Travel Insurance for USA to UK (2024) (2024)

The U.K. does not require U.S. citizens to have travel insurance when they visit. However, coverage can be beneficial for several reasons.

First, a comprehensive or medical emergency policy can pay healthcare expenses if you are injured or ill in the U.K. According to the State Department, tourists may have to pay 150% of the cost of medical treatment received through the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS). A travel policy can limit these out-of-pocket costs.

Also, trip insurance lets you engage in sports activities, such as a trek, cycle, ski or snowboard adventure without worrying about affording injury treatment.

While weather-related problems and natural disasters are relatively rare in the U.K., cancellation insurance could be a good idea. Your trip represents a significant investment, and this coverage can reimburse you for the cost of a transatlantic flight and hotel or holiday rental reservations in the event of a cancellation.

Finally, in 2022, there were 75.88 crimes per 1,000 people in the U.K. and 2.6 million of these crimes involved theft. Insurance can cover the cost of valuables that thieves often target in the U.K.

Even if you do not use your insurance, it will provide peace of mind by covering problems that would otherwise ruin your trip.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

A standard travel cancellation insurance policy reimburses you if your trip plans get derailed by circ*mstances beyond your control. For example, if you cannot travel due to an injury, or a flood occurs in your chosen U.K. destination, the insurance will pay for your trip. These policies have exclusions limiting coverage for cancellations that aren’t beyond your control.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage lets you cancel your trip even if the circ*mstances are not beyond your control. If scheduling conflicts arise, such as a wedding or a change in relationship status with your travel partners, you can use CFAR to cover the cost of your trip.

Some tourists may not need this type of coverage. However, groups or people booking well in advance may want to consider CFAR coverage to protect against potential scheduling conflicts.

Gear Theft Protection

In the U.K. and throughout Europe, petty theft is the biggest crime risk for most travelers. Insurance can protect against the loss of a wallet, gadget or device. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include some theft protection for your personal belongings or offer coverage as one of the optional extras.

You should always check the limits of theft protection on your policy documents. Some insurers only have a few hundred dollars of coverage. While this may be enough to replace a stolen phone, it usually isn’t sufficient for expensive devices or valuable sports equipment.

You should make sure the policy has high enough limits to protect your valuables and purchase additional coverage if needed.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

As the U.S. State Department points out, tourists in the U.K. need to pay for any medical services out of pocket and could have additional fees adding 50% to the bill. Though the U.K. does not mandate travel medical coverage, the additional medical costs are a way to strongly encourage visitors to opt for insurance covering medical care.

Travel insurance for medical emergencies is available as a stand-alone product or as part of a comprehensive single-trip policy. Frequent travelers can also get an annual multi-trip policy to pay out for emergency medical expenses.

Most travel medical coverage also includes evacuation and repatriation. These add-ons can cover the cost of a flight back to the U.S. if you require long-term medical care or pass away during your trip.

In a few cases, this coverage may be unnecessary. If you have a European Health Insurance Card, you can access care through the NHS in the U.K. Some U.S.-based insurers may cover medically-necessary care for you or a qualifying family member when traveling abroad. Check your policy documents or inquire about coverage before you leave.

If you purchase insurance, you should look closely at the policy wording to see if it covers pre-existing medical conditions.

Rental Car Protection

All drivers in the U.K. must have third-party auto insurance to cover the cost of damage and accidents. Because of the requirement, car insurance is included in the vehicle rental fees. U.S. auto insurance policies usually do not extend to the U.K., though some premium credit cards offer coverage if you use them to pay the rental costs.

Depending on your travel plans, you might consider getting your own third-party auto insurance or purchasing a comprehensive policy that includes rental protection.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation cover offers reimbursem*nt if your vacation gets canceled due to events beyond your control. If you have a single-trip travel insurance policy, it will pay out if you can’t go on your trip. Acceptable reasons for not traveling include an accident or unexpected illness, jury duty, military service or a death in the family.

Coverage may or may not extend to illnesses caused by pre-existing conditions. However, cancellation policies reimburse you for trips canceled due to unexpected events, like a natural disaster in the U.K.

Most cancellation policies get paired with travel disruption insurance. These policies pay expenses during any delays you experience and cover the costs necessary to get your back on your itinerary.

Because of the expense of transatlantic travel, cancellation insurance is usually a good investment. It can be especially useful if your trip has multiple legs. For example, if the itinerary has a flight and a cruise, you have an increased chance of a delay or cancellation of one leg interfering with subsequent legs.

According to our analysis of five providers, the average cost of travel insurance for the U.K. is $93 or £74.

Rather than focusing strictly on price, you should look at limits, deductibles, and maximum coverage amounts. Cheap travel insurance options may have lower maximum payouts, so you should review the policy details before purchasing.

Comprehensive coverage with a medical emergency, evacuation, lost baggage, gear theft, cancellation and interruption coverage is often the most convenient option for travelers going to the U.K.

We requested quotes from ten travel insurance companies for their most affordable plan for a trip to UK. The below quotes are for a 30-year-old traveler from Florida, traveling to UK for ten days in September 2024, with a total trip cost of $4,000. Policies include coverage for cancellations, interruptions, delays, medical care and evacuation.

These quotes were collected in April 2024 for a trip in September 2024.

Long-term travelers, such as businesspeople or backpacker-style travelers, may want a travel insurance quote for an annual or multi-trip policy. Annual travel insurance often focuses more on medical costs and emergencies and may have limited options for trip cancellation.

You can gain more insights into the costs of travel insurance here: How Much Is Travel Insurance?

All major travel insurance providers offer policies for U.K. travel, allowing you to select the option with the level of coverage you need.

The key to selecting the right travel insurance is limiting redundancies. For example, if you book your vacation with a credit card offering cancellation insurance, you do not need to purchase a policy from an insurer. However, you would still need medical and evacuation coverage.

Medical-only policies are cheaper than comprehensive coverage, saving you money overall.

If you need additional coverage, such as car rental protection, you can add it on its own.

Travel insurance coverage can protect you from the unexpected, but fundamental safety practices can limit the dangers of travel in the U.K.

Crime and Safety

The State Department puts the U.K. on a Level 1 travel advisory, meaning it is safe to travel if you take common-sense steps. The U.K. sometimes has Level 2 advisories due to an increased threat of terrorism.

Violent crime does occur in the U.K., but you can limit dangers by staying in crowded, well-lit areas, avoiding unfamiliar places at night and following advice from trusted locals.

According to the U.S. State Department, the crimes you are most likely to encounter are pickpocketing, bag snatching or muggings. You can leave valuables at your hotel, carry them in zippered pockets or use a money belt or interior pockets to carry money and travel documents.

Day Trips, Tours, and Excursions

The level of coverage you need depends on the activities you plan to engage in during your trip. For example, if you spend time skiing in Scotland or mountain biking in Wales, you may consider adventure or winter sports coverage.

You should always work with reputable outfitters and guides when engaging in these activities. Luckily, the U.K. has a wealth of information about activities, and dangerous areas are marked.

COVID-19

The U.K. has ended all coronavirus-related restrictions and requirements. You do not need to show test results or vaccination status or prove essential travel when entering the country.