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APPALLING DREADFUL SERVICE

If you could give ZERO star then I would. I was told and it was on the website that there was a drop in 9-5 Monday to Friday in Sutton to make a wasted joined top be told you have to make an appointment. Explained it also said on website but no one interested. Did not receive call back as toldI would and when I rang to ask for HELP I spoke to PATRICK who immediately told me " we are not a one stop shop you know" and then treated me disgracefully and being put on hold for 15 minutes .I was recommended to call AGEUK by the cancer team and the local authority after needing help with both my parents. Absolutely disgusting service and AGEUK should hang their head in shame !!!

Date of experience : 13 May 2024

Reply from Age UK

Dear Mr Burton, thank you for getting in touch and we are very sorry to hear about your bad experience with the customer service at Age UK Sutton and for any upset or disappointment this must have caused. Like all local Age UKs, Age UK Sutton is an independent charity, responsible for their own management and day-to-day running. We at Age UK, the national charity, share a similar brand with all local Age UKs, but we are not a head office or a governing body. Therefore, they are better placed to look into your concerns, so I would recommend contacting them directly so that they can try to resolve this issue for you. You can find their details here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/sutton/about-us/contact-us/ I hope this is helpful and that you are able to resolve this. If you need any further help, please email us at [email protected]. Kind regards, Age UK Supporter Engagement Team

Disappointed and upset at response from advisor. She was clearly in a rush and showed no empathy at all. Advice given was not helpful and advisor was unable to answer my questions about issues I am facing, despite me explaining these issues in an email to sane person a week before. Obviously did no research and failed to signpost me to other community organisations that may be able to help. Advisor had done no research and simply wanted to get rid of me. Made me feel a burden. Upsetting experience. I expected more from a charity that's supposed to help people. Don't know why people work or volunteer for a charity when they obviously don't care!

Date of experience : 22 March 2024

Dear Tony, thank you for contacting us here at Age UK the national charity. I was sorry to read of your experience and would like to look into this matter for you if I may? I would be grateful if you could kindly email me at [email protected] and confirm your telephone number you called from and the number you called for advice. We can then look into this and see what we can do to help. Kindest regards Claire, Age UK

Absolutely disgusted with a staff…

Absolutely disgusted with a staff member of this store. Cannot believe my blind disabled mother was not only falsely accused of shoplifting a jumper which turned out to be her own. She was abruptly stopped then when she explained her condition she was mocked and laughed at. Makes me sick that this is ok and was not taken further. I will be complaining externally. As a store manager of a large retail store I cannot agree with this behaviour. We will be escalating this.

Date of experience : 01 February 2024

Completely useless

Completely useless. Age UK provided a home help for my mother 6 years ago, but since the help moved on - some 5 months ago, Age UK have been hopeless. Unable to provide anyone and never get back to me. Often, there’s no reply at the office in Godalming/Guildford, but after a couple of months of silence they did actually call me to see if I still needed help… they had someone and would get that person to call me. That was almost a month ago. I wouldn’t recommend and the subscription is a complete waste of money.

Date of experience : 06 April 2024

Dear Jude, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I am so sorry to hear about how your recent experience with Age UK Surrey has made made you feel. We at Age UK the national charity work in partnership with Age UK Surrey and share a similar brand, but they are nonetheless an independent organisation that is responsible for their own services and staff. We at the national charity are not a “Head office” or governing body, meaning that I’m afraid we cannot look into this for you ourselves. Therefore, Age UK Surrey are better placed to look into your concerns, so I would recommend contacting them directly so that they can try to resolve this issue for you. You can reach them via the below contact details, I hope this helps: Email: [email protected]  Phone: 01483 503414 If there is anything else we can do for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will be more than happy to help. Warm wishes, Age UK

I’ve been suffering with ill health for…

I’ve been suffering with ill health for a year and half now! Weakness in my legs, having trouble getting upstairs to my bedroom, Had been sleeping on the sofa a lot! After calling up Age UK Chingford E4, they proposed a helpful solution Sending a workman within a week of contacting lovey Emma at age concern telling her my issues, to put up stair hand rail. I got an immediate response Thank you so much x

Date of experience : 05 March 2024

Dear Androulla, Thank you so much for your kind message. I will be sure to pass it on to Age UK Waltham Forest, I am sure they will be delighted with your feedback. Kindest regards Claire, Age UK.

I received help from Age UK filling out an online form

I recently received help from Age UK, over the phone. They helped me complete an online application form for Attendance Allowance. The gentleman who helped me had endless patience with me, was caring regarding my needs and was extremely helpful. I cannot praise him enough. He even went back over all the questions to double-check that they were all answered correctly and that no vital information had been missed out. Thank you, Age UK.

Date of experience : 14 February 2024

Dear Stan L Thank you for getting in touch with us. I am so pleased to hear that you had such a positive experience with my colleague on our free advice line and thank you ever so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I do hope the additional support (attendance allowance) will be impactful and supportive to you. Please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us should we be able to further assist in the future. With warm wishes Age UK

Age UK sent carers to help my late…

Age UK sent carers to help my late father, who passed away last week. They were useless, and for an organisation supposedly focussed on caring for the elderly, they are nothing more than a scam. They would hardly do anything he requested, even though he was PAYING for their services. When he passed away I phoned them to let them know my father has passed away, yet I got a phone call the next day "our carer went to visit your father and there was no answer" !! How useless and uncaring can you get !! To top it off, I went to his house today, and there are invoices requesting money for their services, even though he has been dead over a week. Age UK you can do one, you useless, uncaring, absolute scammers.

Date of experience : 09 March 2024

Dear Nik, thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. Please allow me to offer you and your family my sincere condolences regarding the passing of your father. I was sorry to read of your experience with the organisation of the carers who were assisting with the care of your father. I would like to look into this matter further for you, and would be grateful if you were able to contact us at our feedback email address which is: [email protected] and can give me further contact details and the area where your father lived and was receiving visits from carers. Here at Age UK the national charity, we mainly work on providing high quality information and guidance through our national Advice Line, build valuable companionships through our Telephone Friendship services, as well as campaigning and researching for better health and wellbeing services for older people in England.  We also work in partnership with around 130 local Age UKs, which support older people in their communities with face-to-face services such as home support and wellbeing activities among many other programmes and from what you have said, your father's support may have been provided by a local Age UK. Thank you for contacting us and I look forward to helping you further. Kindest regards, Claire, Age UK.

“Age UK The UK’s largest organisation working to promote wellbeing of all older people. It provides vital services, information and support to thousands of older people” Source U.K. Government website OPG Except it does not. I have requested information, advice and support on a number of occasions through the channels they provide. This has always produced thugs same negative results! Their only offerings have been to provide links to information already available and accessible to all users of the internet! They can be very patronising as if they believe those over a certain age are incapable of finding this information! If their National helpline refers you to the Surrey branch they only ever have an automated telephone reply service where you never get a timely response to any query. Customer services operators give evidence of being completely out of their depth with their lack of professional knowledge, understanding and experience of the needs of the elderly.

Date of experience : 31 March 2024

Hello, thank you for leaving your feedback for us. I'm really sorry to hear of your poor experience of calling Age UKs free Advice Line. We strive to provide accurate information and appropriate support to every caller. I'd really like to look into this and would very much appreciate it if you could kindly email us directly to provide us with further information to investigate what happened. You can reach us at [email protected] - thank you for your understanding. Amy, Age UK

A person to be wary of called Lyn.

