Worldwide Travel Insurance

What is worldwide travel insurance?

Worldwide travel insurance covers trips beyond Europe. If you are flying to Bangkok, Cape Town, Toronto or Sydney, you need a policy set up for that part of the world, because a Europe policy stops at the edge of its area. Getting the area right matters more than most people realise. If you are treated somewhere your policy does not include, the claim can be turned down.

When you get a quote with us, you tell us where you are going and we show you the policies that fit. You can compare cover levels, excesses and prices side by side, then buy online.

Worldwide including or excluding the USA?

Most worldwide policies come in two versions:

1. Worldwide excluding the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. This suits trips to places like Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East and Australasia.
2. Worldwide including the USA. This covers anywhere in the world, North America included.

The split exists because hospital bills in North America are far higher than almost anywhere else, which is the main reason worldwide cover costs more once the USA is added. Our guide to geographical areas explains how countries are grouped, although the exact groupings can differ from policy to policy, so it is worth checking the policy wording for the one you choose.

One thing that catches people out is a stopover or connecting flight. If you are flying to Mexico via Miami, or to New Zealand via Los Angeles, the USA is part of your trip. Choose the area that covers every country you will pass through, not just the one you are spending most time in.

Single trip or annual worldwide cover?

A single trip policy covers one journey from the day you leave to the day you get home. It is often the simplest choice for a once-a-year long-haul holiday or a longer tour.

If you are likely to make two or more trips in a year, an annual worldwide policy can work out cheaper than buying cover each time, and it covers your European breaks too. Annual policies limit how long each trip can last, usually with options of 17, 31, 45, 60 or 90 days. Already have an annual Europe policy and booked something further afield? You can usually upgrade it to worldwide for the time left on the policy.

What does worldwide travel insurance cover?

The policies we offer typically include:

1. Emergency medical treatment abroad, with limits of up to £10 million on some policies
2. Getting you home if you are too ill to travel normally
3. Cancellation if you cannot go for a covered reason, such as illness
4. Lost, stolen or delayed baggage, and personal money
5. 24-hour emergency assistance while you are away

Limits and exclusions vary, so compare the policies in your quote before you buy. Longer trips often mean more activities, too. Over 100 sports and activities are covered as standard on a Direct Travel policy, and others can be added, but things like scuba diving below certain depths may need extra cover.

Worldwide travel insurance with medical conditions

Long-haul trips and medical conditions are a combination where cover really counts, because treatment far from home is expensive and a flight back may need a medical escort. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, declare them through our online medical screening. It takes a few minutes, and you will see the cost of covering your conditions included in the prices before you pay anything.

Why does worldwide cover cost more?

Mostly because medical treatment costs more in many long-haul destinations, and getting someone home from the other side of the world is a bigger job than a flight from Spain. Your age, the length of your trip, any medical conditions and the cover level you pick all play a part too. Leaving out North America, if you are not going there, is usually the easiest way to bring the price down.

Destination guides

For the countries UK travellers visit most, we have pages with more detail on what to think about: USA travel insurance, Australia travel insurance, New Zealand travel insurance, Asia travel insurance, Thailand travel insurance, Dubai travel insurance, Caribbean travel insurance and Mexico travel insurance. Our country guides cover entry rules, health and local information for almost every country.