All new policies include coronavirus cover for cancellation, curtailment and medical costs due to Covid-19 in certain circumstances. And you can add extra protection for missed departures or change in testing and quarantine rules with our Covid-19 upgrade.
Make sure you have the right medical travel insurance
Getting the right treatment when abroad is important, especially if you’ve got an existing medical condition. So it’s important to have the right cover too. Treatment for an unexpected illness – whether or not you have an existing condition – can quickly run into the thousands of pounds, so making sure you’ve got protection in place is vital.
We cover against common medical conditions
Diabetes
Diabetes can vary in severity which can impact other areas of health. Our travel insurance takes into account all the differing levels, such as how advanced your condition is, where you're travelling to and whether you have other health concerns.
Asthma
This condition can range from mild to severe and might be linked to other respiratory problems. So it’s important to have the right travel insurance for asthma. We'll assess your condition on a case-by-case basis to see whether we can give you the right cover.
Heart conditions
From high-cholesterol to high blood pressure, we want to help you enjoy your trip. Whether we can offer you cover will depend on a variety of factors, but we’ll take everything into consideration from the outset and try to help you find cover that will offer protection should you fall ill abroad.
Ehic or Ghic aren't always enough
UK citizens travelling in EU countries can access some state-provided healthcare there for free or at a reduced cost. You'll need a European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) that's yet to expire or its replacement, the new UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic).
Remember, neither card covers any additional cost to return you to the UK or for a relative to stay or fly out to be with you. In a medical emergency you may have no control over the hospital you are taken to or the closest hospital may be private. But medical travel insurance may be able to cover some of the cost for you.
From 1 January 2021 the Ehic will no longer provide access to healthcare services in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for UK nationals.
If you're ill abroad we can look after you
If you're taken ill on holiday and unfortunately end up in hospital, the emergency medical assistance team can be contacted to assist you in finding the right facility for treatment and may be able to give help with the costs. That means we'll look at the facilities that are available to you as well as the care you need. We may be able to get you home. And we may be able to pay towards your medical costs.
The availability of cover options is dependent upon the level of cover you select. Conditions and exclusions apply. For full details of what's included with your cover, check our policy documents.
Quick & easy medical screening
Get a quote online or by phone
When you choose Post Office® to provide your medical travel insurance, all you have to do is answer a few questions. We can either take you through your medical screening online or over the phone.
Tell us about the conditions you have and medications you are taking and we will try to provide you with cover. If you can help us by telling us everything you know, you'll be better equipped to ensure you have the right cover in place for your specific needs. Otherwise there's a risk you might not be protected if you have a problem while you're on holiday.
All medical conditions considered
Post Office Travel Insurance covers most pre-existing medical conditions. Get a quote today to see if we can cover you. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition that Post Office Travel Insurance cannot offer cover for, the Money and Pensions Scheme (MaPS) have launched a directory listing companies that may be able to help you. The directory can be accessed by either clicking here or calling 0800 138 7777.
Winning awards for more than 10 years
Post Office won a "Best Travel Insurance provider" award at the Your Money Awards in 2021.
Our Premier policies are 5-star rated by Defaqto.
Post Office won a ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ category award at the British Travel Awards in 2019.
Plan ahead, just in case
Insurance won't cover you for routine or non-emergency treatment you may need while you are away. So if you are on prescription drugs, check you have enough with you to last your journey.
Medical Travel Insurance FAQs
Does Travel Insurance cover my trip for coronavirus?
At Post Office, we work hard to provide cover that’s right for you and any pre-existing medical conditions you’re living with. We know the coronavirus pandemic has been of great concern to many people living with such conditions.
All new Post Office Travel Insurance policies include a level of cover against disruption or difficulty caused by the Covid-19 virus as standard.
If there's no advice in place from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) against all travel to your destination, we'll cover the costs of emergency medical expenses and even repatriation to get you back home if you fall ill on your trip, even with coronavirus.