A person by the name of Lyn visited my wife & I as I had concerns for my wife's safety due to her falling down several times recently. The meeting went well & she appeared to be most helpful giving us leaflets on place's to attend & things to do, the meeting went well that is until 2 days later when my wife received a phone call from her asking my wife how she was, she then said I had to report you to Social Services for Hording, my wife said Hording what! She replied there is stuff in your house that is a fire risk 🔥, we also have a fire alarm system that was put in by the Fire Brigade. Lyn only went in to our living room & we only have a three piece sofa, a coffee table, a sideboard, a t/v & a dining room table that we use most days, I hardly call this Hording especially as she only went into 1 room, I find that this woman is a noisy busybody that might need psychiatric medical help. Lynn reminded me of Nurse Cratchet in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, outwardly nice, inwardly a nasty person! This type of person is out to cause you trouble & in reality is too fond of her own importance & this will be the last time I will reach out for help. Do yourself a favour and be careful who you ask for help!!!

Date of experience : 08 April 2024

Good afternoon Ian, thank you very much for your post. I was sorry to read about the experience you and your wife have had. I would like to look into this further for you, and wondered if you could kindly take a moment to email me at the following address : [email protected] Here at Age UK the national charity, we work with over 130 local Age UK's around the country who are independent charities in their own right, and whom I am sure would like to hear of all feedback, positive or otherwise. If you are able to kindly drop me an email with some further details I would be more than happy to help. Thank you and kindest regards Claire, Age UK

From bad to worse...!!!

You replied to my previous review on price increases and the very first thing you did was to deny any collective responsibility - you do this in virtually every response you make. Passing the buck - "not me guv". You then go on to say you would be happy to enquire about the charges and take forward my concerns with the local Age UK. What is the point of doing that when you've already admitted you can't do anything about it anyway??? What's wrong with you? It's nothing short of a fob off. Are you not concerned that 79% of these reviews give you only one star...?

Date of experience : 18 March 2024

Wanted advice for my elderly infirm…

Wanted advice for my elderly infirm mother so phoned contact number to be told sorry don’t cover your area ( Bassetlaw ) saying here’s a number who may help, phoned the number and a young lad was as much use as a chocolate fire guard didn’t have a clue. Not the best experience from Age UK. Thanks for the reply and no I won’t be contacting you again as you couldn’t do much the first time around so my calculated guess is you’ll do even less this time, let’s hope no of your relatives ever need your advice.

Date of experience : 13 March 2024

Hi, thanks for your message and we are really sorry that you had a disappointing experience with our Advice Line. Please would you mind reaching out by email to [email protected] with some more information on which contact numbers you called and an approximate date and time. The team are there to help and we take these comments seriously, so I would like to try and find out what happened and help you further with this. Many thanks, Age UK

This is more a question to age uk

This is more a question to age uk, what happens to donations you have coming in? As i work in care industry and some elderly people that go to your care facilities have to pay at least £40 to attend for the day, how is that helping the elderly? That is more taking advantage, i have dbs checks to do my job maybe directors etc should be checked to as appear to be robbing the vunerable You are campaigning for money for elderly but exploiting them by asking for in some cases their pension to attend groups. Your reply did not answer my questions

Dear Peggy, thank you for getting in touch. I understand that it can sometimes be confusing to understand the structure of Age UK and I therefore feel it would be helpful for me to explain how we work. Here at Age UK, the national charity, we mainly work on providing high quality information and guidance through our national Advice Line, build valuable companionships through our Telephone Friendship services, as well as campaigning and researching for better health and wellbeing services for older people in England.  We also work in partnership with around 130 local Age UKs, which support older people in their communities with face-to-face services such as home support and wellbeing activities among many other programmes. Each local Age UK is responsible for their own management and day-to-day running, meaning that services may vary between each local partner.  Age UK, the national charity, shares a similar brand to all local Age UKs, but we are not a head office, or a governing body. Given the independence of all local Age UKs, the services that each local office provides vary between locations depending on funding and resources available, as well as the needs of the community they serve. There may also be charges levied for particular services. If you contact your local Age UK for further information on their pricing, they will be able to explain to you further how this works in your local area. You can find out the details of your local Age UK by clicking on the following link and adding in your postcode : https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/in-your-area/ If I can help in any other way please do let me know, or if you need any advice or support yourself at any time, our Advice Line is open 365 days a year here : https://www.ageuk.org.uk/contact-us/information-and-advice/ All best wishes Claire, Age UK

Just spoke to age UK about my fear of…

Just spoke to age UK about my fear of homelessness that has suddenly occurred to me because my landlady recently passed away. The representative wanted to fill her forms get my name and address and send me advice but then clearly wanted to get me off the phone asap.

Date of experience : 09 January 2024

Dear Jules, thank you for your message. I was sorry to read that you felt you were not given enough time on your call. We would like to look into this further for you and would be grateful if you could kindly email us further details regarding the number you called from, and the date and time of the call please, to our feedback email address which is [email protected] or alternatively complete the following https://www.ageuk.org.uk/contact-us/complaints-comments-compliments/ Kindest regards, Claire, Age UK

Thank You for the Prompt and Useful Information

I'd like to thank Helen at Age UK Advice (Linhay House, Ashburton) for sending me a list of links to very useful information about the use of LPAs versus applying for Court of Protection. I really needed information from an independent source, and I have exactly what I need now. I also have a list of all the relevant organisations and government departments with contact information. Perfect. I initially sent a DM to the Age UK Supporter Engagement Team on Twitter, got a very prompt reply to that (same day), and then made contact with Helen by email. Thank you all very much.

Date of experience : 04 December 2023

Dear Paula, thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review, we shall be sure to pass it on to our colleagues. Kindest regards, Claire, Supporter Engagement, Age UK.

Their website for incontinence products…

Their website for incontinence products is confusing. It needs to be easier to order without making expensive and inconvenient mistakes. It may be automated as I was told but it still needs to be made less confusing. All I got when I complained about 7 mistakes costing me £300, was "sorry". I would guess that most of their customers are elderly and they should be able to order easily. I could go on about my experiences with other AUK services but don't have the time or energy. Stars? They dont deserve even one!

Date of experience : 30 January 2024

Hello Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding our website for the Age Co Incontinence products, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us and I am sorry for the upset this has caused. Please be assured that your comments will be noted and we would welcome the opportunity to investigate the points you have raised with our product partner Vivactive. We would be grateful if you could contact our Customer Relations team so we can take some further details to help up do this, as Trustpilot only provides limited information. You can call us on 0800 055 6205, lines are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) or you can email us at [email protected]. Gemma.

I rang the Northamptonshire branch and left a message to call back. No-one rang. This is not the first time with Age UK. One in Great Yarmouth called my mum a liar and was extremely rude. When you ring for advice, you’re directed to places on the website. Age Concern were so much better they actually spoke to you with information.

Date of experience : 29 February 2024

Hi Ms Davis, thank you for your message and we are very sorry that you were disappointed with the service you have received and for any upset this has caused. The local Age UK offices can take a few working days to respond to messages, due to time and staff restrictions, but we are sorry that you have not heard from them. As all local Age UK's are independent charities, they will need to be contacted directly, but if you would like me to do this for you, please would you mind emailing us at [email protected] with your details, what help you are looking for and your permission to pass on your information and I will be happy to send this on to the office in Northampton and ask them to make contact with you as soon as possible. If you wish to raise an official complaint about the services of either of these offices, you will need to follow their independent complaints procedure, which you can find on their respective websites, please let me know if you need help with this. With regard to the National Advice Line, this service is intended to be a 'Gateway service', the team are there to direct callers to the most appropriate place for the support they are looking for, they can offer you signposting, written information (by post or email) and connect you with your local Age UK as appropriate to each call. I am sorry that you have found this service unsuitable but appreciate your feedback. I hope to hear from you soon and that we can help you get the support you need. Kind regards, Marie, Age UK Supporter Engagement Team

Shocking company to work for

A couldn’t care less company for employees and volunteers on the retail side. Made to feel bad if you can’t cover another shop on a day off . All sorts went on with area manager . Shocking the way things were allowed to go on . Staff not backed up if a customer was rude/ verbally aggressive towards them. Avoid this charity at all costs!

