Written by Tiana Lee-Collins
Reviewed by Adrian Taylor
Last updated 09/10/2023
While the United Kingdom (UK) might be a small country, it certainly has the potential for big adventures, which is why it’s worth protecting your trip with travel insurance. Here are some things you should know:
Travel insurance is always a good idea, and it can help financially cover unexpected situations that disrupt your trip. If you’re still not convinced, here are a few ways travel insurance may benefit you:
Before you choose a travel insurance policy, consider what cover is important to you. To help make sure you’re selecting a suitable policy, consider the following:
Our General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, has some top tips for helping you choose a travel insurance policy for your trip.
Always declare any pre-existing medical conditions when you take out travel insurance to check whether your medical condition will be covered under your policy. This also helps avoid unpleasant financial surprises if you’re injured or become ill while travelling and have your claim rejected.
When thinking about insurance for the UK, consider the cover you need. Comprehensive cover may offer things like medical expenses, cancellation fees, luggage and rental vehicle excess, which are important benefits to include in your policy. You may also be covered in the event of a natural disaster, pandemic or crisis, but this depends on whether travel warnings were in place before you purchased cover.
If you plan to travel several times a year, you may find greater value in purchasing an annual multi-trip policy. This type of travel insurance can cover all your trips for a full year, up to the maximum trip limit of your policy.
Anyone planning to travel should consider travel insurance. No matter your destination, travel insurance helps you maintain peace of mind on your trip knowing you’re covered if things go wrong.
The UK is packed full of pleasures, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions. In the event of unforeseen mishaps, travel insurance could help keep you from paying for these interruptions out of pocket.
From medical treatment in an emergency to personal liability expenses if you, additional emergency travel expenses due to flight delays or trip cancellation cover if you need to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen circumstance; no trip is complete without this essential travel protection.
Getting insured for a trip to multiple destinations shouldn’t be too different than doing so for a single trip. Some insurers bundle in multiple countries anyway, and even entire continents. However, most will insist you commence cover while you’re still in Australia, so check which countries your policy covers you for before you leave.
If you plan on staying overseas for longer than a few weeks, consider long-term travel insurance.
You may wish to do a working holiday in the UK. If this is the case, you may want a travel insurance policy that spans a longer period and covers working.
Read through the policy wording of your PDS to understand the specifics of your cover. Remember to check whether or not your medical cover will pay claims relating to workplace injuries. In addition, check that you understand what cover is included for Australians travelling and working overseas. You’ll also need to apply for a working holiday visa to enter the UK if you plan to work.
Even before you take off on your adventure, your travel cover could be taking care of you. One of the great things about having a travel insurance provider with higher levels of cover is that they can help you get money back if illness or cancellations prevent you from departing in the first place.
Comprehensive travel insurance may help you recoup costs associated with those delays and cancellations, especially if you incur additional travel or accommodation expenses (provided you aren’t compensated elsewhere).
Rental car excess cover
Driving in the UK is a form of transport you may need to rely on, but conditions on these roads vary greatly from Aussie ones.
The UK has a lot of vehicles operating in a small space, so it’s important to be careful when driving through congested roads. With travel insurance, the rental car excess you would have to pay in the event of an accident or theft may be covered by your policy. Remember to always check the policy documents, including the PDS, to know exactly how you’re covered.
Learn more about travelling with an Australian or international driver’s licence here.
Coverage for medical costs
The UK and Australia do have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, through which Australians can access subsidised public healthcare when travelling in the UK. However, you won’t be covered for everything, and you may still need to pay some medical expenses related to treatment.
With your travel insurance cover for your UK holiday, any medical costs (e.g. doctor and hospital fees, emergency transportation, prescription medication, evacuation or dental) may be taken care of. In the worst circumstances, it could even take care of repatriation costs, or expenses related to the accidental death of you or your travelling partner, depending on the type of cover you have.
Lost, stolen or damaged belongings
The UK is a reasonably safe place to travel; however, you should still take precautions no matter your travel destination. When possible, keep your travel documents and credit cards separately from your cash in the case of theft. If your belongings or valuables do get stolen, damaged or lost, your travel insurance policy could have you covered; just bear in mind that conditions and sub-limits may apply.
There are some events and circumstances in which your travel insurer won’t pay out your claim. These exclusions may differ between policies and insurers, but here are some standard ones:
