Compare Travel Insurance

How much you pay for your travel insurance will come down to a mix of factors. Insurers will consider the following when assessing the price of your premium:

Age

The older you are, the more you’ll likely have to pay for travel insurance. Insurance is usually more expensive for mature travellers, as they’re seen as being at greater risk of suffering a medical incident. Most insurers have age limits anywhere from 65 to 99 years old on their policies, which will depend on so it’s a good idea to compare providers and quotes to make sure you can get the coverage you need if you’re older.

Pre-existing conditions

Some insurers include certain pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, automatically as part of their coverage. However, you may be required to pay extra to cover other, more serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease, if they aren't excluded altogether. Insurers usually deem a pre-existing condition as a medical issue you’ve been treated for within two to five years.

Your destination

Whether you’re heading over to Chicago or Shenzhen, each holiday destination has its own element of risk attached to it. The price of your premium usually comes down to the cost of medical treatment in the country you want to visit. For example, your premium may be more expensive if you're travelling to the US, Turkey and Switzerland, as healthcare is costly in these countries.

Level of cover

The more security you want when you’re travelling, the more you should expect to pay. As mentioned, choosing comprehensive travel insurance will mean you’ll pay a more expensive premium than you would if you chose basic insurance, but you can gain access to more benefits and higher claim limits in return.

Number of travellers

If you’re heading off on your honeymoon or planning a family getaway, how many people you’re travelling with will impact the cost of your coverage. Some insurers may allow you to cover up to 25 people under the same policy, whether they be members of your family, your partner or spouse or a group of friends. Rolling your squad into one policy instead of taking out travel insurance for each person may save you money overall, although it might be worth looking at separate policies if some travellers need more cover than others (such as for pre-existing conditions).

Length of your trip

Whether you’re heading off on a quick two-week trip to the UK or planning a three-month stay in Dubai, the time you’re away from home will determine how much you pay for your insurance. Longer trips tend to be more expensive and include more non-refundable costs such as flights and accommodation, meaning you’re likely to pay more the longer you’re away.

Activities covered

If you want to access coverage for activities such as skiing, bungee jumping, rock climbing or scuba diving on your trip, you may need to pay extra. These types of more extreme pastimes aren’t usually included in your standard insurance coverage, instead typically coming in the form of a winter sports or adventure pack, which are available at an additional cost.