To check what's covered as standard for Covid-19 on our policies, please check our support page.
To add additional cover for coronavirus related disruptions please check our Covid-19 upgrade option for what is available
There is no cover provided on Post Office Travel Insurance policies if current Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice is in place against all travel and where any of the UK governments have implemented travel bans against travel within the UK or internationally.
If the FCDO have advised to only undertake essential travel to a destination and your trip is not essential and you choose to travel, we will only cover a claim if the cause is not linked to the reason for the FCDO advice. This limitation applies even if you've purchased an optional Trip Disruption or Covid-19 upgrade. You may be able to travel with full cover if we authorise in writing that your trip is essential before you depart. Should you like to request this, please email travelinsurancefeedback@postoffice.co.uk
What is a medical condition for travel insurance?
To make sure your travel insurance policy fully covers you for your trip, it’s important that you tell us the full details of any medical condition affecting the health of the people travelling or anyone else on whom your trip may depend. So tell us about heart conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol, respiratory conditions such as asthma, and other illnesses such as diabetes.
We’ll assess the condition and confirm whether we can issue a policy to cover claims for that particular condition or any associated condition.
Do you have to declare medical conditions for travel insurance?
Yes, it’s very important that you fully declare any pre-existing medical conditions when applying for your Post Office travel insurance policy. You won’t be covered for anything that arises from, is related to, or has been caused by any pre-existing medical conditions unless you have told us about them, we have agreed in writing to cover them and any additional premium has been paid.
What will I be asked during the medical screening?
The questions in your medical screening will vary depending on your conditions. We’ll take some background information about your recent medical history, and if you tell us that you’ve had a medical issue within that time-frame we’ll go into more detail about how it has been treated, what medicines and procedures you have undergone and what treatment you are expecting in the future – though there may be other questions too.
What does medical travel insurance cover?
Medical Travel Insurance provides cover tailored to your trip, including cover for your existing medical conditions. Travelling with medical conditions carries more risk than that of a person who has no medical conditions. Accidents completely out of anyone's control, where you may require medical attention are usually covered on a normal travel insurance policy.
However, if you have an existing medical condition, the amount of medical treatment that you may require could be more extensive and more expensive, so we offer a policy which considers all medical conditions to give you the level of cover that you need. This will ensure that any medical expenses incurred or if you need to be repatriated back home or to another medical facility if the one your are in is not suitable for your conditions, will be covered. Based on the severity of your conditions, you may need to pay an additional premium.
Do I need an Ehic or Ghic?
If you’re travelling within the EU, then it is important to take your existing European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) if it's yet to expire or apply for its replacement, the UK Global health Insurance Card (Ghic). These provide access to emergency and necessary state healthcare in EU countries for free or at a reduced cost. But there are certain things they don't cover – such as medical repatriation – that make it vital to have travel insurance too.
The best combination to have is a valid Ehic or Ghic and good travel insurance. Please note that from 1 January 2021, the Ehic will no longer provide access to healthcare in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for UK citizens in most cases, making the need for travel insurance with health cover all the more important.
*For Economy, Standard and Premier policies, the Singe trip policy will cover you for one trip up to:
365 days for persons aged up to and including age 70.
90 days for persons aged between 71 and 75.
31 days for persons aged between 76 and above.
**For Economy, Standard and Premier policies under Annual Multi-trip policy although you can take as many trips as you want within the policy year, there is a maximum duration for each individual trip. This limit varies depending on the cover level chosen and will be 17 or 31 days. On some policies the limit can be extended to 31, 45 or 60 days for an additional premium.
Small Print
Post Office® Travel Insurance is arranged by Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited.
Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 630318. Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited are registered in England and Wales. Registered numbers 2154540 and 08459718 respectively. Registered Office: Finsbury Dials, 20 Finsbury Street, London EC2Y 9AQ. Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trademarks of Post Office Limited.
The above details can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority website and searching by Firm Reference Number (FRN).