Date of experience : 02 March 2023

Dear Denise, thank you for your message. I am sorry to hear of your experience. Please can you kindly email us further details to feedbackatageuk.org.uk or follow our complaints procedure here : https://www.ageuk.org.uk/contact-us/complaints-comments-compliments/ We will be happy to look into this further for you. Kindest regards Claire, Age UK

Bathroom adaption

I cannot praise trent plumbing and heating highly enough An amazing job done by this company Paul and Brian were very tidy nothing too much trouble and they have done a brilliant job of turning our bathroom into a wet room 5 stars on every thing would never use anyone else should we need any further work doing

Date of experience : 16 November 2021

Thank you for your review. I am really pleased to learn you are happy with the conversion of your bathroom into a wet room. Thank you for your kind comments which I will ensure are passed on to the installers. Kind regards Victoria

An important charity

Quite despicable that people are leaving bad reviews for Age U.K. I volunteer for them by calling an elderly lady each week. They also provide services to the elderly such as check up calls and financial advice. What other charity helps the elderly so much?

Date of experience : 24 October 2023

Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review. We truly appreciate your support to Age UK. We could not carry out our vital without supporters such as yourself. So, thank you. Warm wishes, Age UK

Customer service is horrible at harpurhey manchester

I was about to pay for (2 clothing items) and the black lady ( shocked she's a manager) asked me aggressively "where the other hanger for the dress" and I realised the hanger has fallen off on my way to the service counter. I replied sorry I'm not sure. She suddenly started shouting in an intimidating nd sarcastic way "you don't know where it is?" Literally told me off like a school girl. I've never felt so belittled in my life like that in public. She shouldn't be working in customer service.

Date of experience : 07 December 2023

Dear Judith, thank you for your feedback, I am sorry to hear of your experience. Here at Age UK the national charity, we run a proportion of Age UK shops ourselves but we also work with over 140 local Age UK's around the country who are independent charities and also run their own shops. The shop you visited is managed and staffed by Age UK Manchester. Please could you contact them directly using the following email address and I am sure they will be happy to look into this further for you? [email protected] Should you need any further help from us here at the national charity in London, do not hesitate to get in touch using our feedback email address which is [email protected] Thank you again for getting in touch. Kindest regards, Claire, Supporter Engagement team.

Age UK Travel Insurance Reviews

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Latest Reviews

“best support ever from a great team”.

written by Beemur1150 on 12/06/2018

I was stressing about my husband being ill on arrival at our destination When I contacted age uk the calm voice and knowledgeable person I spoke to helped me to cope with the practical issues. There was no messing around and medical bills were paid instantly. I had taken out extra insurance for no excess so I had nothing to pay but prescriptions cost which I got back when I got home but I could have been paid that whilst still abroad. I would recommend age uk to everyone as a very good company with staff who have empathy towards their customers. The paper work when we got home was easy to follow to make a claim.

“No face to face option”

written by Jaxd383 on 02/04/2018

Having always completed my travel insurance at the local Ageuk office I have always found the staff helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. It seems Ageuk no longer offer this service so had to complete online. Although a fairly quick way to complete my insurance I much prefer the face to face and be able to talk to a human being. A sad day for us 'oldies' who enjoy the personal touch. Will be interested to see what happens when my car insurance comes up for renewal. Not a fan of call centres either May have to take my business elsewhere. AgeUK are going to loose a lot of very loyal customers and that all important commission income. Sad day all round. However, always been pleased with the policy which has good levels of cover and covers existing medical conditions. Claims always settled very quickly.

“Purchasing travel insurance”

written by Cooke275 on 09/01/2018

The form was difficult to follow, mainly because the boxes to tick understanding are almost impossible to locate.

“value travel insurance”

written by AngelinePierce470 on 10/07/2017

Easy to use web site. Cost of covered required was nearly half the next cheapest.

“service abysmal and frustrating”

written by wdMcConnell425 on 27/09/2016

i could not recover the quote they sent online i phoned it took 15 mins for them to answer then they could not retrieve the quote they sent me on their system I had to go on line and book it all again

“Travel Insurance”

written by Tigergeoff on 30/03/2016

Excellent value for money considering the various medical conditions. The so called senior citizens insurance companies advertising on tv were, in fact, three times the price of Age UK travel insurance. I would recommend them highly.

“not neutral”

written by josecaba on 18/02/2016

I am shock about the news, you were selling gas company as the best, because they were giving you some money, horrible and very disappointing. so sad .

“Making a Claim”

written by Jadynm1978 on 23/01/2016

Have needed preventative medical treatment while still abroad, following a dog-bite. How do I initate my claim?

“Always the best quote”

written by Myla67 on 07/12/2015

I have been using Age UK for a number of years. A nearly 75 years of age it is not easy to get reasonable quotes, especially when you have several pre-existing conditions. Age UK always come up cheapest with excellent cover and is so easy to apply that I would always recommend them.

“Less hassle better deal”

written by Jamarcusr112 on 24/09/2015

After ages looking through various sites age uk allowed me to save and retrieve details and offered a wider option and better price. Comparing what was offered...and it was not easy... this stood as the best

“Travel Insurance for USA holiday”

written by BraidenTaylor on 28/08/2015

The travel insurance was the best value for cover and met all my requirements,for my 3 week holiday in the USA. I would recommend Age UK travel insurance to my friends,and I would use Age UK for travel insurance in the future.

“Good value insurance”

written by Sally.A.P on 25/02/2015

Having spent all afternoon on the internet searching for reasonably priced travel insurance I was getting really fed up - and then I tried Age UK. Not my first choice, as at 51 years old it wasn't a provider I'd previously considered but I'm so glad I did. This was an easy website to use and understand and the best price I've been quoted - and with comparable benefits to much dearer companies. So far so good - hopefully I won't need to make a claim on the insurance and don't know how Age UK would handle any claims - but if the service is as good as its been so far then I wont be complaining!

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Best travel insurance UK 2024 guide

We all deserve a break now and then. And the last thing you want to think of when booking your holiday is something going wrong. But it’s better to be prepared than caught off guard. That’s why you should always consider travel insurance when going on a trip.

But how can you find the best travel insurance policy for your needs? Read our guide below to find out more.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance protects you financially if your trip away doesn’t go as planned and you incur unexpected expenses for delays, losses or medical treatment.

All travellers can benefit from travel insurance. But travel insurance is particularly important if you are going on an independent trip without a tour operator, because if something goes wrong, you will have no other help.

There are three main types of travel insurance:

• Single-trip cover: this is the most typical form of travel insurance, covering you for a one-off trip or holiday. There will be a time limit on the cover that can range anywhere between one month and 365 days
• Annual multi-trip cover: this allows you to make multiple trips, or have multiple holidays, in a 12-month period, all under the same travel insurance policy. There may be a cap on how long each individual trip can be
• Long stay, or backpacker, cover: this is normally used for around the world trips, gap years, and longer cruises, and can last for up to 18 months

To find the best UK travel insurance, compare policies before you go to ensure you get the right coverage for you and the specific trip you’re planning.

