All CoverForYou travel insurance policies provide up to £15 million in emergency medical and repatriation cover, helping protect you against unexpected medical expenses while travelling abroad.
You may also be able to access state-provided healthcare through a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and your destination.
Your CoverForYou policy provides up to £15 million in emergency medical and repatriation cover.
This helps protect you against eligible medical expenses if you unexpectedly become ill or injured during your trip.
Important: The £15 million limit is the maximum benefit available under the relevant policy section. All claims remain subject to your policy's terms, conditions and exclusions.
No. You can still be covered for emergency medical treatment in Europe without a GHIC or EHIC.
Your CoverForYou travel insurance provides emergency medical cover under its normal terms, regardless of whether you hold one of these cards.
However, we recommend taking a valid GHIC or EHIC when travelling to a country where it can be used.
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or eligible European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare in participating countries.
Depending on the destination, treatment may be free or available at a reduced cost.
These cards do not replace travel insurance and do not generally cover private medical treatment or repatriation to the UK.
You can apply for a free GHIC or check your eligibility on the NHS website.
Yes. If you use a valid GHIC or EHIC to reduce the cost of emergency medical treatment at a public hospital within the EU, we'll waive your policy excess for that medical claim.
This means you won't have to pay the usual excess for that eligible claim.
You require emergency medical treatment at a public hospital while visiting an EU country.
You present your valid GHIC or EHIC.
The hospital uses your card to reduce the cost of your treatment.
You make an eligible medical claim under your CoverForYou policy.
Your medical claim excess is waived.
Important: Simply holding a GHIC or EHIC does not automatically remove your excess. The card must be used to reduce the cost of your eligible treatment.
If you don't have a GHIC or EHIC, you can still make an eligible medical claim, but your normal policy excess may apply.
The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with certain countries outside the European Union.
These arrangements may allow eligible UK residents to access some state-provided healthcare when visiting participating countries.
However, the healthcare available and any costs you may need to pay vary depending on the destination.
Before travelling, we recommend checking:
Whether your destination has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK.
What medical treatment is included under that agreement.
Whether you need to provide any documents to access treatment.
Whether you'll need to contribute towards the cost of your care.
You can find out more about healthcare abroad on the NHS website.
Important: Reciprocal healthcare agreements do not replace travel insurance and may not cover all medical expenses or emergency repatriation.
If you become seriously ill or injured while travelling:
Seek appropriate medical assistance, especially if you need urgent treatment.
Use your GHIC or EHIC where applicable if you're receiving eligible state-provided treatment.
Contact our Emergency Medical Assistance Service for help with serious medical emergencies or hospital treatment.
Keep your medical documents and receipts in case they're needed to support your claim.
Our Emergency Medical Assistance Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find out more about emergency medical assistance
Please note: All medical cover is subject to your policy's terms, conditions, exclusions, benefit limits and any applicable excess. The GHIC/EHIC excess waiver applies where the card is used to reduce the cost of eligible emergency treatment at a public hospital within the EU.
