Award-winning Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Finding and booking travel insurance can be a potentially confusing and time-consuming affair. That's why we've put together this list of the top insurance queries, so you can spend less time being confused and more time getting on with your holiday plans.
Searching for your policy
If you're not sure what you need out of a travel insurance policy, you can cut down your searching time with these essential Q&As:
What destinations do you provide cover for?
Our travel insurance offers cover for trips globally: from Europe to America, Africa to Asia. If you're not entirely sure where your holiday falls under, then this is easily found out by simply entering the name of the country into the travelling to box, or selecting either European or Worldwide regions.
United Kingdom
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Europe 1 (Europe exc. Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Greece & Turkey)
Albania, Andorra, Austria, the Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Channel Islands, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland (including Lapland), France, Gibraltar, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Republic), the Isle of Man, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Vatican City.
Europe 2 (Europe inc. Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Greece & Turkey)
All countries listed in Europe 1 plus Cyprus, Greece (including the Greek Islands), Malta, Spain (including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands) and Turkey.
Australia/New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand.
Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean
All countries of the world EXCEPT:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, St Eustatius and Saba, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, St Barthelemy / St Barts, St Croix, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten/St Martin, St Thomas, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States of America, Virgin Islands (UK), Virgin Islands (US).
Worldwide including USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean
All countries of the world.
Note:
Some countries or areas are considered too dangerous for travel. We define these to be areas which are subject to War and Civil Unrest and as such, will NOT provide cover for. These include:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen.
Which region do I need to choose?
Depending on which country or countries you're visiting, you can select one of the following regions on the drop down menu:
- Europe - including Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Greece & Turkey
- Worldwide - excluding USA, Canada or the Caribbean
- Worldwide - including USA, Canada or the Caribbean
The countries that are considered "excluded" and require a specific European or Worldwide policy often have higher health care costs, so should anything happen to you, there is slightly higher premium to cover this.
If you are unsure which region your destination falls under, you can click the link "Not sure? Enter your destination" underneath the "Travelling to?" drop down menu of the search bar.
Will I be covered for day trips, excursions and holidays with multiple destinations?
Yes, we provide cover for both European and Worldwide (outside of Europe) travel. If you are travelling to multiple destinations around Europe, then a European policy would be sufficient. For travel outside of Europe, you'll need to get yourself a Worldwide policy.
Check out our Worldwide and European insurance pages for more information on booking a policy.
Will I be covered for day trips, excursions and holidays with multiple destinations?
Yes, we provide cover for both European and Worldwide (outside of Europe) travel. If you are travelling to multiple destinations around Europe, then a European policy would be sufficient. For travel outside of Europe, you'll need to get yourself a Worldwide policy.
Check out our Worldwide and European insurance pages for more information on booking a policy.
I'm over 75 — can I still get travel insurance?
We can offer a quote to customers over 75; however, there will be no cover if you are travelling against the advice of the FCDO.
All or part of my trip involves cruising — what cover do I need?
If all or part of your trip is aboard a cruise, you will need to take out a cruise policy, which covers cruise-specific necessities such as missed excursions, itinerary changes, and cabin confinement. You will be asked to confirm if you're going on a cruise during the initial stages of the quote/booking process.
What happens if I have to cancel my trip due to ill health?
All our policies come with cancellation cover, including if you needed to call off your trip due to ill health.
Your policy covers you against any unforeseen circumstances beyond reasonable control. If you need to cancel your trip, the authorisation must come from your GP or consultant.
Conditions do vary from policy to policy, as well as situation to situation. For a better understanding of what we will cover, please refer to your policy wording.
Policy terminology
We've tried to allievate some of the mystery surrounding a lot of the jargon used in the insurance industry, so you can feel confident in finding a policy most suitable for you.
What is an excess in travel insurance?
A standard excess on a travel insurance policy refers to the amount deducted before a claim is paid out. Essentially, it is a sum of money varying from £0 to £150 that you have to pay towards a claim on a policy. This amount varies depending on which cover level you have chosen.
What is airline insolvency?
This is when the airline you were booked to travel with dissolves due to bankruptcy or other compromising factors. In such a situation, travellers can risk losing a significant amount of money, as tickets are rendered worthless.
While most package holidays come with ATOL protection which insures against airline insolvency, this does not extend to travellers who purchased tickets and other travel services independently.
How do you define a UK resident?
To meet the criteria to purchase travel insurance, you and anyone named on the policy must qualify as a resident of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or British Forces Posted Overseas and have resided there for more than 6 months out of the last 12 months.
I'm a British citizen living abroad — can I book travel insurance with Holiday Extras?
Unfortunately not. You must be a permanent resident of the UK to be eligible to purchase travel insurance. Your trip must also start and finish in the UK too.
Single and Annual policies
Not sure whether to buy a single or an annual policy? Have a look at the differences below to gauge what will best suit your travel plans.
How many days does a single trip policy cover?
Holiday Extras single trip travel insurance policies provide travellers with comprehensive cover for one trip of up to 365 days. For more information, visit our single trip policies page.
What does an Annual Travel Insurance policy cover?
An Annual Travel Insurance policy covers you for an unlimited amount of trips abroad throughout the year, with a maximum limit for each trip depending on your cover level. For more information, visit our Annual Travel Insurance page.
Is there a limit to the number of days I can be abroad on an annual policy?
Yes, there is a limit depending on which level of cover you have taken out. Like most insurers, we limit our annual policies to a maximum number of days you can be away for, not the number of trips you can take within a year. With Holiday Extras annual travel insurance policy, the maximum number of days abroad per trip are:
- Bronze - 22 consecutive days per trip
- Silver - 31 consecutive days per trip
- Gold - 45 consecutive days per trip
- Backpacker - Up to 550 days
How do I book Backpacker travel insurance?
