Health Insurance for Travelling to Europe Explained

Health insurance for travelling to Europe, for UK residents, means a travel insurance policy with an emergency medical expenses section, backed up by a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Private medical insurance (PMI) held in the UK, such as a Bupa or AXA plan, is a domestic product and generally does not pay for holiday emergencies abroad, so it is not what covers you on a European trip.

The two work together. A GHIC gives you state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA) on the same terms as a local resident, while travel insurance covers the gaps a GHIC never touches, including repatriation to the UK, private hospital costs and treatment while you wait for the card to be recognised. Medical expenses are a leading reason for travel claims, so this is the section that matters most.

Free Price Compare helps UK travellers compare travel insurance across the market. Any medical concern about a specific condition or symptom should go to a GP or NHS 111, not to an insurer.

Last updated: September 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed September 2026

What cover do you actually need for a European trip?

For a European holiday, UK travellers need a travel insurance policy with emergency medical expenses cover, plus a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Private medical insurance held at home does not usually pay for holiday emergencies abroad, so it should not be relied on as your travel cover. The medical expenses section is the part that helps pay for hospital treatment, ambulances, repatriation and getting you home safely if you fall ill or have an accident.

A good European policy pairs a high emergency medical limit with cancellation cover, baggage and personal liability. Medical claims can be expensive, which shows why the medical limit is the figure to check first, not the headline price.

The GHIC and travel insurance are complementary, not alternatives. A GHIC reduces or removes the cost of state treatment where it applies, while insurance covers private care, repatriation and the costs a card cannot reach. Our explainer on the EU health insurance card and how GHIC and EHIC work sets out exactly where the card stops.

Compare European travel medical cover

Is travel insurance a legal requirement for Europe?

Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for most European destinations, but it is strongly recommended by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the ABI because a GHIC alone will not cover everything. A card gives you state healthcare on the same basis as a local resident, but it never covers repatriation, mountain rescue, private treatment or the cost of getting you and your family home if a trip is cut short.

Some entry systems do ask about cover. When ETIAS launches, UK visitors will need travel authorisation for short Schengen stays, and Schengen visa applicants must show medical cover meeting the relevant visa rules.

Even where cover is not mandatory, the financial risk of going without is high. The ABI reported one traveller needing over £1 million in emergency treatment and repatriation in 2024. That single case is the clearest argument for buying a policy before you fly.

How much does European travel insurance cost in 2026?

European travel insurance can start from a low price for a healthy traveller on a short trip, with typical single-trip prices varying by age, tier and trip length. Europe is often one of the cheaper regions to insure from the UK, though prices vary across the market. Upgrading from a mid-tier to a top-tier plan can significantly increase the price.

Annual multi-trip cover works out cheaper if you take two or three European trips a year, because you pay once and travel repeatedly within the policy limits. The table below gives indicative 2026 ranges to help you judge value rather than exact quotes.

Price should never be the only test. A cheap policy with a low medical limit or a high excess can cost far more if you need to claim. Check the emergency medical limit, the excess and the repatriation terms before you compare on price alone. You can compare health and travel medical cover across the market to see how those limits differ between insurers.

Check what your GHIC does and doesn’t cover

A free GHIC is valid for a limited period and does not cover repatriation

Read the GHIC guide

Can I still get a GHIC or EHIC after Brexit?

Yes, UK residents can still apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the old EHIC for most people after Brexit. A UK GHIC is free, lasts up to five years and lets you get necessary state healthcare in the EEA, and some other countries, on the same basis as a local resident. That may be free or may involve a co-payment, exactly as a resident would pay.

Apply only through the official NHS service. The NHS warns that unofficial websites may charge a fee for an application that is free. You can usually apply well before your current card expires, so there is no need to leave it late.

From January 2024, reciprocal healthcare arrangements were extended to Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, widening where a UK GHIC can be used. A small number of existing EHIC holders, such as certain frontier workers and some UK pensioners living abroad, may still be entitled to an EHIC rather than a GHIC.

What happens if my GHIC card hasn’t arrived?

If your GHIC has not arrived and you need treatment abroad, you can request a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) from the NHS Business Services Authority. A PRC can provide temporary proof of entitlement to healthcare cover if your card has not arrived.

The PRC is requested at the point of care, usually by the treating hospital contacting the NHS overseas healthcare team, or by you calling them directly. Keep the NHS overseas healthcare contact details saved on your phone before you travel so you can act quickly if the card is delayed.

Does the European health card cover pre-existing medical conditions?

