What this checker works out
This checker expresses the premium plus the excess as a percentage of the trip's value, giving a single figure for comparing policies.
It deliberately combines premium and excess, because a cheap policy with a high excess and an expensive one with none can cost the same at the point a claim is made.
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Before you compare policies
- Trip value should be the non-refundable cost — flights, accommodation and anything else you would lose.
- Check whether the excess applies per person per section. A family of four claiming on two sections can pay the excess eight times.
- The figure ignores the largest risk. Medical costs abroad can run to tens of thousands and dwarf the trip's value entirely.
- Declare pre-existing medical conditions. Non-disclosure is the most common reason a claim is refused.
Cancellation cover is capped near the trip's value, but medical and repatriation cover runs to millions for a reason — an air ambulance from outside Europe can cost six figures. Comparing policies on premium against trip value misses the part that actually matters, which is the medical limit and what it excludes.
How this calculator works
Premium and excess against trip value:
Percentage = (premium + potential excess) ÷ trip value × 100The result is a comparison figure rather than a verdict. A lower percentage is better only where the cover is equivalent, and policies at very different prices usually differ in medical limits, excluded activities and pre-existing condition terms rather than in quality of service.
Worked example: a £1,500 trip
Using the default figures — a £1,500 trip, £45 premium, £100 excess:
- Combined cost if claiming: £145
- As a share of trip value: 9.67%
Under 10%, which for a policy with adequate medical cover is reasonable. But compare it against a £25 policy with a £250 excess: that comes to 18.3% — nearly double, despite looking cheaper on the premium. The comparison only holds if both policies cover the same things, which is the question the percentage cannot answer.
Common mistakes
- Comparing on premium alone. The excess is part of the cost of a claim.
- Not declaring pre-existing conditions. It is the leading cause of refused claims.
- Assuming activities are covered. Winter sports, diving and even some hiking need specific cover.
- Buying at the last minute. Cancellation cover starts when the policy does, not when you travel.
- Relying on a GHIC alone. It is not a substitute for insurance.
Frequently asked questions
When should I buy travel insurance?
At the point of booking, not before travelling. Cancellation cover applies from the date the policy starts, so buying early protects against having to cancel for a covered reason in the months beforehand — illness, injury or bereavement. Buying at the airport covers almost nothing that has already happened.
Does a GHIC replace insurance?
No. The UK Global Health Insurance Card gives access to state-provided medically necessary healthcare in the EU on the same basis as a local resident, which may involve charges that residents also pay. It does not cover repatriation, private treatment, lost baggage or cancellation. It complements insurance and does not substitute for it.
What is usually excluded?
Undeclared pre-existing conditions, incidents involving alcohol or drugs, many adventure and winter sports without an add-on, travel against Foreign Office advice, unattended baggage, and valuables above a single-article limit. Reading the exclusions is more informative than reading the headline cover.
Annual or single trip?
Annual multi-trip is usually cheaper from around the second or third trip a year, and removes the risk of forgetting. Single trip suits one holiday and allows cover tailored to that destination. Check the maximum trip duration on an annual policy — many cap individual trips at around 30 days.
Is what I enter stored?
No. Figures are processed in your browser and never transmitted or retained.
Related tools
References
- GOV.UK — foreign travel advice, GHIC and travel insurance guidance
- Financial Conduct Authority — insurance regulation and consumer protection
Sources are checked at publication and can change — how I choose and check references.