Travel insurance in the UK 

Holiday insurance cover

All visitors to London should ensure that they have adequate travel insurance prior to their arrival, including comprehensive medical cover.

Many people believe that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) will provide free health care, but this is not always the case.

Your holiday insurance policy should cover all of the activities that you plan to do whilst on your holiday.

NHS care without insurance

Whilst we always recommend obtaining a comprehensive travel insurance policy before your arrival in the UK, the NHS will generally treat the following free of charge: Anyone who has been in the UK for at least 12 months; Anyone who has come to the UK to take up permanent residence; Refugees, or people who are seeking refuge in the UK; Students and trainees whose courses require more than 12 weeks employment during their first year.

The NHS will also provide the following services free of charge: Treatment in Accident & Emergency departments; Emergency ambulance transport to hospital; Compulsory psychiatric treatment.

UK health agreements

The citizens of some countries are entitled to receive emergency medical care in the UK, even without travel insurance – but they must ensure that the correct steps have been followed prior to their departure.

EU citizens can be treated on the NHS – provided that they have an E111 form signed and stamped before they leave their home country.

Some non-EU countries also have reciprocal health agreements with the UK: Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Falkland Islands, Hungary, Macedonia, Malta, Montserrat, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovenia

Please note that the United States and Canada do not have a health agreement with the UK, and a comprehensive travel insurance policy is recommended.