assistance, emergency medical cover, luggage cover, cancellation cover and more.

    Go to site
    Details
  • International Comprehensive Single
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose $2,500 to Unlimited

    Enjoy the security of single trip cover on your next holiday with Southern Cross Travel Insurance. Get 24 hour emergency assistance, cover for cancelling or changing your journey before you leave, protection for lost, stolen or damaged goods as well as cover to replace lost or stolen cash, banks or travel documents.

    Go to site
    Details
  • Top
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Unlimited

    Be covered for international overseas and medical expenses. Emergency medical assistance 24 hours/365 days a year. Cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits. Cover for luggage and personal money. Dependents covered free of charge (conditions apply). Limited COVID cover available. Cancellation cover for COVID claims limited to $3,500.

    Go to site
    Details
  • Standard
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $25,000

    Get the security of unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $2,500,000 personal liability cover.

    Go to site
    Details
Jack Dona
Jack Dona
RG146
Money writer

Jack is degree-qualified in communications and creative writing, with a talent for simplifying financial jargon. His approach helps consumers make better decisions. Jack is RG146 certified in generic knowledge and uses flair to make finance interesting.

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