However, having insurance for your international or UK trip can help protect you if it does.
There are 5 main reasons why people take travel insurance:
Your trip gets cancelled before you even set off
You fall ill or get hurt while outside the UK
It’s a good idea to buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked so you’re covered from that point onwards. Travel insurance doesn't just cover you while you're away. It can also cover you for things that might go wrong before you travel, such as:
Keep in mind, each policy is different so it’s important to check the specific details.
Delay cover can be a useful feature of travel insurance.
Most policies cover more than just 'acts of God' (a natural event or disaster that’s outside of human control). Many will also cover missed connections, industrial action, and mechanical breakdown. Just make sure you check your policy to see what type of delay and disruption cover is included.
This is possibly the most valuable feature of any travel insurance policy. Thanks to the NHS, many of us don’t think about the costs of healthcare. However, a medical emergency in another country can be very expensive.
If you're planning a trip to an EU country, you can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to get state-provided healthcare during your visit. If you have a valid UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), it still provides cover in the EU post-Brexit. Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.
Remember that an EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It doesn’t cover everything – such as private healthcare, mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation) – so it’s a good idea to have both before you travel.
When taking out travel insurance, check what activities are covered as standard. If you’re going skiing or taking part in extreme sports, you may need to pay for extra cover.
Losing your suitcase or having your phone, cash or travel documents stolen can have a big impact on your trip. With the right travel insurance, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing your belongings are covered.
Before buying a policy, check whether it covers all your gadgets and other important possessions. While some may be included as standard, others – such as your clubs if you’re going on a golf trip – may be optional extras. Also check what's covered under your home insurance policy if you have one.
Hopefully, you won't have any trouble with the law while you're away. But if you do, travel insurance can provide legal cover and advice to assist you. This could be particularly relevant if you’re travelling to a country without a legal aid system.
Remember, you may already have legal cover as part of your home or car insurance policy – although you’d need to check if it covers you outside the UK.
At HSBC, we no longer offer single and annual multi-trip travel insurance policies to new customers.
If you already have an HSBC Insurance Aspects policy with us, you can find more information, including how to make a claim here.
If you’re an HSBC Premier customer, you may be interested in HSBC Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance for you and your family.
HSBC Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply.
Visit HSBC Premier Bank Account for more information on becoming a Premier customer. Financial and other eligibility criteria apply.
Check whether you already have travel insurance – perhaps with your bank account? And consider your circumstances to make sure you have the cover you need.