How to find the best travel insurance policy

When comparing policies to find the best travel insurance for your trip, you should consider: 

• Type of cover you need
• Excess (how much you’ll be expected to pay out yourself before the policy will cover you)
• Amount of medical coverage, and why pre-existing conditions aren’t included
• Limit on baggage claims
• Coverage for specific sports and activities
• Any potential rewards and discounts
• Add-ons, such as gadget insurance

Best travel insurance deals and discounts

Looking for the best travel insurance deals from the best travel insurance companies? In most cases, the easiest way to find the best travel insurance deals is to use a comparison website. Travel insurance comparison websites let you compare costs and coverage side by side to find the best UK travel insurance.

The four main comparison websites – Moneysupermarket, Comparethemarket, Confused.com and GoCompare – also often have certain deals and discounts when you buy travel insurance from them, offering some of the best travel insurance deals on the market.

Moneysupermarket : Find the same deal for less, and it will price match and give you a choice of a £20 gift card. Only on annual travel insurance.

Comparethemarket : Two for one cinema tickets with Meerkat Movies and savings at restaurants when you dine out or order pizza in with Meerkat Meals, as well as 25 per cent off coffee and pastries at Caffè Nero every day of the week through the Meerkat app.

(In November 2023, Confused.com and GoCompare had no deals or discounts for travel insurance).

Price is obviously a big consideration when you are looking for the best travel insurance – you’ve probably already spent a lot on your holiday. But you may be able to get much better coverage for just a few pounds extra, so it’s worth scrolling down the comparison site’s list of providers before buying.

Medical costs abroad will undoubtedly be the biggest expense you face if you fall ill abroad, so don’t scrimp on those.

Then think about your next biggest expense (probably cancellation/interruption of your trip) and make sure that you have high-value coverage for that.

If you find you can get much higher coverage (the maximum amount you can claim per type of claim, such as medical or baggage) for not very much more money, go for the slightly more expensive option.

Going direct

Comparison sites won’t always find you the cheapest deals, however. For example, Direct Line offers some of the best travel insurance with Covid cover and is not on comparison websites.

Some of the best travel insurance companies also offer discounts for buying directly from them, as follows:

Bundled coverage options

When looking for the best travel insurance for your holiday, it can make sense to buy a bundle of coverage under one policy.

Comparison websites will often offer add-on gadget cover, winter sports cover or cruise cover all under the one policy. If you need that extra cover, it is typically cheaper to buy your travel insurance this way rather than as separate policies.

What is covered by travel insurance?

The best travel insurance companies will offer you comprehensive coverage across all types of claims. It’s easy to compare the best travel insurance deals using a comparison website.

Medical coverage

This covers you for medical expenses you incur if you become ill or have an accident while away. The best UK travel insurance will have a high level of medical coverage.

For example, medical coverage will pay for any necessary treatment if you come down with severe food poisoning or you fall through a window and have to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.

• Avoid hefty bills or debt for medical assistance outside the UK
• Access better treatment – for example, at private vs public hospitals
• Often, as long as you declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests, you are covered if you fall ill during your trip (check policy exclusions)
• Even the best travel insurance companies will likely charge you more if you have a pre-existing medical condition
• You might have to pay part or all your medical expenses first, then claim on the policy afterwards
• Even the best travel insurance companies do not cover events that happen after you have consumed alcohol excessively or taken recreational drugs or other substances

Trip cancellation/interruption

This insurance pays out the cost of your missed trip if you have to cancel or cut your holiday short due to unforeseen circumstances.

For example, cancellation insurance would normally pay out if you broke your leg just before you were due to travel and had to cancel your trip.

Interruption insurance would cover you if you had to come home early for certain reasons beyond your control – for example, if the area you were staying in was engulfed in wildfires.

• Money you would have lost on pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses is paid to you under the policy
• It can be especially valuable if the trip you are planning is very expensive, as this is money you would lose if you couldn’t go
• You’ll usually only be covered if your trip is cancelled or cut short for specific reasons listed in your policy
• You usually won’t be covered if you miss your flight because you are held by customs or cancel because of a work issue or a pre-existing medical condition that is not covered

Baggage cover

This insurance covers the cost of replacing your luggage if it is lost or stolen.

For example, if an airline loses your luggage in transit or your suitcase is stolen from your hostel while you’re away, you can make a claim for the cost of replacing its contents.

You may also be able to claim for costs related to baggage delay if the airline temporarily misplaced your baggage.

• You can claim for the actual cash value of your belongings or the cost of replacing them (whichever is less)
• High-value items, such as jewellery or sports equipment, can be very expensive to replace without travel insurance
• Standard policies usually place per item and total limits on claims.
• If you are taking very expensive items away, check your policy carefully to ensure that you’re covered (and potentially get a separate policy)
• Some items could be covered by your home insurance policy, so check your policy carefully to see what is any isn’t. It’s also important to note that, should a lost item be covered by both policies, you can only claim once; an attempt to claim twice would be considered fraud

Personal liability

This insurance covers you if you are held responsible for harming another person or damaging their property.

For example, it covers you in situations where you cause serious damage to your holiday accommodation or accidentally stumble into someone else, causing them to need medical treatment.

• The cost of defending yourself in a legal case or repairing/replacing damage could be extremely costly without travel insurance
• Your travel insurance company will take over dealing with a foreign legal system
• You’re covered for the cost of any compensation (up to certain limits)

Limits: 

• Not all travel insurance provides personal liability as standard
• Policies may exclude personal liability while you partake in adventure activities
• Claims related to you committing a crime or damage by wilful negligence won’t be covered
• You likely will not be covered if you admit liability or make an offer to pay before talking to your insurer

Finding the best travel insurance with Covid cover

Looking for the best travel insurance with Covid cover? Many travel insurance policies now include cancellation cover for reasons related to Covid. This often applies within two weeks of being due to travel, according to the Association of British Insurers, but individual policies can vary.

To make a claim, insurers often require proof in the form of a medically approved positive Covid test. A lateral flow test or self-diagnosis is usually not accepted.

What Covid-related cover to look for

The best travel insurance with Covid cover should include the following:

• Cover if you can’t start your trip because you tested positive for Covid before travelling
• Cover if you or family members cannot return home because you/they test positive for Covid during the holiday
• Cover for additional costs, such as alternative flights, accommodation and Covid tests
• Cover if you cannot reach your final destination during transit due to Covid-19

Travel insurance providers with comprehensive Covid cover

Looking for the best travel insurance providers with Covid cover? Most travel insurance policies now offer some kind of Covid cover, but Churchill, Direct Line, M&S and Aviva have some of the most comprehensive offerings, with cover for cancellations and expenses related to Covid.