A UK GHIC can help with medically necessary treatment abroad, including for some pre-existing conditions, because it gives access to state healthcare on the same terms as a local resident. This is a common point of confusion. The card does not exclude existing conditions the way an underwritten private policy might, but it is still limited to state-run facilities and never covers repatriation.

Travel insurance is different. Insurers ask you to declare pre-existing conditions and may load the premium or apply exclusions based on your medical history. Declaring accurately matters, because an undeclared condition can lead to a claim being refused. If you are travelling with a heart condition, diabetes, cancer history or similar, the medical limit and the terms of cover for that condition are what to check.

Costs for declared conditions can rise. Travellers aged 70 with a heart condition may face much higher premiums for a single week in Europe than healthier travellers. Rising overseas treatment costs through 2025 and 2026 have pushed these premiums up.

The FCA signposting rule and how it helps

The Financial Conduct Authority has a signposting trigger for higher premiums linked to a medical condition. Under the rule, insurers must point some customers with pre-existing conditions towards specialist support or directories.

The directories are run by specialist support services. The trigger is reviewed periodically, and firms face limits on directory entries. If your quote is high because of a condition, ask for the specialist directory rather than accepting the first loaded price.

Compare cover for pre-existing conditions

Which countries count as “Europe” for cover?

“Europe” on a travel insurance policy is defined by the insurer, not by geography, and the definition varies between providers. Most European policies cover the EU and EEA, but many also include destinations such as Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and the Canary Islands, which sit outside the EU. Always read the policy’s country list before you assume your destination is included.

A GHIC has its own separate coverage area. It covers the EEA and other countries covered by UK reciprocal healthcare arrangements, but it does not extend to all non-EEA holiday spots that some insurers still class as Europe. So your travel policy might cover Turkey while your GHIC does not, which is another reason the two products sit side by side rather than replacing each other.

If your itinerary mixes European and non-European stops, or you connect through the US, you usually need worldwide cover instead. Non-European medical costs are far higher, so getting the region right on the policy is what protects you at claim time.

Single-trip or annual multi-trip cover?

Single-trip cover insures one holiday from start to finish, while annual multi-trip cover insures unlimited trips within a set period, usually with a maximum number of days per trip. Annual multi-trip usually becomes better value once you take two or three European trips in a year, because the fixed annual price spreads across every journey.

Check the per-trip day limit on an annual policy. Many annual policies cap each trip for Europe, so a long stay may need a longer single-trip policy instead. Over-50s and specialist providers sometimes offer longer European limits, which suits extended stays or people who winter abroad.

Should I get travel insurance for a long or six-month EU trip?

Yes, a long or six-month European trip needs specialist travel insurance, because standard single-trip and annual multi-trip policies usually cap each trip well below six months. For extended stays you need a long-stay, backpacker or long-trip policy that keeps the medical expenses section running for the full duration, alongside a valid GHIC for state treatment.

A GHIC still helps on a long trip for state healthcare, but it is not a substitute for insurance. It does not cover repatriation, private treatment, or the extra risks of a longer stay such as lost belongings over many months or trip disruption. Longer trips also raise the chance of needing care, so the medical limit and repatriation terms carry more weight.

If you are moving or living abroad rather than holidaying, travel insurance may not be the right product at all, and residency-based cover in your destination country is usually needed. Our piece on whether European health cover on its own is enough explains where the gaps typically appear on longer trips.

What should you look for in a European travel policy?

The most important thing to check in a European travel policy is the emergency medical expenses limit, which should run to several million pounds and include repatriation to the UK. After that, weigh the excess (the amount you pay towards each claim), cancellation cover, baggage limits, personal liability and any activity exclusions for things like skiing or watersports.

• Emergency medical and repatriation limit, ideally several million pounds.
• The excess per claim, and whether a lower-excess option is worth the extra premium.
• Full and accurate declaration of any pre-existing medical conditions.
• Cancellation and curtailment cover matched to your total trip cost.
• Cover for any planned activities, winter sports or car hire excess.
• 24-hour emergency assistance contact details, saved before you travel.

Travel insurers paid out large sums across many claims in 2024, with medical expenses a leading cause. That claims record is the reason to prioritise the medical section and check the terms carefully rather than buying purely on price.

Compare travel medical cover options

• EU Health Insurance Card: GHIC & EHIC Explained
• Is European Health Insurance enough? – FreePriceCompare
• What Makes You Look for Life Insurance? | FreePriceCompare
• Everything You Ever Asked About Life Insurance and More
• UK Car Insurance Rates Higher Than Europe, Compare Now

Information correct as of 14 September 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).