Most of us buy travel insurance in the gap between booking a holiday and packing for it, and pick the cheapest policy that looks respectable. That works until the claim. The policies below differ hugely on the things that decide whether you get paid: how much medical cover you have, the excess you pay on every claim, whether your medical conditions are covered and who actually underwrites the policy.
This guide is for people who live in the UK and are buying cover for holidays, city breaks, long-haul trips and family travel. We compared seven insurers that sell to UK residents, checked each one’s regulatory status and underwriter, and focused on the details that matter when something goes wrong. Prices depend on your age, health, destination and dates, so we explain what moves the premium rather than quoting a figure you will never see.
At a glance: the best UK travel insurance
| Rank | Insurer | Price (GBP) | Best for | Standout fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Staysure | On quote | Medical conditions and over-50s | 1,300+ conditions screened; unlimited medical on Comprehensive |
| 2 | True Traveller | On quote | Backpackers and long-haul | £10m medical on every plan |
| 3 | AllClear | On quote | Serious or multiple conditions | No upper age limit; unlimited medical on Platinum |
| 4 | Saga | On quote | Over-50s and cruises | Up to £15m medical; no upper age limit |
| 5 | Post Office | On quote | Mainstream holidays | Excess from £50 on Premier |
| 6 | Holiday Extras | On quote | High medical limits | £15m medical even on Bronze |
| 7 | World Nomads | On quote | Active under-65s | Buy or extend while abroad |
How we chose these policies
We did not make claims on these policies. We read each insurer’s product pages, Insurance Product Information Documents (IPIDs) and, where published, policy wording; checked the regulatory statements on each site and the firm reference numbers they quote; and used independent sources such as Which? and Defaqto ratings for context. Medical limits, excesses and cancellation cover come from the insurers’ own pages unless we say otherwise.
We weighted medical and repatriation cover most heavily, then medical screening, cancellation limits, excess and flexibility, such as buying cover from abroad. Every insurer here sells to UK residents, but each is regulated slightly differently, which matters if you ever need the Financial Ombudsman Service.
The best UK travel insurance policies, ranked
1. Staysure
Staysure, founded in 2004, has built its name on covering people other insurers turn away. It screens more than 1,300 medical conditions and says 97% of customers with conditions are accepted. Its Comprehensive policy, single trip or annual, includes unlimited emergency medical cover, £5,000 of cancellation cover (optionally £9,000) and £2,500 for baggage, according to its current IPID. Signature raises cancellation cover to as much as £15,000. Single-trip and annual policies are sold with no upper age limit.
Staysure is a trading name of TICORP Limited, which is authorised in Gibraltar and lists FCA firm reference number 663617 for trading into the UK. Policies are administered by Howserv Limited (FRN 599282) and underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited (FRN 955859).
Price: on quote; your age, conditions and destination drive the premium
Pros
- Unlimited medical cover on Comprehensive and Signature
- Defaqto 5 Star rated Comprehensive and Signature policies
- Free Travel Doctor video GP service, up to three appointments per person
Cons
- Basic has much lower limits and a £129 excess
- The selling firm is authorised in Gibraltar rather than directly by the FCA
Read our full Staysure review.
2. True Traveller
True Traveller is our pick for backpackers, gap-year travellers and anyone heading long-haul on an active trip. Every plan includes £10m of medical and repatriation cover, 92 activities are covered as standard, and you can buy a policy after you have left home, with a 48-hour wait before cover starts. Medical conditions are screened online and covered if accepted.
The True Traveller Limited is FCA authorised (FRN 756107) and the insurer is Inter Partner Assistance S.A., part of the AXA Group. Single-trip cover runs to age 75 and multi-trip to 65.
Price: on quote
Pros
- £10m medical on every plan
- Can be bought while already abroad
- Winter Sports pack covers off-piste skiing
Cons
- True Value carries a £125 excess
- Multi-trip cover stops at 65
Read our True Traveller review.
3. AllClear
AllClear is a specialist for pre-existing medical conditions and says it covers more than 1,300 of them, with no upper age limit. It quoted cover in more than 99.5% of quotes in 2025, by its own figures. Emergency medical cover is £10m on Gold, £15m on Gold Plus and unlimited on Platinum.
AllClear policies are arranged by IES Limited, licensed in Gibraltar and quoting FCA FRN 824283 for its UK business, and administered by AllClear Insurance Services Limited, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 311244). AllClear’s help centre does not name the underwriter for its Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum policies, so check the policy wording you are sent before you pay.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Built for serious and multiple conditions
- No upper age limit
- Unlimited medical on Platinum
Cons
- Premiums for complex conditions can be high
- Underwriter not shown on the main pages
4. Saga
Saga sells travel insurance to people aged 50 and over, with no upper age limit, and lets you add family and friends under 50 who travel with you. There are three levels: Essential with up to £2m of medical cover and £1,000 cancellation, Standard with £5m and £5,000, and Plus with £15m and £15,000 (with an option to raise cancellation to £40,000 by phone). Many pre-existing conditions are covered after screening.
Saga Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (No. 311557). Policies are underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited, with claims handled by Collinson Insurance Services.
Price: on quote
Pros
- No upper age limit
- Up to £40,000 cancellation cover on Plus by phone
- Covers many conditions
Cons
- Essential’s £2m medical is low for long-haul
- Main policyholder must be 50 or over
5. Post Office
Post Office Travel Insurance is a mainstream choice with three clear levels. Economy has a £125 excess and £5m of medical cover, Standard £99 and £10m, and Premier £50 and £15m. It considers all medical conditions and says it covers most of them. Single trips can last up to 365 days to age 70, 90 days from 71 to 75 and 31 days from 76.
Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 630318). Its policy wording names the underwriter as Collinson Insurance, a trading name of Astrenska Insurance Limited (FRN 202846), with claims and assistance handled by Collinson Insurance Services.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Lowest excess here on Premier (£50)
- £15m medical on Premier
- Clear age bands for single trips
Cons
- Economy’s £125 excess eats into small claims
- Trip length shrinks sharply after 70
6. Holiday Extras
Holiday Extras sells three levels with unusually high medical cover: £15m on Bronze, £20m on Silver and unlimited on Gold. Gold also includes £5,000 of cancellation cover, £5,000 for belongings and £1,250 for gadgets. Policies are sold by Holiday Extras Cover Limited (FCA 828848) and underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited (FRN 955859).
Price: on quote
Pros
- £15m medical even on the entry level
- Gadget cover included on every level
- Optional winter sports cover
Cons
- Bronze’s £1,000 cancellation cover is low
- Winter sports add-on stops at age 64
7. World Nomads
World Nomads suits healthy under-65s on active trips. The UK policy pays £5m of medical cover on Standard and £10m on Explorer, and you can buy or extend online while already abroad, with a 72-hour wait. Activity Level 1 is included, with three higher levels at extra cost.
Policies are sold by International Medical Group Limited trading as World Nomads (FCA 311496) and underwritten by Collinson Insurance, a trading name of Astrenska Insurance Limited (FRN 202846).
Price: on quote
Promo Code: WNFOUND, World Nomads’ own code, takes 5% off when you buy directly (not with affiliate links or other offers)
Pros
- Buy or extend from anywhere
- Adventure activities by level
- £10m medical on Explorer
Cons
- Pre-existing conditions are excluded, not screened
- UK policies stop at age 64
Read our World Nomads review.
Single trip or annual multi-trip?
A single-trip policy covers one journey with fixed dates. It is usually the better choice if you travel once a year, take one long trip, or have medical conditions that make every quote expensive. An annual multi-trip policy covers every trip in a 12-month period, but each trip has a maximum length, so check that limit against your longest holiday. As a rule of thumb, two or more trips abroad a year often makes an annual policy worth pricing, and annual cover means you are insured for cancellation from the moment you book your next trip.
Annual policies also differ on winter sports: some include a set number of ski days, others need an add-on. Staysure’s annual Comprehensive policy includes up to 21 days of winter sports a year, for example.
The GHIC: useful, but not travel insurance
UK residents can apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card, the GHIC, through the NHS. It lasts up to five years and gives access to necessary state healthcare, meaning treatment that cannot reasonably wait until you get home, in the European Economic Area and a handful of other places, including Montenegro and Australia, on the same terms as locals. In Switzerland it applies only to certain nationalities. If locals pay a charge, you pay it too. Apply only through the NHS GHIC page; other sites charge for a card that is free.
The GHIC does not pay for medical repatriation, private treatment or ski and mountain rescue, and it is no help with cancellations or lost bags. The NHS says it “is not a replacement for travel insurance”.
Pre-existing medical conditions
You must declare every condition the insurer asks about, along with medications and any tests you are waiting for. Undeclared conditions are one of the commonest reasons claims are turned down. Specialists such as Staysure and AllClear screen more than 1,300 conditions; True Traveller screens online; Saga and Post Office cover many conditions; World Nomads excludes them.
If you are refused or quoted a premium you cannot afford, the government-backed MoneyHelper service runs a directory of specialist firms, and Post Office lists its free phone line, 0800 138 7777.
How to choose UK travel insurance
What matters
- Medical and repatriation cover: at least £5m for Europe and £10m for long-haul, especially the USA.
- Cancellation cover: enough to cover everything you have paid up front.
- Excess: nothing on Staysure Signature, and up to £129 on Staysure Basic among the policies here that publish it; a high excess wipes out small claims.
- Medical screening: declare everything and check conditions are named as covered.
- Regulation: check the firm and underwriter on the FCA register before you buy.
What to ignore
- Long lists of minor benefits you will never claim, such as small personal accident payouts.
- Cheap “Basic” policies with low medical cover and a high excess, if you can afford the next level up.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best travel insurance in the UK?
It depends on your health and travel. Staysure is our top pick for people with medical conditions and over-50s, True Traveller for backpackers and long-haul trips, and AllClear for serious or multiple conditions.
Is Staysure regulated?
Staysure is a trading name of TICORP Limited, authorised by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission and listing FCA FRN 663617 for its UK business. Policies are administered by Howserv Limited (FRN 599282) and underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited (FRN 955859).
Is a GHIC enough for a holiday in Europe?
No. It covers necessary state healthcare on local terms, but not repatriation, private treatment, mountain rescue, cancellation or lost belongings.
Which travel insurance has no upper age limit?
Staysure, AllClear and Saga all sell cover with no upper age limit, though premiums rise with age and some trip lengths are restricted.
Is annual or single trip travel insurance cheaper?
If you take two or more trips abroad a year, an annual policy is often cheaper overall. Compare a quote for both, and check the annual policy’s maximum trip length.
Can I buy travel insurance after I have left the UK?
Some insurers allow it. True Traveller applies a 48-hour wait and World Nomads a 72-hour wait before cover starts, and neither covers cancellation in that case.