• Covid covered as standard on travel insurance policies
• Cover for trip cancellations if you, a close relative or a travelling companion is diagnosed with Covid-19 or another pandemic disease
• Cover if you or a person you’re planning to stay with must quarantine (abroad or in the UK)
• Cover if you can’t use pre-booked and pre-paid accommodation affected by Covid-19
• Cover for quarantine or where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel within 28 days of departure
• Cover for emergency medical expenses abroad due to Covid-19

Direct Line

• Cover for travel to a destination where the FCDO is advising against all but essential travel 
• Cover for medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 while you’re away 
• Cover for additional accommodation and transport if you have to quarantine due to Covid
• Cover for cancellation costs if you or a close relative get Covid-19 before you go
• Cover for quarantine or if the FCDO changes its advice after you book your trip
• Cover if you have to cut your trip short if the FCDO changes its country advice unexpectedly

• Cover for emergency medical expenses if you catch Covid-19 during your trip
• Cover for unrecoverable costs up to £6,000 if you must cancel your trip or return early, including if you have to self-isolate or quarantine before you travel due to Covid-19
• Cover for if you need to cancel your trip due to a positive Covid-19 test or if the FCDO advise against travel to your destination in the 31 days leading up to your trip
• Providing you haven’t travelled against FCDO advice, you’ll also be covered if you catch Covid-19 while abroad

• Coverage of up to £5,000 per person if you must cancel your trip due to getting Covid (you’ll need to provide confirmation and evidence of a positive test result)
• Cover for Covid-related emergency medical treatment and expenses while away
• Cover if you unexpectedly need to quarantine, including extra travel and accommodation costs to get home (provided a return trip was booked) 
• Cover for costs for any accommodation and excursions unused due to getting Covid where the costs can’t be recovered elsewhere
• No cover you if you travel against FCDO advice*
• No cover if you can’t travel because you don’t meet the entry requirements of a country (such as having had Covid vaccinations)*

* It’s worth noting that these clauses are not unusual and the majority of providers will have something similar

Tips for selecting the best UK travel insurance packages

Need some help picking the best UK travel insurance packages to make sure that you get the best travel insurance deals? Here are some tips for picking the best policy features for you.

Coverage limits

When looking for the best travel insurance companies to go with, check coverage limits. These are the maximum amounts your travel insurer will pay if you need to claim. You’ll see when you compare travel insurance policies that coverage limits vary for each type of claim and between policies.

The government-backed MoneyHelper website recommends that the best UK travel insurance should have the following minimum coverage for each type of claim:

• Medical: £1m or more for travel to Europe and £2m or more for the US
• Cancellation/interruption: £2,000 or more
• Missed departure: £500 or more
• Delay: £200 or more
• Baggage cover: £1,500 or more
• Personal liability cover: £2 million or more

Deductibles/excess

Deductibles, also known as the excess, is the amount you have to pay out of your own pocket before your travel insurance will start paying for your claim.

You have to make a trade-off when it comes to choosing the excess and the best travel insurance policy for you.

The lower the excess on a travel insurance policy, the better for you if you have to claim because you will have less to pay from your own pocket (or, more often, deducted from your claim).

But lower excess travel insurance policies are more expensive because the insurer knows it has more to pay out if you claim. Higher excess policies are cheaper, but you’ll have more deducted from your claim.

An exclusion on a travel insurance policy is an event the policy will not cover you for.

Common exclusions on a standard travel insurance policy may not be obvious. According to the ABTA – The Travel Association, these include:

• Incidents that occur after drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs
• Theft of unattended possessions
• Sports, extreme sports and activities such as skiing, white water rafting and bungee jumping
• Medical treatment resulting from existing medical conditions you have not declared or conditions preventable by vaccine or advisable medication, such as antimalarials
• Medical costs if you stay abroad after your doctor says you are fit to return to the UK
• Strikes and industrial action if it was known when you booked your trip
• Rescheduled flights where the airline has cancelled and then rescheduled your flight
• Travel to destinations where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel

To get the best travel insurance deals, one way around some of these exclusions is to buy add-ons for adventure activities. In addition, make sure to declare all pre-existing conditions and keep an eye out for any travel disruptions before you book.

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or medical conditions you have and are aware of before you travel.

Travel insurance companies will ask you to disclose any pre-existing conditions. If you use a comparison website, it will be among the first questions you’re asked before it shows you quotes. It’s important to be honest.

Some travel insurance companies, but not all, will offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions, while others will offer cover but exclude any claims arising from that medical condition. This will depend on the person being covered and the medical condition.

Most price comparison websites include an option to show insurers who do offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, so that would be a good place to start.

The following are likely to be considered pre-existing conditions you should disclose, according to the government-backed MoneyHelper website:

• A condition where you are on a list for an operation
• A condition where you are waiting for test results
• Anything you have been to the doctor about in the last year, including minor things
• Any serious conditions you’ve ever had – for example, cancer, heart trouble, respiratory problems or a mental health breakdown

A good tip for everyone, but especially if you have a pre-existing condition, is to buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. If your condition gets worse and forces you to cancel your plans, you’ll be covered from the day the policy starts.

On family group policies, the cost will be determined based on the riskiest traveller (according to insurers), which could be someone with a pre-existing condition or an older individual. In this case, it is often cheaper for the group for that person to get a separate policy.

Add-on options

Add-ons are extras you can purchase in addition to a standard travel insurance policy. They cost a bit more, but you may find you’re not covered without them. 

Gadget insurance

This covers things that a standard policy may not, such as your mobile phone or laptop. If these items are covered, you may find the claim limits are far less than the cost of replacing them.

Before you add this option to your travel insurance, check your home insurance policy, because you may already be covered.

Winter sports/adventure activities

Riskier activities, such as skiing or white water rafting, often require extra holiday insurance because insurers think that you are more likely to need to make a claim doing these things.

Winter sports/adventure activities cover is worth getting, or you may find you are not covered for medical expenses if something goes wrong.

Standard travel insurance is generally meant for land-based holidays so you’ll need to opt for a specialist cruise policy if your holiday is a cruise.

European FCDO travel advice extension

Most standard travel insurance policies are invalid if you travel when the FCDO advises against “all but essential travel”.

This add-on allows you to travel to Europe with a valid travel insurance policy, even if the FCDO has advised against it.

This can be an expensive add-on, but if you really must travel to a risky area, you will need this extension in order to make sure you have cover.

Best holiday insurance summary

Choosing the right travel insurance is an essential part of enjoying peace of mind while you are on holiday.

When looking for the best travel insurance deals, don’t just pick the cheapest policy. Instead, look for the cover limits that match your requirements. For example, baggage cover of £5,000 isn’t worth having if your baggage is worth £1,000; cancellation cover up to £10,000 isn’t worth having if your holiday cost you £2,000.

The easiest way to compare the best travel insurance is usually by using a travel insurance comparison website.

Think about the sort of activities you’ll be doing while you’re away. You may need extra holiday insurance for things such as winter sports or scuba diving or if you are going on a cruise.

Be honest about any pre-existing conditions when buying your travel insurance, or you won’t be covered if you have to claim.

The best travel insurance is a safety net for you and your family to enjoy your trip away stress-free, knowing that you’re covered for everything from medical expenses to cancellations if things go wrong.

Frequently asked questions about the best travel insurance UK packages

Is travel insurance necessary for domestic travel within the uk.

Even where medical costs in the UK are covered by the NHS, a sudden illness could lead to other expenses, forcing you to cancel your trip, the costs of which travel insurance would cover.

Lost or stolen luggage and broken gadgets or other claims for damage can just as easily occur in the UK as abroad.

What is annual travel insurance, and is it a good option for frequent travellers?

Annual travel insurance is a policy that covers you for multiple trips away within any 12-month period. It is often cheaper than buying a separate policy for each trip if you are planning to go away multiple times in one year.

Annual travel insurance is also useful if you are planning a long trip visiting several countries, as often insurers require you to buy travel insurance before you leave the UK rather than abroad mid-trip.

Are there any travel insurance companies that specialise in certain types of trips or travellers?

Specialist travel insurers cater to specific groups of people. It can make sense to seek out travel insurers that cover your needs.

Adventures Insurance, Sports Cover Direct and Snowcard tailor their travel insurance to those who enjoy activity holidays and extreme sports, for example.

Senior travellers are the focus of policies from All Clear, Avanti, Co-op Insurance Services, Free Spirit Flex, Good 2 Go Extra, Goodtogo Insurance, Saga, Staysure and Total Travel Protection.

Insurers offering business trip cover include Allianz, Direct Line, Coverwise and Insure & Go.

How do I make a claim with my travel insurance company?

To claim on your travel insurance while you are away, make sure that you take your policy number with you and the emergency number for your insurer. If you are travelling abroad, take any international numbers too.

Call your insurer as soon as you realise you need to make a claim. Keep all receipts and medical expense forms. If you are travelling with other people, make them aware of your policy details and the insurer’s phone number in case they need to call on your behalf.

To make a claim when you return home, check the following:

• You haven’t left it too late to make a claim
• What you’re claiming for is covered
• The excess is not more than the value of your claim (if so, it’s not worth claiming)

Notify your insurer as soon as possible for a claim form, send it back fast and keep a copy of it. You should also include copies of paperwork to support your claim, such as receipts or medical certificates (keep copies of the originals in case your claim is queried or refused).

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a freelance journalist, editor, and producer. She has a wealth of consumer finance experience, having written about money matters and business for over 15 years.

During her tenure as a freelance writer, she has worked for ITN, Wired, and The Sunday Times, as well as financial institutions such as Aegon, the Chartered Insurance Institute, and Pension Bee, where she’s presenter of the Pension Confident Podcast.

Laura has previously held roles at The Times, where she was the Acting Editor of Times Money Mentor, The Telegraph as a senior finance reporter and was the co-host of the It’s Your Money Podcast, which was renowned for making complex finance issues accessible, and The Financial Times, where she worked as a News Editor. Laura has also worked at CNN, Politics.co.uk, and as a producer at Radio 5 Live.

Connor Campbell

Connor Campbell is an experienced personal and business finance writer who has been producing online content for almost a decade. 

Connor is the personal finance expert for Independent Advisor, guiding readers through everything they need to know about car insurance and home insurance. From how much it costs to the best insurance providers in the UK, he’s here to help you find the right policy for your needs. 

In his capacity as writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet , Connor explored a number of topics close to his heart, such as the impact of our increasingly cashless society, and the hardships and heroics of British entrepreneurs. His commentary was featured in sites such as The Mirror , the Daily Express and Business Insider . 

At financial trading firm Spreadex, meanwhile, his market commentary was featured in outlets such as The Guardian , BBC , Reuters and the Evening Standard . 

Connor is a voracious reader with an MA in English, and is dedicated to making life’s financial decisions a little bit easier by doing away with jargon and needless complexity.

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The best travel insurance providers.

Updated May 9, 2024

In this guide

If you’re looking to escape the UK winter, or if you’re saving your holiday for the height of summer, you may wish to consider travel insurance. We explain what travel insurance is and some of the best policies on the market for your holiday.

In 2022, UK residents made 71 million visits abroad. This was over three times the amount made in 2021, when COVID restrictions kept many people at home. 

So if you’re part of a growing number of people spending time abroad, have you considered travel insurance? By taking out one of these policies you could be protected for lost baggage, delayed flights, and medical emergencies abroad among other unforeseen events.  

In this article we explain:

• What is travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover?

The best travel insurance.

• Travel insurance and medical conditions

Read more: Passport renewal costs and waiting times

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance covers the cost of unforeseen events and mishaps that either stop you from going on holiday or affect you while you’re away.

Depending on the policy, travel insurance might cover you for:

• Medical bills if you suffer illness or have an accident while you’re away
• Cancellation of your trip for reasons outside of your control
• Lost or stolen baggage

Policies are usually relatively inexpensive and can give you the peace of mind that your costs will be covered if something bad happens while you are on holiday.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), a trade body, the average claim on travel insurance in 2022 was a little over £970. So while travel insurance won’t stop bad things from happening, but it can prevent you from having to find the money to pay for unexpected costs even after you return from your holiday.

Read more: Ten budget travel tips

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A working-class kid who was expelled from school, Gary Stevenson was paid seven-figure bonuses by Citigroup while in his twenties. Read why he had to leave

Many people opt to take out travel insurance to cover potential medical care while away.

Every week, 3,000 Brits need emergency medical treatment while abroad, according to the ABI. But travel insurance isn’t just about covering medical costs. It can protect you against a range of unplanned events:

• Cancellation or trip interruption for reasons outside your control
• Missed transport or delayed departure for reasons outside your control
• Personal injury and death, including medical evacuation
• Lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money – check if your home contents insurance covers you
• Accidental damage or injury caused by you

Does travel insurance cover cancelled flights?

Most travel insurers provide a basic level of cover for cancelled flights. Aviva’s travel insurance, for example, will pay out if your flight is cancelled due to an airport shutdown.

If your airline cancels your flight then you should claim a refund directly with them, so your travel insurance could cover other costs such as hotel bookings, vehicle rentals, and other possible excursions.

What are my rights during strike action?

If your flights are cancelled because air staff are striking, which they have over last summer, you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. But for this to apply, customers must have been given less than 14 days’ notice.

It also depends on whether the airline was at fault or not: so if it’s the airline’s staff who are striking, you should be entitled to compensation.

If you’re worried that your flights might be delayed or cancelled, you should also check your travel insurance policy.

Some policies cover you for a cancelled or delayed flight, provided you took out the policy before the strikes were announced.

But if you haven’t yet bought your insurance, you may be out of luck. This is because most insurers won’t cover you for strikes which were already known about.

Read how travel insurance could catch you out.

Below we’ve listed some of the best travel insurance providers on the market, all of which were nominated in Times Money Mentor awards 2023.

Times Money Mentor award winning cover

Best for over-50s

Post Office

Best for those with pre-existing medical conditions

Best for those wanting substantial medical cover  

Best for a range of unique add-ons

Looking for a new holiday destination?

Make sure to visit Times Travel for your holiday inspiration this year. From palm beaches in Fiji to the beautiful Italian coastline, Times Travel caters to all different tastes. Unlike other parts of the site, you also don’t need a subscription to enjoy their high-quality content.

Another notable provider

Despite not winning a nomination at the Times Money Mentor awards, this provider also offers a decent level of cover:

Switched On

The best travel insurance for cruises.

If you’re thinking about taking a cruise, it’s important to take out special additional cover such as a cruise insurance to protect you.

Cruise insurance is normally offered as an add-on to travel policies, and protects you if you:

• Miss connections to reach the departure
• Fail to get back on board after planned stops
• End up being confined to your cabin

Though if you want a dedicated travel insurance policy for a cruise, here’s an option to consider:

Just Travel Cover*

Best for cruise holidays

The best winter sports cover

If you’re planning a skiing and snowboarding trip then it’s important you have insurance that will cover you if you’re involved in an accident on the slopes.

Most travel insurers will offer winter sports cover as an optional add-on to their regular cover and will protect you if you:

• Need to be airlifted off the slopes or rescued and need medical treatment
• Turn up and there’s no snow
• Can’t start skiing and snowboarding because of avalanche risk
• Find out your equipment – such as skis, snowboard and boots – has been stolen

It’s difficult to predict what the next ski season will look like. But if you’re booking now and want cover for the essentials, here’s a policy to factor into your calculations.

InsureandGo*

Best for winter sports

What should a basic travel policy cover?

When shopping for travel insurance, you should ensure your policy comes with the following seven things as standard:

1. Medical expenses

This covers the costs of any emergency medical and surgical treatment while you’re away.

It usually costs more for cover in the US as medical bills can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Any treatment that can wait until you get home is not usually included.

Most policies offer cover of £1 million for medical costs in Europe. This is usually £2 million in the US.

2. Repatriation

This is where you might need to be evacuated from the country you’re visiting.

Repatriation usually happens when you need to get back home to the UK in the event of a medical emergency and is usually covered as standard in most travel insurance policies.

3. Cancellation/curtailment

This covers any travel and accommodation costs you have paid for and can’t use or claim back.

You need a good reason to cancel your trip, so make sure you double check the terms and conditions of your policy.

4. Missed departure

This covers your extra accommodation costs and travel expenses should you miss your departure due to situations outside your control.

It usually includes your car breaking down or being involved in an accident. Leaving home at the last minute won’t count.

This covers you for delays to your travel plans, such as severe weather conditions.

Delays known about before (such as strikes) won’t be covered.

6. Baggage cover

This should cover you if your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.

You might need extra cover for gadgets or valuable possessions as there are usually limits on separate items.

Losses need to be reported within a certain time frame and you must have a written report from your airline if it loses your baggage.

7. Personal liability cover

This should cover you if you are liable to pay damages due to:

• Accidental bodily injury to someone
• Or for loss or damage to someone else’s property
• Claims made by family members or employees won’t be covered

Choose a smooth private healthcare journey with Saga Insurance

• Easy access to a specialist

• Fast tests, scans and treatment

• Comfortable hospital stay

Get a Saga Health Insurance quote

For people over 50. Saga Health Insurance is a unique product designed by us specifically for our customers, and it’s only available through us. Together with our underwriter, Bupa Insurance Limited, we are committed to providing high standards of quality and service. 

What extra cover can you buy?

To provide a peace of mind you might be able to add the following onto your policy too:

• Wedding cover – If you’re travelling abroad for a wedding, some providers might include an add-on which covers damage to your possessions. If you think you need something more comprehensive, then consider a separate wedding insurance policy
• Gadget insurance – While you’re abroad you may wish to cover your laptop, phone, or tablet from theft or damage
• Golf equipment cover – Planning to tee off abroad? Then consider cover for moving your clubs overseas. This type of add on includes cover for your equipment if it is lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged

Read more: Is credit card travel insurance any good?

What is not covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance won’t cover you for a risk that is known about.

For example, if you have a long-standing medical condition that means you can’t go on holiday, your insurer might not cover you for the cancellation costs.

Insurers also won’t cover you if you have to cancel your trip for reasons within your control. For example, if you miss your flight because you woke up late, your claim is likely to be rejected.

Travel insurance is also unlikely to cover you if you have been irresponsible. For example, if you leave your valuables in your hold luggage then your policy won’t cover you if these items are damaged.

Each travel insurance policy will have specific things it won’t cover and this will vary depending on the provider. So it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully.

What types of travel insurance can you buy?

There are two main options to choose from when taking out a travel insurance policy:

• Single trip — covers you for one trip of a specified length only
• Annual multi-trip — covers you for all your trips for one year (if you travel a lot this can work out cheaper than lots of single policies)

You need to make sure that either option of travel insurance covers you for where you are going, such as:

• Europe only
• Or the more expensive, worldwide policies (these either include or exclude the US)

But check first which exact countries providers include in their policies. For example, some policies include Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt in their Europe insurance.

There is also specific travel insurance for backpackers, which offers extra cover for those who are likely to be away for an extended period of time or travelling to multiple destinations.

Also bear in mind that if you are doing any extreme sports like skiing or going on a cruise then you might need to buy an add-on.

When should I take out travel insurance?

It’s usually best to take out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip.

While many people think of travel insurance as something that covers problems while they are away, some policies cover you for issues, accidents and illnesses that stop you from being able to travel.

Cancellation is one of the main reasons that people claim on a travel insurance policy. If the cancellation happens before you have bought insurance then you wouldn’t be able to claim.

How much should I pay for travel insurance?

Your travel insurance premium will depend on a range of factors such as your age, health, type of policy, and destination. This is why an average travel insurance premium will likely be meaningless, so make sure to do your research and get a quote from several different providers before deciding on a policy.

Do I need travel insurance?

Unlike car insurance, travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement. However, it does come with a host of benefits such as cover for medical expenses.

We’ve already listed the benefits of having protection for unexpected medical costs above, and it remains pertinent if you’re travelling abroad and won’t have access to the NHS. According to the ABI, there is one recorded case in 2022 when a traveller in Thailand contracted a serious blood infection which needed intensive medical treatment. The bill eventually came up to £250,000 which was paid in full by their travel insurance provider.

Also consider that some visa applications require you to have a suitable travel insurance policy in place before you apply. If you’re applying for a Schengen visa to travel Europe you’ll need a policy in place which covers medical expenses up to €30,000 during your trip.

FAQs: Travel insurance and medical conditions

Many people solely take out travel insurance to protect themselves from medical expenses. According to the ABI, the average medical claim on travel cover is more than £1,300. Notoriously in the US, these figures run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds.

So below we’ve answered some of the most common medical related questions on travel insurance:

Q. Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Some insurers do provide cover for pre-existing conditions. However, it is vital that youflag these conditions during the application stage. If you don’t it could invalidate your policy.  

Q. Do you need to tell your travel insurance provider if you have a new medical condition?

If there is a significant change to your personal health then you’ll need to inform your travel insurance provider. This includes being diagnosed with a new long-term illness.

Failure to do so could invalidate your policy.

Q. Can you get travel insurance if you’re over 75 with medical conditions?

Yes. In fact, there are some providers on the market which tailor their policies towards an older demographic. For example, Saga has dedicated policies for over 50s and 70s.

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Introduction to Aegis Travel Insurance

• Coverage Options
• How to Purchase and Manage Your Policy
• Customer Service and Claims Process

Compare Aegis Travel Insurance

• Why You Should Trust Us

Aegis Travel Insurance Review 2024 (Formerly GoReady)

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

No one likes thinking about the ways things can go wrong, but the truth is that anything can happen. Travel insurance can protect you from financial loss if something goes wrong while you're away and even cover pre-paid trip costs if you must cancel your trip for a qualified reason.

There are many different types of travel insurance, so it's important to choose the right policy for your needs. And Aegis General Travel Insurance offers a variety of policies to suit different travelers. Keep reading to find out how Aegis performs and whether its coverage makes sense.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers a CFAR upgrade add-on on certain plans
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Comprehensive insurance plans include generous coverage for baggage loss, plus protection from hurricane and other intense weather-related issues
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Competitive pricing
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Online complaints about claims not being paid and non-responsiveness
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not all more expensive plans include CFAR coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Dropping rating with AM Best
• Annual and multi-trip plans available
• All plans include pandemic coverage for COVID-19
• Coverage for weather-related delays, cancellations and other incidents

Aegis General Insurance Agency provides several types of insurance such as homeowners, life, and pest insurance. Aegis added travel insurance to its list of offerings, when it acquired April Travel Protection in early 2021, operating as GoReady.

Now Aegis General, the Pennsylvania-based company offers five single-trip insurance plans and two multi-trip plans that have a wide range customization options including CFAR and sports coverage. The plans also offer a diverse range of coverage from its more comprehensive VIP and Pandemic Plus options to its Trip Cancellation, which offers low-cost coverage for cancellations and trip interruption. The Aegis Trip Cancellation plan is even included in our guide on the best affordable travel insurance .

That said, Aegis has a relatively complicated claims process that has received mixed reviews from customers. You're required to get in contact with a claims agent to start the process, which can be difficult.

Coverage Options with Aegis

Aegis travel insurance offers a variety of plans from which to choose. Picking the right one will depend on your trip and whether you want single-trip coverage or something like an annual plan. The answer to the question of what does travel insurance cover varies.

If you're looking for a single-trip plan, you'll have a few different choices:

Aegis Annual Multi-Trip Plans Available

Annual/Multi-Trip Preferred plan – This annual travel insurance plan is ideal for those who take multiple trips per year that are less than 31 days. It provides comprehensive coverage for an unlimited number of trips, including important types of protection like travel delay ($750), trip inconvenience ($200), baggage coverage ($1,000), and baggage delay ($200). In addition, the plan includes $100,000 per person for medical emergency assistance and transportation. The Preferred plan is not available for New York residents.

Annual/Multi-Trip Primary plan – This policy is ideal for you if you're a frequent flyer who goes on three or more trips each year or travels for up to 90 days at a time. It includes baggage coverage ($1,000), baggage delay ($100 per person, $300 policy limit), and $30,000 in initial coverage for emergency accident and sickness medical expenditures.

Aegis Additional Coverage Options

Some Aegis travel insurance plans offer the option to upgrade for improved coverage. For instance, Aegis's Choice plan includes $250,000 in emergency medical assistance and transportation — but with an upgrade, you can buy up to double that amount ($500,000).

There are add-ons, too, like CFAR (cancel for any reason) coverage , which reimburses you 75% of your prepaid trip expenses, or "cancel for work reasons." which covers 100%. CFAR coverage is only available for the Choice, Pandemic Plus, and Cruise plans.

Depending on the play you choose, other upgrades include coverage for rental car damage, missed port of call, sporting equipment coverage, and more.

Aegis Travel Insurance Cost

The premium you pay will depend on various factors, including the age of the travelers, destination, and total trip costs. The  average cost of travel insurance  is 4% to 8% of your travel costs.

After inputting some personal information, such as your age and state of residence, along with your trip details, like travel dates, destination, and trip costs, you'll get an instant quote for the plans available for your trip. And from there, it's easy to compare each option based on your coverage needs and budget.

Now let's look at a few examples to estimate Aegis's coverage costs.

As of 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following Aegis travel insurance quotes:

• Trip Cancellation: $43
• Choice: $53
• Pandemic Plus: $105
• Cruise: $112

Premiums for Aegis plans are between 2.7% and 4.2% of the trip's cost, well below the average cost of travel insurance. It's also relatively cheap compared to many of its competitors

Aegis provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

• Trip Cancellation: $59
• Choice: $70
• Pandemic Plus: $140
• Cruise: $142

Once again, premiums for Aegis plans are between 3.6% and 3.8%, below the average cost for travel insurance.

A 65-year-old couple looking to escape New York for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following Aegis quotes:

• Trip Cancellation: $438
• Choice: $404
• Pandemic Plus: $372
• Cruise: $620

Premiums for Aegis plans are between 6.5% and 9.2%, which is roughly in line with the average cost for travel insurance. This is to be expected, as travel insurance is often more expensive for older travelers.

Aegis Annual Travel Insurance Cost

Quotes for Aegis' annual plans are as follows for a 35-year-old from Iowa:

• Preferred Plan: $145
• Primary Plan: $198

How to Purchase and Manage Your Aegis Policy

To purchase an Aegis policy, you'll have to obtain a quote on its website. You'll need to be able to provide information about yourself and your trip including: 

• Destination(s)
• Total trip cost
• Age of traveler(s)
• Primary email
• Travel dates
• Date of deposit
• State of residence

Aegis gives you quotes on all five of its policies on one page. Once you make a decision, you can also add any available upgrades to your policy, such as pre-existing condition waivers, CFAR coverage, rental car damage, and higher coverage limits. 

How to File a Claim with Aegis

To start a claim, you need to first contact a claims agent over the phone at 866-753-0945 (option 3), sending an email on Aegis' website , or through its live chat service. They'll help you determine which benefits you should file for and supplementary documents you should provide. Your files may even be pre-screened to ensure you have the correct information.

You'll receive an email that gives you access to Aegis's claims portal, where you can file claims and monitor their statuses. Aegis says that claims will be processed within seven to 10 business days. 

Aegis Customer Service and Claims Process

Customer reviews of Aegis are almost solely concentrated on SquareMouth, where it has 4.06 stars out of five across over 1,100 reviews. Reviews that focused on the process of buying a policy were almost unanimously positive. Customer service was helpful in adjusting any policies pre-departure.

However, reviews on Aegis's claims process were more mixed. According to customers, the claims team was hard to get a hold of and the process often took over a month, well over the promised processing window.

Learn more about how Aegis Travel Insurance stacks up against the competition. 

Aegis Travel Insurance vs. HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance

HTH Worldwide's most popular TripProtector Preferred plan comes with $500,000 in emergency medical coverage, $50,000 in trip cancellation, $2,000 in baggage loss/damage, and $2,000 in trip delay insurance.

With Aegis's Choice plan, you'll get $250,000 in emergency medical assistance, 150% of trip cost in trip cancellation, $500 in baggage loss/damage coverage, and $200 for baggage delays, and you can get upgraded protection.

In comparing the two plans, you'll see that Aegis travel insurance offers better coverage when it comes to medical protections, but falls short, compared to HTH Worldwide, when it comes to travel coverages.

Read our HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance review here.

Aegis Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Like Aegis travel insurance, Allianz offers single-trip policies as well as policies for those who plan to travel for a longer period of time. And, like with all insurance, the different plans provide varying degrees of coverage.

Allianz's most popular single-trip option is the OneTrip Prime plan, which offers trip cancellation coverage up to $100,000, trip interruption coverage up to $150,000, emergency medical coverage for $50,000, coverage for baggage loss, theft or damage up to $1,000, and travel delay coverage up to $800.

In comparison, Aegis's Choice plan offers $250,000 in emergency medical assistance, evacuation and repatriation insurance. And it comes with up to $500 in baggage loss or damage coverage and $200 if your bags are delayed. Upgraded protection is also an option.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review here.

Aegis Travel Insurance vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

Be sure to take a look at your travel credit card's insurance coverage before buying a separate policy. Some coverages, like rental car coverage, might already be included.

Let's say, for example, you're taking a road trip and have very minimal (if any) pre-paid or non-refundable trip expenses. In that case, the coverage from your credit card will likely suffice. Or maybe your main concern is trip and baggage delay and cancellation coverage because your current health coverage covers you overseas. That's another instance where credit card insurance coverage might do the trick!

Worth noting, though, is that sometimes credit card coverage is secondary. This means you'll have to make a claim with your other applicable insurance before making a claim with your credit card company.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Aegis Travel Insurance

When reviewing Aegis travel insurance travel insurance, we considered various factors such as types of coverage, claim limits, available policy add-ons, and costs. We then compared these findings to similar plans from other top travel insurance companies.

In the end, the best policy is the one that offers an adequate amount and type of coverage depending on your needs and budget. It should also be user-friendly in case you have to make a claim sometime in the future.

Read more about how Business Insider reviews insurance products here.

Aegis Travel Insurance FAQs

Aegis covers COVID-19 like any other illness under its medical and cancellation coverage. It also offers coverage for travel delay due to COVID quarantine.

No, you cannot purchase an Aegis plan for a trip in progress.

To file a claim with Aegis, you must first contact a claims agent, who will email you access to the Aegis claims portal, where you can file your claim and keep track of any updates.

Aegis will cover pre-existing medical conditions as long as you purchase your policy within 24 hours or 14 days of your initial trip deposit, depending on your policy. Aegis's Choice plan offers pre-existing condition coverage as an upgrade instead of an inclusion, though the 14-day window still applies.

Aegis' Pandemic Plus, Choice, and Trip Cancellation coverage can be extended by up to seven days.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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