UK Travel Insurance

Alan_in_Hemel

I am unable to obtain travel insurace to go abroad due to ongoing medical issues, so I booked a cottage in the UK for a break. When I tried your suggested providers I was quoted a price equivalent to the cost of the cottage. This also included £10m of medical cover, but I am a UK resident holidaying in the UK. If I am taken ill I will be treated by the NHS for free. Why do I need medical cover and how can I obtain reasonably priced travel insurance without it?

Flugelhorn

what did you want covered in your insurance? is it cancellation in case of illness?

DullGreyGuy

Alan_in_Hemel said:

I am unable to obtain travel insurace to go abroad due to ongoing medical issues, so I booked a cottage in the UK for a break. When I tried your suggested providers I was quoted a price equivalent to the cost of the cottage. This also included £10m of medical cover, but I am a UK resident holidaying in the UK. If I am taken ill I will be treated by the NHS for free. Why do I need medical cover and how can I obtain reasonably priced travel insurance without it?

They will normally use the same policy wording for all geographies as its cheaper to have 1 policy book used with everyone than dozens of different ones depending on if its UK, EU, RoW exc N.America or Global x single, couple, family, group x silver, gold, black (or whatever naming convention they've used for their levels)

You won't have medical emergency cover in the UK so it won't have been priced. 

Your medical conditions however will be considered for cancellation and abandonment sections which do apply in the UK

heatherw_01

Medical cover can often cover cancellation reasons.

Just make sure the insurance has enough cover for the things you mainly want for example personal belongings or whatever it is you are looking to cover.

Alan_in_Hemel

Cancellation due to a medical issue is all I really need. I am travelling in my own car so any theft of luggage from that would be covered by my car insurance. Any theft of personal belongings from the cottage or when out and about would be covered by my home insurance. Unfortunately the quotes for cover are the same as the cost of the cottage, so there seems no point in having it. Or am I missing something?

Westin

Are you actually calling insurance companies and brokers for quotes or just trying to get an online quote?

patricia1066

Try specialist travel insurance by consulting the government website. You have been offered insurance, however high the premium, so it is worth pursuing getting exactly what you need rather than what online insurance offers. 

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/insurance/travel-insurance-directory?source=mas#

Or avoid the issue by taking accommodation that can be cancelled at short notice. 

Check with your car insurer if you are insured while taking pain medication before getting behind the wheel. 

DullGreyGuy

Alan_in_Hemel said:

I am travelling in my own car so any theft of luggage from that would be covered by my car insurance. 

Car insurance typically only covers circa £100 of personal possessions in a car, however like the villa the Home insurance will cover if you have all risks/personal possessions. 

If all you want is cancellation cover then maybe booking a cancellable accommodation may be a better idea

Alan_in_Hemel

Thanks for all the comments. Fortunately, I do not need to take pain medication. So far, I have only used the MSE website for a quote. We have taken weekends away in hotels that can be cancelled at short notice. However, for this holiday we are taking the dog so we have booked a cottage. This has only cost us £641, which is not expensive. I am therefore tempted to not have travel insurance and spend the money of meals out. I will check out Money Helper.