Travel insurance by destination

The policy structure is the same, but the cover levels should not be. Medical cover of £2 million is generous in Europe where state systems carry most of the cost — but it can be wiped out by a single intensive-care stay in the United States, where the average claim is £7,594 and bills routinely run into six figures. Pick the cover level that matches the destination, not just any policy that says "worldwide".

Not always. Many worldwide policies sold in the UK exclude the United States, Canada and the Caribbean by default, and sometimes Mexico. You can add them back as the "worldwide inclusive" tier — the premium jumps, but so does the headroom on medical claims. Always check the certificate before you fly.

No. The Global Health Insurance Card gets you state-funded medical care in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and a handful of other countries on the same terms as a local resident. It does not cover private clinics (which we have seen reject the card in Spain and Greece), repatriation back to the UK, lost baggage, cancellation or air ambulance. Pair it with a Europe travel insurance policy for everything else.

Because US hospitals can charge whatever they want. The federal government does not cap medical prices, so a routine appendix operation can land you a £40,000 bill. Travel insurance for the USA prices in this risk — expect cover of at least £10 million medical and policies that name the hospitals they will pay. Some over-60s travellers are also denied entry to the US without proof of cover, so the document matters as much as the price.

Partly. The UK-Australia reciprocal agreement gives British visitors access to Medicare for medically necessary treatment only. It excludes ambulance fees (which can run into thousands), pharmacy prescriptions as an out-patient, scheduled treatment and — crucially — medical evacuation back to the UK. A travel policy covers exactly the gaps Medicare leaves open.

Read the policy wording carefully. Cancellation and curtailment cover for natural disasters is not always included by default, especially for the Caribbean hurricane season (June to November) and Japan's typhoon and earthquake exposure. Our Caribbean and Japan guides flag the insurers that include this cover and the ones that ask for an add-on.

Before, ideally on the day you book the trip. Most policies only cover trip cancellation from the moment the insurance starts, so buying late means a non-refundable deposit you fall ill before the holiday will not be reimbursed. ABTA found 38% of UK travellers are travelling without the right cover — most of them simply bought it too late.