Travel Insurance For U.K. Trips

Although no one expects to cancel a trip, there’s always the possibility that an unexpected event could cause you to cancel your travel plans. That’s what trip cancellation insurance is for: To protect your trip investment if you need to cancel.

The reasons you could cancel and make a claim mostly centre on emergency or other unfortunate reasons: A death in the family or of a travelling companion, a life-threatening family situation or a national emergency either at home or at the country of your destination. For example, if there were a terrorist attack three days before you fly to London, that would typically be a covered reason.

Trip cancellation reimburses you 100% for the prepaid and non-refundable costs of your cancelled trip. If you have fully refundable plane tickets, for example, that would not be a claim under travel insurance.

Or if you have a falling out with your travel companion the week before your trip, that’s not a covered reason to make a claim.

If you want to have the most flexibility for cancelling—family disputes, fear of travel, rainy weather—then you should consider a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) insurance upgrade.

Adding CFAR will raise the cost of your travel insurance but gives you the broadest latitude to cancel and make an insurance claim. You can typically receive reimbursement for 50% or 75% under a “cancel for any reason” claim.

Travel delay benefits cover your extra costs if you experience a delay while travelling due to a host of covered reasons. For example, if you are all set to catch your 10 p.m. flight to London and leave your house at 6 p.m. to head to the airport, and the highway is shut down due by an accident and you miss your flight, you can file a claim.

You can make a claim for expenses such as rebooking your flight or losing the money on your first night of prepaid hotel accommodations.

If your flight is delayed while you’re waiting in the airport, you could make a claim for meals and toiletries you needed during that time.

Check the policy for the required time delay before benefits kick in (such as six hours) and for the cap on the amount of reimbursement per person.

Trip interruption is what’s known as a “post-departure benefit” because it would happen after you’ve started your trip. Commonly covered reasons include injury, illness or death of the traveller or travelling companion, terrorist events, severe weather or a family emergency at home.

Your policy’s benefits will cover the costs associated with last-minute flights, transportation and any unused and prepaid deposits you will lose if you abandon the trip early.

Baggage loss coverage encompasses more than luggage that gets lost in transit. The scope of coverage includes baggage and personal belongings.

While in any travel destination, particularly urban centres, there can be petty theft, pickpockets and the potential to have your belongings swiped.

“Baggage benefits in a travel insurance policy can cover a repair, replacement or reimbursement of your items,” says Christina Tunnah, General Manager of Marketing and Brands with World Nomads, a travel insurance company. That could include your wallet, purse, a mobile phone or other property—up to the cash value at the time they were stolen.

However, cash and credit cards are usually excluded from travel insurance policies, though some policies reimburse you up to a small limit, such as $100. In the case of card theft, you should call your credit card company to put a stop on your card. Also, try to minimize the amount of cash you carry on you while travelling.

If you are the victim of a theft, be sure to file a loss report with the police or other local authority (airline, hotel manager, tour leader, etc.). When you’re ready to file a claim, you’ll need to provide the loss report and show proof of ownership, such as receipts for any stolen items.

The reimbursement amount will be determined by a depreciation formula set by the travel insurance company. Don’t expect to get compensated for the amount that you originally paid for the item. Per-article and total maximum limits might also apply.

A provincial or territorial health insurance plan will likely not cover any medical costs in the U.K. While travelling, there’s always a risk of illness or injury, so a travel insurance policy with travel medical insurance is essential for international travel.

For example, road safety is a consideration for a U.K. trip.

Driving on the left side of the road and the right side of the car can be unfamiliar and confusing for Canadian drivers. “Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere, at any time, not just behind the wheel or at a specific destination,” says Tunnah. “Emergency medical coverage can help defray some of the costs of medical treatment, including ambulance transfers, hospital stays, doctor’s visits and prescription medicine.”

The sprawling rural settings of the U.K. welcome travellers to meander and explore historical sites, charming cottages and a slower pace of life.

But remote rural settings often mean a lack of high-quality medical care. If you fall during a walking tour, for example, and need to be treated for a broken limb, a local medical clinic is unlikely to be properly equipped.

This is where a robust travel insurance policy is a life-saver. You should always keep the 24/7 emergency hotline of your travel insurance company in your phone or handy somewhere else. If you need emergency medical help, this is an outstanding and efficient resource. Your insurance company’s travel emergency team will coordinate medical attention on your behalf and can dispatch a medivac to transport you to a medical facility that can treat your injury, wherever it may be.

Without travel insurance coverage, you would have to pay out of pocket for medical transport and care, which could run you thousands of dollars. The nominal cost of a travel insurance policy safeguards you and your travel companions in many ways.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re sampling the best pubs (haggis anyone?), tickling your green thumb at the famous British gardens or exploring the rugged coastline, heather-clad moors and ancient castles, no trip to the U.K. is complete without comprehensive travel insurance—and a sturdy umbrella.