The Best Travel Insurance for the United Kingdom

Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland…. We love the UK! Suppose you are also going to travel to this wonderful country. In that case, you may be wondering if you need travel insurance for the United Kingdom or if you can risk travelling without insurance or with a European health insurance card.

If you ask us, it seems FUNDAMENTAL to travel insured, wherever you go. For this reason, let's talk about the best travel insurance for the United Kingdom so that you can travel 100% calmly.

If you follow us regularly, you probably already know: that taking out travel insurance for the United Kingdom (or any other destination) is essential for us. Although the United Kingdom has left the EU, for now, you can continue to use the European Health Insurance Card (TSE). Of course, although it is still in force for 2022, it is not known when this situation can change.

Regardless of the validity of the TSE, for us, it is not enough. The European health insurance card does not cover all expenses or all contingencies. For us, the only way we can enjoy the trip 100% calmly is with special travel insurance.

After comparing A LOT, I'm going to give you a little SPOILER: the best travel insurance for the UK and any other destination for us is. We always travel insured with this insurance company and it is undoubtedly the one that we are also going to recommend for your trip to the United Kingdom.

Do I need UK travel insurance?

You do not legally need travel insurance to enter the UK and you can continue to use your European Health Insurance Card for now. So do you need UK travel insurance or not? YES, and a thousand times, yes! In all our adventures around the world, we have realized that there are aspects of the budget of a trip you cannot (and should not) save. One of them, the most important, is your health and I am going to explain why the European Health Insurance Card is not enough for us.

Therefore, in principle, if you are European you will have basic health care expenses covered in case of emergency under the same conditions as UK residents. If you are not European, I recommend that you check if your country has any reciprocal agreement for medical assistance.

Although in the United Kingdom, it is not mandatory and we have the European health card, we always take out travel insurance when we set out to discover the world. Why? Well, very simple, because the European health card gives you access to the public health system of the country which, in the case of the United Kingdom, is relatively good, similar to Spain, but it will not free you from fixed payments on prescriptions, nor will it cover certain contingencies.

For example, it does not cover other expenses such as repatriation, cancellation, problems with luggage, and transport delays... Even the EU always recommends taking out additional travel insurance!

What is healthcare like and what UK travel insurance do I need?

Public Health in the UK is generally good. Therefore, in an emergency, you can use it for free, as long as you have your European health card. If you are not European and your country does not have agreements with the United Kingdom, you will have to pay the healthcare expenses you use.

Health in the English country varies slightly between the different kingdoms (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), although in general, it is free with some exceptions. For example, each recipe includes a fixed payment of approximately 10 GBP (about 12 euros).

Do you need travel insurance for the United Kingdom if you have a European health insurance card?

Anyone who can justify their legal residence in the United Kingdom can access public health in the country. The public health system is one of the country's greatest pride. Therefore, tourists who can access it, through the European health card or agreement with their country, will be well covered in case of a serious emergency.

In general, with the European health card, you will be able to use the UK health services under the same conditions as any resident of the country. Therefore, you will be able to use the primary health services (family doctor), although it will not be particularly easy to be seen quickly if you have something that 'can wait' such as a cold. You will also have free access to hospital services in 'emergency cases' (this is assessed by a doctor).

Obviously going to London for a weekend is not the same as taking a road trip through the Cotswolds, so think carefully about what decision you are going to make before embarking on your trip.

Keep in mind that going to receive medical assistance at the hospital in less serious cases is not covered by the health system. For this type of need (vomiting, sprains...) you must go to a primary centre if you do not have insurance. Otherwise, you will have to bear the costs.

Despite this, the competent authorities of the United Kingdom, Spain, and Europe always recommend completing your visit to the country with travel insurance for the United Kingdom. And it is that certain contingencies are not covered and that can cause you a BIG scare.

In the event of any more or less serious emergency, you may need ticket changes, repatriation with healthcare, and companion expenses if one of the travellers needs hospitalization... A long list that is not covered by the European health card, nor by some sick leave insurance quality.

Recommendations for taking out good travel insurance for the United Kingdom and How to get the cheapest one

Once you are clear that you need good health insurance if you are going to travel to the United Kingdom, it is time to choose the best one. We are going to tell you ALL the things you should pay attention to when taking out a policy. Although if you want to save it, as I have anticipated, travel insurance for the United Kingdom meets, by far, all the MUSTS on our list:

• We start with the company. There are several decent ones on the market but be very careful with miracle insurance companies that promise a lot and have a lot of fine print. Hire one that offers you as much security as offers us. You can read if you want, opinions on insurance

• The most important thing to keep in mind is how many medical expenses the insurance covers. Some travel insurance companies cover ridiculous medical expenses, just about 10,000 euros. To give you an idea of ​​what good international travel medical insurance for the United Kingdom or any other destination is, covers up to 300,000 euros in medical expenses in its most basic insurance.

• And the quality/price? You may think that must be an expensive company because we have told you that their coverage is excellent. Dear reader, you are wrong: what makes us recommend over others is its excellent quality/price. A week of travel insurance for the United Kingdom with the most basic coverage costs only 16.67 euros.

• Another point that you must take SUPER into account when choosing the best travel insurance for the United Kingdom is whether or not it requires advance payment. Some companies cover significant healthcare costs but require you to pay them first, although this is unlikely to happen to you in the UK. These expenses are indeed returned to you later, but you will have to have a good amount of money available to be able to assume them first. Of course, you don't have to advance anything.

• Be sure to check that your insurance has assistance 24 hours a day. In our case, we speak English, but if you're having a hard time I don't think you want to explain your symptoms to the doctor in another language, do you?

• We cannot forget about the 'extras', all those things that are not medical expenses and that are covered by your insurance company: loss of luggage, cancellation, delay or cancellation of flights... In this aspect, as in all others, has unbelievably good coverage.

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