Why medical cover is the priority
Emergency medical treatment and repatriation can be extremely expensive, particularly in the US, so look for a high medical limit and 24/7 emergency assistance. Declare all pre-existing medical conditions honestly: specialist insurers exist if a mainstream insurer won’t cover a condition.
GHIC, EHIC and travel insurance
UK residents can get a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) through the NHS website, which gives access to state-provided healthcare in EU countries (and some others) on the same terms as local residents. EU residents carry the EHIC. Neither covers private treatment, repatriation, cancellation or belongings, so you still need travel insurance. Only apply through the official NHS site: the card is free.
Single trip or annual?
If you travel more than once or twice a year, an annual multi-trip policy is often better value, but check the maximum length of each trip and whether worldwide cover includes the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Buy cancellation cover as soon as you book, not just before you leave.
Package holidays and airline failure
Package holidays sold in the UK are generally protected by the Package Travel Regulations and, for flight packages, the ATOL scheme if the company fails. Flight-only and separately booked trips may not be, so scheduled airline failure cover can be worth adding. For deals on trips themselves, our sister site TravelDeals compares holidays and flights.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