Please visit our Backpacker travel insurance page for detailed information on how to book your Backpacker travel insurance.
Travellers on a group annual travel insurance policy can travel independently throughout the year of cover. However, anyone on the policy under 18 years of age cannot travel independently and will need to be accompanied by an adult also on the policy.
Take a look at our travel insurance pages for group travel insurance and couples travel insurance for more information
Medical questions
Finding the right medical cover for any pre-existing conditions you might have is the more complicated aspect of travel insurance. It's so important to get right, and is one of the biggest costs when making a claim. To find out exactly what you need to know before booking your medical cover, take some time to read over customers' most pressing medical-related questions.
What is a pre-existing medical condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is any condition affecting your health prior to booking your travel insurance policy. All insurers will want to know your medical history before you purchase a policy with them.
No matter if the condition is no longer active or being treated, failing to declare any pre-existing medical conditions when taking out travel insurance could render your policy invalid.
For more information on travel insurance with medical conditions, check out our medical conditions page.
What is a medical screening?
When applying for travel insurance with medical conditions, you have to complete a medical screening, either online or over the phone. This is simply a set of questions related to the condition of your health, designed to ascertain the type and severity or risk of the pre-existing medical condition you have.
Managing your policy
Once you have made your booking, find out the best ways to access your policy and help us answer any other transactional questions you might have.
I can't find my confirmation, what do I do?
You can login to your account to see your booking, and from there you can view or resend your confirmation. If you have applied for a postal confirmation and you haven't received it, please get in touch with us via live chat on our Insurance Support Page and we will send you another copy in the post.
My booking starts today, but I need to change it. What can I do?
If you need to change or cancel your booking, we need at least 24 hours before the stay date to make the changes. We would recommend that you get in touch with us at the earliest possibility to see if anything can be done. Details will be found in your email confirmation.
While travelling
Hopefully nothing out of the ordinary will happen while you're away, but it never hurts to be prepared and to have insurance-related questions for when you're abroad.
What do I do if there's an emergency during my trip?
If something unfortunately happens to you while you're on holiday, we have appointed Emergency Assistance Facilities as our dedicated 24-hour emergency assistance service. They are available over the phone, on live chat, or via email. In the case of an emergency, you should contact them as soon as you're able on the numbers below (depending on your current location):
Emergency Assistance:
24 hours, 7 days a week
- Tel: +44 (0) 1403 788 718 (if You are anywhere except the USA, Canada, or Mexico)
- Tel: +1-844-780-0494 (toll free if You are in the USA or Canada)
- Tel: 00 1 819 780 0494 (if You are in Mexico)
I might be taking part in activities while I'm away, will I be covered to do them?
We would recommend that you double-check the policy wording to assess what level of cover your planned activity falls under. If you're taking part in an activity that isn't listed, please feel free to give us a call and see if we can help.
For more information on the specific cover level an activity falls under, please check out our sports travel insurance page, which provides a detailed list of all sports, including those that aren't covered by us.
I might be taking part in activities while I'm away, will I be covered to do them?
We would recommend that you double-check the policy wording to assess what level of cover your planned activity falls under. If you're taking part in an activity that isn't listed, please feel free to give us a call and see if we can help.
For more information on the specific cover level an activity falls under, please check out our sports travel insurance page, which provides a detailed list of all sports, including those that aren't covered by us.
Where can I find my policy documents?
For more information on the exact wording of your policy, please check out our policy documents page.
Understanding Travel Insurance Post-Brexit
Planning a trip to the EU or beyond? Understand how Brexit may impact your travel insurance, from medical cover to trip delays, and ensure you're prepared for smooth and secure travel.
Does my travel insurance cover Brexit-related disruptions?
Most travel insurance policies cover disruptions explicitly listed in the terms and conditions. Brexit-related issues, such as new visa requirements or changes in entry rules, are generally not covered unless specified in your policy. Ensure your policy includes coverage for cancellations, delays, or additional costs due to unforeseen regulatory changes.
Do I need a new travel insurance policy for EU travel after Brexit?
While most policies remain valid post-Brexit, it's essential to check whether your insurer covers medical expenses and repatriation in the EU. The Global Health Insurance (GHIC) also offers some protection but is not a substitute for travel insurance.
Can I still take my pet abroad after Brexit?
Yes, you can still take your pet abroad after Brexit, but the process has changed. As of January 2021, UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. Instead, you'll need to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for your pet. This certificate must be issued by a vet no more than 10 days before travel and is valid for a single trip to the EU, onward travel within the EU for four months, and re-entry to Great Britain within four months. Your pet must also be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travel. For dogs travelling to certain countries, a tapeworm treatment is required. Always check the latest government guidelines before planning your trip.
What will happen to my European Health Insurance Card after Brexit?
If you already have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can continue to use it until its expiry date for accessing medically necessary healthcare during temporary stays in EU countries. However, after Brexit, the UK introduced the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaces the EHIC for most people.
Here's what you need to know:
- Valid EHICs: You can use your EHIC until it expires. After that, you'll need to apply for a GHIC.
- GHIC: This new card offers similar healthcare coverage in the EU but does not include coverage in some non-EU countries that were previously part of the EHIC scheme, like Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.
- Key Reminder: The GHIC or EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, as they only cover state-provided emergency healthcare and not private medical treatment or repatriation.
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.
Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.
Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register