European travel insurance
Get the right travel insurance for trips to Europe with our partner, theidol.com[1]
Covid-19 (coronavirus) – important information
From 17th May 2021, a travel traffic light system is being introduced and trips to green list countries will be legally permitted if you live in England. Strict border control measures will remain in place for your return to the UK. Before you buy, you should consider the implications of your destination moving from a green list country to amber or red as you may incur additional costs and/or face travel restrictions that will not be covered by your travel insurance. The traffic light rules only dictate what you have to do on returning to England – so even if a country is on the green list, you still need to check your destination's entry requirements and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice for travelling there. If the Foreign Office has advised against travel to your destination and you still decide to travel, you will not be covered by any travel insurance policy you purchase. A few insurers do offer cover If you are an essential traveller, however if you are in doubt or have any queries, please check the policy wording, or contact your chosen provider before purchasing. Until dates have been set to permit non-essential international travel from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is important that you follow all the rules that apply to your country of residence.
Do I need travel Insurance for Europe?
It’s not a legal requirement for visitors to Europe to have travel insurance, but it will provide you with a financial safety net if you fall ill or have an accident, your belongings are lost or stolen, or you have to cancel your holiday.
Doesn't my EHIC do that?
Having a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will cover you for emergency medical care in the local version of an NHS hospital, but not if you’re taken to a private hospital.
As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office states, an EHIC ‘is not an alternative to travel insurance’. It recommends having both an EHIC and separate travel insurance when visiting Europe. You can apply for an EHIC on the government’s website.
What cover do I need for Europe?
European travel insurance covers visitors to all member states of the European Union.
However, some non-EU states may also be covered under European travel insurance, so it’s worth checking your policy before you travel.
Non-EU states often covered under European travel insurance include:
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Andorra
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Cape Verde
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Egypt
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Gran Canaria
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Iceland
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Liechtenstein
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Madeira
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Monaco
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Morocco
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Norway
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San Marino
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Switzerland
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Tunisia
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Turkey
Travel insurance for couples
Unless you’re travelling alone, you may be able to save money with couples travel insurance or a family policy
What should my travel insurance policy for Europe include?
- Medical expenses
- Cancellation or curtailment of your trip
- Delays or missed departures for reasons outside your control (like extreme weather)
- Repatriation to the UK in case of ongoing medical treatment
- Lost or stolen baggage
- Loss or theft of passport
- Personal liability cover
Travelling to Europe for business
If you’re travelling to Europe for a business trip, you’ll need business travel insurance to protect any expensive equipment, like smartphones or laptops, and to make sure you’re reimbursed for hotel and flight costs if your travel is disrupted.
Replacement colleague cover is also offered by some policies, allowing a colleague to take your place if you can’t attend the trip.
If you’re employed by a large company, you may be covered by its own travel insurance. If you’re self-employed, it'll be up to you to organise cover.
There are two main types of business travel insurance:
- Single-trip travel insurance: Suitable for one-off business meetings
- Annual travel insurance: If you travel abroad regularly - even just twice a year or more - it will save you the hassle of taking out insurance each time
Annual versus single-trip travel insurance
If you’ve got two or more trips planned this year, compare taking out two single-trip policies with annual cover – sometimes it works out cheaper, other times not.
According to theidol, the average annual policy price was £92.90, whereas two single-trip policies cost £80.62 – that’s a £12 saving against annual cover[2]
[1]Gocompare.com introduces customers to theidol.com which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Gocompare.com's relationship with theidol.com is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us. Please note, we cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites and by using the links stated to access these separate websites you will be subject to the terms of use applying to those sites
[2]Average purchase price data recorded by theidol between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018