Travel Insurance UK

Planning international travel to the United Kingdom can be an exciting experience, whether you're exploring historic cities, countryside villages, or renowned cultural landmarks. Having the right travel protection in place can help you manage unexpected events. Travel insurance for the UK can include coverage for emergency medical expenses, trip cancellations, and lost personal belongings, giving you options if things don’t go as planned. While the UK’s healthcare system is widely recognized, it may not cover visitors, so having travel insurance cover for medical treatment or emergency evacuation can be essential. From single trips to annual multi-trip policies, there are various options available to suit your travel style. 

1. How Does Travel Insurance Work in the UK?
2. Do I need Travel Insurance for the United Kingdom?
3. How much does Travel Insurance cost for the United Kingdom?
4. Our Suggested AXA Travel Protection Plan 
5. Traveling with pre-existing Medical Conditions? 
6. Does the UK have any COVID-19 restrictions for U.S. Visitors?
7. Do you need Car Insurance to drive in the UK?
8. Are there any other requirements for Traveling to the UK?

What Should Your Travel Insurance Policy Cover for a Trip to the UK? 

Your travel insurance policy should cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, and emergency medical expenses. When it comes to international travel, the US Department of State outlines key components that should be included in your travel insurance coverage. AXA Travel Protection plans are designed with these coverages in mind: 

• Medical Coverage – The priority is making sure your health is in order. With AXA Travel Insurance, you can have access to quality medical coverage and healthcare during your trip overseas in the event of unexpected medical emergencies.    

• Trip Cancellation & Interruptions – Assistance against unexpected trip cancellations or interruptions can dampen the mood. AXA Travel Insurance offers coverage against unforeseen events.  

• Emergency Evacuations and Repatriation– In situations where transportation is dire, AXA Travel Insurance Protection offers provisions for emergency evacuation and repatriation. 

• Coverage for Personal Belongings – AXA Travel Insurance offers coverage for your belongings with assistance against baggage loss or delayed luggage.  

• Optional Cancel for Any Reason – For added flexibility, AXA Travel Insurance offers optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage, allowing you to cancel your trip for non-traditional reasons.  This feature is E exclusive to AXA Platinum Plan holders.  

In a few seconds, you can get a free quote and purchase travel insurance for the United Kingdom. 

How Does Travel Insurance Work in the UK?

With AXA Travel Insurance, you receive access to our 24/7 emergency hotline.  Speak to a licensed multilingual travel assistance agent, who can help assist and direct emergency transportation if necessary to your location. With an AXA Travel Protection plan, we are here to assist and support you whenever and wherever you may be. 
Here’s the entire list of benefits travelers can access with an AXA Travel Protection Plan: 

Medical Benefits 

• Emergency Medical Expenses: Should you fall ill or have an accident during your trip, your policy may offer coverage for emergency medical expenses, including hospital stays and doctor's fees.  

• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In case of a serious medical emergency, your policy may include provisions for emergency evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or repatriation.  

• Non-Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In non-medical crises (e.g., political unrest), your policy may cover non-emergency evacuation or repatriation, subject to policy terms. 

Baggage Benefits 

• Luggage Delay: If the airline delays your checked baggage, your policy might offer reimbursement for luggage delay of essential items like clothing and toiletries.  

• Lost or Stolen Luggage: In the unfortunate event of permanent loss or theft of your luggage, your policy may offer reimbursement for the stolen luggage, assisting you in replacing your belongings. 

Pre-Departure Travel Benefits 

• Trip Cancellation: You may be eligible for reimbursement in case of a trip cancellation due to a sudden illness or injury. 

• COVID-19 Travel Insurance: COVID-19 travel insurance coverage is available for trip cancellation and medical expenses related to COVID-19, subject to policy terms and conditions.  

• Trip Delay: If your faces a trip delay s due to unforeseen circumstances, you may have coverage for additional expenses such as meals and accommodations. 

Post-Departure Travel Benefits 

• Trip Interruption: In case of an unexpected event that leads to a trip interruption, you could be eligible for reimbursement for the unused portion of your trip. 

