Category: Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for people who actually read the exclusions

Travel insurance is one of the clearest examples of why buying the cheapest policy can be a false economy. I have seen travellers assume they were covered, only to realise later that a pre-existing condition was not declared, a winter sports add-on was missing, or the excess made a smaller claim barely worth filing. This archive is designed to help readers avoid that kind of disappointment.

The most common mistake I see is treating a GHIC as a full replacement for travel insurance. It is not. The UK government and NHS both make clear that a GHIC does not replace travel insurance because it does not cover things like repatriation, private medical treatment, or cancellation costs. That is why we compare policies with a focus on medical screening, excess, baggage rules and trip cancellation protections rather than just price.

Policy type Usually best for What I would check first
Single-trip cover One annual holiday or occasional travel Medical disclosure rules and cancellation limits
Annual multi-trip Frequent travellers Maximum trip length per journey
Backpacker or long-stay cover Gap years and extended travel Activity exclusions and gadget limits
Winter sports cover Skiers and snowboarders Off-piste rules, equipment cover and piste closure terms

Read our guide to travel insurance excess, the UK government’s foreign travel insurance guidance, and the NHS page on GHIC and EHIC before you buy.