Whether you’re heading to the Health Insurance For Visitors in UK or play, solo or with a travel companion by your side, it’s important that you feel safe and prepared for the adventure that lies ahead. And while you can’t evade every potential travel crisis, you can purchase travel medical insurance that provides coverage for a number of covered emergency scenarios.

Read on to discover why travel medical insurance is recommended by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of State and learn what to look for in a policy as a visitor to the UK.

If you’re planning on visiting the UK, you are advised to take out Health Insurance For Visitors in UK in order to cover potential healthcare costs during your stay. For more information about your visit to the UK, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our trusted legal advisors today on 0333 305 9375, or contact us online.

From the bright lights of bustling London to the beautiful landscapes of Scotland, there is so much to see in the UK. You can visit Liverpool, the home of The Beatles, watch Manchester’s two famous football teams, or go back in time and visit Stonehenge, medieval castles, or Sherwood Forest – the Borrow Against Term Life Insurance legendary outlaw Robin Hood. If the weather’s kind, there is nothing like a meal of traditional British fish and chips by the seaside.

But First of All, Why Do I Need UK Visitor Medical Insurance?

Whether you’re planning to visit England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, international travel has its risks. Here are several reasons to consider UK visitor medical insurance for your adventure abroad:

• Your domestic health plan may not cover you outside of your home country – or your international coverage may be limited.
• Global travelers are often exposed to unfamiliar foods, foreign bacteria, and even side effects of jet lag – all of which have the potential to result in illness.
• When exploring unfamiliar territory, an accident resulting in injury could happen without warning.
• International flights are sometimes unpredictable – your airline could lose your checked luggage or bad weather could result in a costly overnight delay.
• A natural disaster could occur without warning and force you to seek alternative accommodations.

These are just a few of the situations in which a travel medical policy could provide assistance as well as financial relief. Since travel medical insurance tends to vary in coverage, see your plan’s Description of Coverage to determine whether your benefits cover the above-mentioned scenarios (and under which conditions they apply).

Who Needs Travel Health Insurance When Visiting the UK?

If you’re planning to visit the UK from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) for less than 6 months, it is recommended that you take out valid travel insurance cover for the whole duration of your stay to help pay for medical care.

If you’re visiting from the EEA, you are entitled to free healthcare with a valid Health Insurance For Visitors in UK (EHIC), Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) or S2 form.

However, it is also advised that you take out travel health insurance in case of other unexpected expenses and incidents that may occur during your visit, such as repatriation costs or lost or stolen property.

If you’re staying in the UK for more than 6 months, you will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) unless exempt. You will normally have to pay the fee for the IHS when submitting your visa application for your stay.

Why Should I Take Out Travel Health Insurance When Visiting the UK?

Travel insurance is an important part of any trip, especially if you end up requiring unexpected medical care during your stay.

If you are visiting the UK from a non-EEA country, you will be charged at 150% of the standard NHS rate if you have not arranged insurance. As a result, it’s essential that you purchase travel insurance with medical cover before travelling to the UK so you can reclaim any healthcare costs you are required to pay from your insurer.

Travel insurance is also important as your pre-existing Health Insurance For Visitors in UK may not cover you outside of your home country, or its international coverage may be limited.

In addition, there is also the possibility of falling ill unexpectedly, suffering accidents, illness, or needing medical care because of pre-existing conditions.

What Isn’t Covered By Travel Health Insurance?

Health Insurance For Visitors in UK policies often have exclusions, which are specific situations or circumstances that will not be covered by the insurance policy.

For example, not declaring your pre-existing medical condition to your insurer will mean that you won’t be able to claim for medical care related to your condition during your trip.

In addition, you likely won’t be able to claim back costs if you do any of the following:

• Travel against government advice, such as if the country you’re travelling from places an active travel warning on the UK
• Travel despite known events, such as natural disasters or pandemics
• Incur losses due to carelessness or lack of reasonable safety measures, such as leaving your belongings unattended in a public place
• Engage in reckless behaviour, such as ignoring safety protocols, safety instructions, or if you injured yourself under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Break the law, such as violating local traffic laws

In addition to these, if you cancel or change your plans for any reason not listed in your base plan, you won’t be able to claim the costs on your insurance.