• Missed Connection: If you miss a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations, this coverage may help with expenses related to missed connections, like rebooking fees and accommodations. 

Additional Travel Benefits  

• Lost Skier Days: Exclusive to Platinum policyholders, the lost ski days benefit offers reimbursement to mitigate some costs associated with pre-paid ski tickets that you or your traveling companion cannot use due to specified slope closures. 

• Lost Golf Days: Exclusive to AXA Platinum Plan policyholders, the lost golf days optional benefit offers reimbursement to mitigate the expenses linked to prepaid golf arrangements that you or your travel companion are unable to utilize due to specified golf closures.  

Optional Travel Benefits  

• Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver): Exclusive to Gold & Platinum policyholders, this optional benefit gives travelers a rental car collision damage waiver against damage and theft.  

• Cancel for Any Reason: Exclusive to Platinum policyholders; this optional benefit gives travelers more flexibility to cancel their trip for any reason outside of their standard policy.  

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Visiting the United Kingdom? 

While the UK government does not require U.S. citizens to buy travel insurance to enter the country, it is highly advised for anyone planning international travel. Whether you’re taking one trip or multiple UK trips throughout the year, having the right travel insurance policy can help you manage unexpected events with more confidence. 

Here’s why travel insurance UK coverage can be important: 

1. Medical Emergencies: Travelers without international medical coverage may face high medical costs in the event of a sudden illness or injury. A travel insurance policy can include emergency medical expenses, hospital stays, and medical assistance, which are not typically covered by US health plans abroad. 

2. Lost Baggage: Airlines sometimes mishandle baggage, and the last thing you want is to be without your essentials in an unfamiliar place. A travel protection plan offers to cover the cost of replacing necessary items, allowing you to continue on. 

3. Flight Delays: Travel disruptions like flight delays can happen. If you miss a connecting flight or incur additional expenses due to delays, a travel insurance policy can help cover the costs. 

How Much Does a Travel Protection Plan Cost for Visiting the United Kingdom? 

In general, travel protection plan to visit the United Kingdom costs about 3 – 10% of your total prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses. The cost of travel protection plans depends on two factors: 

• Total Trip cost: The total non-prepaid and non-refundable costs you have already paid for your upcoming trip. This includes prepaid excursions, plane tickets, cruise costs, etc. 
• Age: Like any other insurance type, the correlation is rooted in increased health risks associated with older individuals. It's important to note that this doesn't make travel insurance policy unattainable for older individuals. 

With AXA Travel Insurance, travelers to the United Kingdom will be offered four tiers of protection: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Plan. Each provides varying levels of coverage to cater to individuals' 's preferences and travel needs. 

Our Suggested AXA Travel Protection Plan 

AXA Travel Insurance presents travelers with four travel protection plans – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Plan, each offering different levels of coverage to suit individual needs. Given that United Kingdom hospitals often do not accept U.S. health insurance or Medicare, we genuinely suggest travelers consider purchasing any of these plans, particularly for the crucial coverage they offer for emergency accident and sickness medical expenses.   

AXA Platinum Plan is your go-to choice if you're looking for extra coverage aligned with the United Kingdom experience. "Cancel for Any Reason" offers greater flexibility for those unexpected twists in your travel plans, and the "Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver)" offers assistance when you're out exploring the United Kingdom's stunning landscapes in a rental car. 

Additionally, part of the AXA Platinum Plan is the "Lost Ski Days" benefit, offering potential reimbursement if ski resorts unexpectedly close due to ever-changing snow conditions. These perks make the AXA Platinum Plan an excellent option for anyone seeking protection during their exciting United Kingdom adventures. 

Traveling With Pre-existing Medical Conditions 

Traveling with pre-existing medical conditions can complicate your plans, but with AXA Travel Insurance we're here to support you during your trip.   

