What Travel Insurance Do You Need for Europe Now?

Wondering what travel insurance do i need for europe now? You’re not alone, and the answer is simpler than you might expect. What travel insurance do you need for Europe now? Post-Brexit, the answer changed — and plenty of Brits are still travelling on outdated assumptions. The EHIC became the GHIC, roaming charges returned, and the old “we’re in the EU, it’ll be fine” safety net is gone. Here’s the current, accurate picture of what you need for European travel in 2026, what’s optional, and the mistakes that catch people out.

The Non-Negotiable: Travel Insurance (Yes, Really)

Let’s be blunt: travelling to Europe without travel insurance is reckless. A broken leg in Spain can cost £15,000+ in private care; an air ambulance home runs £25,000-50,000. The gov.uk foreign travel insurance guidance is explicit: get comprehensive cover for every trip. What “comprehensive” means:

• Medical cover of £5m+: Standard on decent policies. Don’t accept less for Europe; £10m is better for worldwide.
• Repatriation included: Getting you home if seriously ill — this is the catastrophic-cost item. Your GHIC does NOT cover this.
• Cancellation cover: At least £2,000-3,000 per person, matching what you’ve actually spent.
• Baggage and belongings: £1,500+ with single-item limits that cover your actual valuables (check the per-item cap — it’s often £250-350).
• Travel disruption: Covers additional costs from delays and cancellations beyond what airlines owe you.

GHIC: What It Is (and Isn’t)

The Global Health Insurance Card replaced the EHIC for most Brits. It’s free — apply via the NHS website (beware copycat sites charging £30+). What it does: entitles you to state-provided emergency healthcare in EU countries (plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) on the same terms as locals. What it doesn’t do: private hospitals, mountain rescue, repatriation, or non-emergency care. Think of GHIC as a useful supplement to insurance, not a replacement. Carry it alongside your policy, not instead of it.

What Travel Insurance Do I Need for Europe Now? The Brexit Changes

• Longer trips need checking: Most annual policies cap single trips at 31 days. Going longer? You need extended or backpacker cover.
• Activity exclusions: Standard policies exclude “hazardous” activities — which often includes skiing (needs winter sports add-on), scuba below certain depths, and even some water sports. Doing the thing? Get the add-on. Our family insurance cost guide covers add-on pricing.
• Pre-existing conditions: Must be declared. Non-disclosure voids the policy — the most common reason claims are rejected. Specialist insurers (AllClear, Free Spirit) cover conditions mainstream insurers won’t.
• Alcohol exclusions: Most policies exclude incidents where alcohol was a factor. You don’t need to be teetotal — just know the clause exists.
• Covid cover: Still worth checking — most policies now include it as standard, but verify cancellation cover specifically.

Annual vs Single-Trip: The Maths

Going abroad 2+ times a year? An annual multi-trip policy (£30-60 for an individual, £60-120 for a family in Europe) almost always beats buying single-trip cover each time. It also covers UK trips over a certain distance in many cases, and — crucially — you’re covered for cancellation from the day you buy, not the day you travel. Buy the annual policy in January and every spontaneous trip is already insured.

Beyond Insurance: The Full Europe Checklist

• Passport validity: Under 10 years old at entry, 3+ months remaining. The post-Brexit rule that still catches people — see our passport renewal guide.
• ETIAS (coming): The EU’s visa-waiver system for Brits has been delayed repeatedly — check the current status before travel; when live it’ll be ~€7 for 3 years.
• Driving: UK licence is fine for most of Europe, but check IDP requirements per country — our driving in France post-Brexit guide covers the details.
• Roaming: No longer free — sort a bundle or eSIM (our roaming guide).
• Currency: Fee-free cards beat cash exchanges — see our currency exchange guide.

The 10-Minute Insurance Buying Checklist

When comparing policies, run through this list — ten minutes now prevents claim disasters later:

• ☐ Medical cover £5m+ (Europe) / £10m+ (worldwide)?
• ☐ Repatriation explicitly included?
• ☐ Cancellation cover matches or exceeds what I’ve spent?
• ☐ Single-trip length cap covers my trip (usually 31 days)?
• ☐ All pre-existing conditions declared (with written confirmation)?
• ☐ Activities I plan are covered (or add-ons purchased)?
• ☐ Baggage single-item limit covers my valuables (laptop, camera)?
• ☐ Excess is an amount I’d actually pay (£50-100, not £500)?
• ☐ Scheduled airline failure / strike cover included?
• ☐ Policy documents saved where I can access them abroad?

What Actually Gets Claimed (Real Patterns)

Industry data shows the most common successful claims are far less dramatic than people imagine:

• Medical emergencies abroad — the big one, and the reason for those £5m+ minimums. Stomach bugs, broken bones, unexpected hospital visits.
• Cancellation — illness or family emergency before departure. The most common claim type overall.
• Baggage delay/loss — usually resolved, but the payout covers essentials while you wait.
• Travel disruption — missed connections and strikes, covering the extra costs airlines won’t.

Notice what’s missing: the exotic disasters. Insurance mostly pays for the mundane going wrong — which is exactly why everyone needs it, not just adventurers.

Quick Recap: Europe Travel Insurance

• Non-negotiable: Comprehensive insurance (£5m+ medical, repatriation) for every trip — the GHIC is a supplement, not a substitute.
• Annual wins: Two or more trips a year? Annual multi-trip (£30-60) beats single-trip every time.
• Declare everything: Pre-existing conditions must be disclosed in writing — non-disclosure voids claims.
• Check the add-ons: Winter sports, scuba, and “hazardous” activities need explicit cover.
• Brexit extras: Passport validity rules, ETIAS when live, roaming charges, fee-free spending — the full checklist matters.

The Takeaway

For Europe now you need: comprehensive travel insurance (£5m+ medical, repatriation, cancellation matching your spend), a free GHIC as backup, declared pre-existing conditions, activity add-ons where relevant, and an annual policy if you travel twice or more. It costs less than a nice dinner and protects against five-figure disasters. The most expensive travel insurance is the trip you took without it.