Best travel insurance for Americans, Britons, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Irish

Step 1: List what you need cover for. Medical treatment and evacuation are the non‑negotiables. Cancellation, baggage, and personal liability are worth having. Decide your trip value (flights, hotels, tours) to set the cancellation limit.

Step 2: Check your home cover. Call your bank, credit card company, or provincial health plan and ask what they cover abroad. Many UK and Irish travellers have basic cover through a bank account; Australians have Medicare reciprocal care in some countries (not the US). This tells you what gaps to fill.

Step 3: Get at least three quotes with the same limits. Use comparison sites, but also check a couple of insurers directly. Compare the medical limit, evacuation cover, excess, and exclusions — not just the price.

Step 4: Declare pre‑existing conditions. If you have a medical condition, even a well‑managed one, declare it. Undeclared conditions are the most common reason claims are rejected. Some insurers will charge more; others will exclude that condition. You need to know before you travel.

Step 5: Check the adventure sports and activity list. If you plan to ski, dive, hike, or do any activity with an element of risk, confirm it's covered. Many policies exclude "hazardous activities" unless you add them.

Step 6: Read the government advice. Most policies are void if you travel against your government’s travel advisory. Check the advisory for your destination before you buy, and again before you travel.

Step 7: Buy before you book anything non‑refundable. This protects your cancellation cover from day one.

Typical cost ranges are indicative; actual premiums vary by insurer, age, destination and optional add‑ons (check). Buying usually takes a few minutes online; most policies issue documents instantly, but the start date depends on the specific terms (check). Claims settlement times differ; simple medical claims may settle in weeks, while complex cases can take longer (check).

Exclusions differ between policies. Common ones include undeclared pre‑existing conditions, alcohol‑ or drug‑related incidents, and activities labelled hazardous. Some policies may not cover travel that contravenes a government advisory, so check the policy wording and confirm with the insurer.

Some policies exclude cover for the first 24–48 hours of a trip if you buy after departure. Others have a ‘cooling‑off’ period. Check the excess (the amount you pay before the insurer pays) — a low premium often means a high excess.

If you are travelling to the US, medical costs are extreme: a hospital stay can easily exceed US$50,000. Make sure your medical limit is at least US$1 million, and check that your policy covers ‘emergency medical evacuation’ to your home country, not just to the nearest hospital.

Per‑trip policies cover a single journey; annual multi‑trip policies cover all trips in a year, often with a maximum trip length that varies by insurer. Compare the actual quote amounts and limits to decide which is cheaper for your travel pattern.

The features worth paying for: a high medical limit (US$1 M+), emergency evacuation and repatriation, 24/7 assistance in your language, cancellation cover equal to your trip cost, and cover for your specific activities. Features not worth paying extra for: ‘free’ extras like car‑hire excess waivers if you never hire cars.

Some credit cards include travel insurance, but the cover is often basic: low medical limits, no pre‑existing conditions, and no cancellation. Treat it as a backup, not a primary policy, unless you have read the full terms and confirmed the limits.

Answers to the questions travellers ask most.