Our AXA Gold Plan and AXA Platinum Plan plans offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.  The AXA Platinum p Plan, in particular, is our highest-offered choice for travelers who want our highest coverage limits and optional add-ons.,  

What does this mean for you? If you've got a medical condition hanging around, you can qualify for coverage under our AXA Gold Plan and AXA Platinum p Plan with a pre-existing medical condition, so long as it’s within 14 days of placing your initial trip deposit and in our 60-day look-back period. We're here to ensure you travel easily, no matter your health situation. 

Does the UK Have Any COVID-19 Restrictions for US Visitors? 

American visitors can breathe a sigh of relief that the UK no longer has any COVID-19 restrictions for visitors coming from the United States. You do not need to fret over getting a COVID test or submitting proof of vaccination upon arrival in the UK. 

Do You Need Car Insurance to Drive in the UK? 

It’s illegal to drive in the UK without vehicle insurance. This also applies to those driving on an international license, even if it’s for a brief period. If you are renting a car, however, we strongly advise you to purchase rental car insurance. AXA Travel Protection can help you with that by offering Rental Car Insurance (Collision Damage Waiver). This coverage provides extra coverage for your rental car against damage and theft. 

Before you drive abroad, review your vehicle insurance policy wording to ensure your rental coverage is properly included. While some credit card companies or travel providers may offer limited rental protection, they may not provide the same level of specialist cover or protection available through dedicated travel insurance policies. 

Are There Any Other Requirements for Traveling to the UK? 

American citizens are considered non-visa nationals in the UK. Therefore, they neither require a visa (for short-term travel) nor need to fulfill any other conditions to visit and travel across the UK. However, there are several other considerations travelers should be aware of. 

If you’re planning multiple trips throughout the year, an annual multi-trip policy may offer more convenience than purchasing separate single-trip policies. Travelers engaging in activities such as scuba diving or winter sports should review whether their travel protection plan includes optional specialist cover for these higher-risk pursuits. 

Carrying a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can be useful, but it does not replace the need for travel insurance cover, particularly for emergency medical treatment, repatriation costs, or cancelled flights. If your trip includes pre-paid accommodation arranged through a travel agent or holiday provider, ensure your policy covers those costs in case of unexpected events. 

For essential travel or UK trips involving group travel insurance, verify that your policy wording includes benefits such as emergency treatment, personal belongings coverage, and additional cover for travel disruptions. 
 

Final Word 

Before selecting a travel protection plan for your UK trip, take time to review the policy wording to understand what your insurance coverage includes. Look for benefits such as medical cover or cancellation cover. For travelers concerned about lost baggage, specialist insurers may offer gadget cover or personal possessions protection. 

If you’re taking multiple trips, consider whether an annual multi-trip cover fits your travel plans better than a single-trip policy. And for added reassurance, check if your plan includes optional benefits like an excess waiver or additional cover for cancelled flights and travel delays. Understanding your coverage ahead of time can help you manage unexpected events more confidently.  

FAQs about Travel Insurance for the UK 

1. Can you buy a travel protection plan after booking a flight? 

It's advisable to purchase a travel protection plan for your trip as soon as you have made your initial trip deposit (prepaid and non-refundable trip costs). 

AXA Travel Insurance offers coverage as soon as you purchase your protection plan. We can give coverage against unforeseen events before you leave for your trip. Additionally, our plans offer coverage for preexisting medical conditions and Cancel for Any Reason if you purchase your protection plan within 14 days of making your initial trip deposit. 

2. Do Americans need travel insurance for the UK?

UK law doesn’t require US citizens visiting the UK for a short time (up to six months) to carry travel insurance policies. However, getting an international travel protection plan for the United Kingdom for unexpected medical expenses and other unforeseen events is a good idea. 

3. What is needed to visit the United Kingdom from the USA?

U.S. citizens only need a passport and a ticket to travel to the UK. The passport must have at least one empty page and validity for the duration of your trip.

4. What happens if a tourist gets sick in the United Kingdom?

The UK has a National Health System (NHS) that provides medical care nationwide. If a tourist gets sick in the UK, they can get medical care from an NHS center. However, it’s important to note that while the NHS services are not chargeable for the locals, tourists are charged about 150 percent of the cost of their treatment.