Travel insurance for Europe: read these parts first
Choose cover for the journey you are taking, including its length, activities and medical needs. A policy name tells you very little.
Start with the trip, then compare policies. A weekend in Paris, six weeks hiking and a winter road trip do not need the same checks. Write down the countries, dates and activities before opening an insurance comparison page.
The FCDO's travel insurance guidance is a useful checklist. Its advice is aimed at UK travellers; if you live elsewhere, buy a policy for which your residence and circumstances qualify.
Check medical care and getting home
Read how the policy handles emergency treatment, ambulance transport and medically necessary travel home. Declare existing conditions and pending investigations as the insurer requires. If an answer is unclear, ask before buying and keep the reply.
For eligible travellers, an EHIC or GHIC can help with state healthcare in participating countries. It does not replace insurance. The NHS explanation makes clear that private care, mountain rescue and medical repatriation are not covered by the card.
Save the insurer's assistance number offline. Ask how to get help if you cannot call yourself and when approval is needed for non-emergency arrangements. Urgent medical care should not be delayed while you hunt for paperwork.
Match the policy to your plans
| Check | A useful question |
|---|---|
| Trip length | Does an annual policy cover the full length of this individual trip? |
| Activities | Does it cover this Alpine hike, altitude, winter sport or rental vehicle? |
| Destinations | Are all stops and transit countries included, with current travel advice considered? |
| Belongings | What limits apply to my phone, camera and items left unattended? |
| Excess | How much would I pay myself on a claim? |
| Disruption | Which causes of cancellation, delay or missed departure are actually covered? |
These questions help compare like with like. An inexpensive policy may suit a simple trip, but a saving on the premium is less useful if the main activity is excluded.
Separate insurance from passenger rights
If an airline cancels a flight, it may owe you assistance or a refund under the applicable passenger rules. Insurance is a separate contract. The Association of British Insurers explains the different types of travel cover and disruption claims.
Retain receipts, booking confirmations and reports relevant to a claim. Do not assume a policy covers an event that was already known when you bought it, or that changing your mind about a holiday is an insured reason to cancel.
For destinations under official warnings, ask about that destination by name. The answer needs to cover your actual journey, not just a region labelled “Europe”.