Insurance basics

Travel insurance explained

What travel insurance is, the main types of cover it includes, from cancellation to medical costs and baggage, and what to check before you travel.

Travel insurance is a policy that covers you for unexpected events that may happen before or during a trip. It is designed to protect you against financial loss if a trip is cancelled or cut short, if you need medical treatment abroad, if your luggage is lost or stolen, or if something else goes wrong while you are away.

The main types of cover

Travel insurance policies usually include some or all of the following.

Cancellation and curtailment

This covers the cost of cancelling a trip, or cutting it short, because of unexpected events such as illness, injury or a death in the family.

Medical cover

This covers the cost of medical treatment abroad if you have an emergency during the trip, and in some cases the cost of bringing you home.

Baggage cover

This covers luggage and belongings that are lost, stolen or damaged during the trip, usually up to a set limit for each item.

Personal accident cover

This pays out a set amount in the event of serious accidental injury or death during the trip.

Choosing the right level of cover

The cover you get depends on the policy you choose and on your own trip. Things worth thinking about include where you are going, how long you will be away, any activities you plan to do and any medical conditions you need to declare. It is worth looking at the excess and the limits for each section, not just the price, and comparing policies on the same level of cover.

Do you need travel insurance?

Travel insurance isn't a legal requirement, but many people choose to take it out so they are not left facing large bills if something goes wrong, particularly medical costs abroad. The government publishes general advice on travel insurance and foreign travel on gov.uk.

Kompare doesn't currently offer quotes for travel insurance. You can see the cover we do help with on our how we work page.