Australia's reciprocal health care agreement with the UK means the NHS will provide medically necessary treatment while you are there. That single fact convinces some travellers to skip insurance for a UK trip, and it is a mistake, because the agreement covers a narrow slice of what can go wrong on the other side of the world.
What the NHS deal does not cover
- The trip itself. Long-haul airfares, London hotel blocks, rail passes and show tickets are among the most expensive prepaid costs in travel. If illness, injury or a family emergency stops the trip, the Explorer plan's optional cancellation and trip interruption cover of up to $40,000 is what can get that money back.
- Getting you home. The NHS will stabilise you; where medically necessary, it will not fly you back to Australia with a medical escort or cover the extra accommodation while you recover enough to travel. Those costs fall under our unlimited* overseas emergency medical benefit, coordinated by 24/7 emergency assistance.
- Private and follow-on care. Reciprocal cover is for medically necessary public treatment. Private treatment, some ambulance services and assorted charges sit outside it.
- Your belongings. Phones and bags disappear in every major city, and multi-city itineraries with trains and connections multiply the chances. Explorer's optional luggage cover of up to $10,000 can respond to accidentally lost or stolen luggage and personal effects.
Side trips to Europe
Most UK itineraries include a hop to Paris, Rome or beyond, and the reciprocal agreement does not follow you onto the Eurostar in the same way. Cover every country you will visit by selecting All of Europe, or the specific countries, when you quote. It is far cheaper to include a destination up front than to discover a gap from a hospital in Italy.
What Travel Protect covers in the UK
- COVID Basic: unlimited* overseas emergency medical plus up to $4,000 cancellation and trip interruption cover, including COVID-19 cancellation. No baggage benefit.
- Explorer: unlimited* overseas emergency medical, cancellation cover you set up to $40,000, luggage cover up to $10,000, rental vehicle insurance excess for hire cars in the UK or Europe, and optional packs including snow (for an Alps detour) and cruise (for a British Isles or Norwegian fjords sailing).
Travellers aged up to 99 are eligible (you must be 18 to purchase), which matters for the many multigenerational family trips the UK attracts. Trips of up to 12 months can be covered, useful for extended stays visiting family.
What does UK travel insurance cost?
Indicative prices for a single traveller departing in about 30 days, generated on from live Travel Protect quotes. Your price depends on your exact trip details.
UK travel insurance costs from $27.47 for a 7-day trip for a 25 year old traveller, rising to $232.94 for a 14-day trip for a traveller aged 75.
| Product | Traveller | 7 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Comprehensive cover: medical, cancellation, luggage and liability Comprehensive cover | Age 25 | $48.16 | $66.30 |
| Age 45 | $53.95 | $73.08 | |
| Age 75 | $185.84 | $232.94 | |
| COVID Basic Core Medical cover + Covid related benefits included | Age 25 | $27.47 | $32.71 |
| Age 45 | $33.69 | $40.16 | |
| Age 75 | $166.97 | $201.42 |
All prices in AUD, single traveller, no upgrades selected.
Get your exact price
Frequently asked questions
The reciprocal health care agreement gives access to medically necessary NHS (National Health Service) treatment. It does not cover any necessary repatriation to Australia, most private care, trip cancellation, or your belongings, which is why travel insurance is still recommended for UK trips.
Your policy needs to cover everywhere you travel. Selecting All of Europe, or listing each country alongside the UK, ensures a side trip does not become a coverage gap.
Cruising needs the optional cruise pack on an Explorer plan. Add it when you quote if your itinerary includes any cruise nights.
Yes. Travel Protect covers travellers up to age 99 on the same plans.
Any advice on this page is general only and does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before deciding, read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determination (TMD), available on our Product Documents page. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. *Unlimited overseas emergency medical cover is subject to policy terms. Travel Protect is a business of Wise & Silent (AR 1301320), an authorised representative of battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd (AFSL 536280); policies are underwritten by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd.