We ranked travel insurance companies based on affordability, coverage quality, financial stability and customer service. These seven providers offer the best combination of value and protection for UK and Ireland trips.
Best Travel Insurance for the UK and Ireland
With rates starting at $43, we found the best travel insurance companies for visiting the UK and Ireland. World Nomads leads with comprehensive coverage, while Tin Leg offers budget protection.
Compare the best travel insurance for visiting the UK and Ireland below.
Updated: June 8, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
World Nomads ranks first with a 93 MoneyGeek score for comprehensive coverage and adventure sports protection in the Scottish Highlands and Irish countryside.
Tin Leg offers the most affordable coverage, starting at $43 for a one-week trip, with medical and evacuation protection at budget prices.
NHS and Irish health care bill overseas visitors for hospital admissions, even though emergency department access is free. Travel insurance covers medical costs.
Best Travel Insurance Companies for the UK and Ireland
1 | World Nomads | 93 | Adventure travelers, comprehensive coverage | $95 |
2 | Generali Global Assistance | 92 | Medical coverage, seniors, pre-existing conditions | $73 |
3 | Allianz | 91 | Customer service, mobile app, 24/7 support | $98 |
4 | IMG | 91 | High coverage limits, diverse plan options | $76 |
5 | Travel Guard | 91 | Premium coverage, evacuation protection | $103 |
6 | BHTP | 90 | Mid-tier coverage, good value | $69 |
7 | Tin Leg | 89 | Budget travelers, lowest prices | $43 |
World Nomads
Best Overall for UK and Ireland Travelers
World Nomads earned a MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100 for extensive coverage, strong customer service and adventure sports protection. World Nomads ranks high in claims handling with an 89 service score and offers comprehensive medical coverage for remote areas like the Scottish Highlands. The Explorer plan covers up to $100,000 emergency medical and $300,000 medical evacuation. Adventure sports coverage comes with the Epic plan upgrade.
Best for: Travelers exploring beyond major cities, adventure seekers hiking in Ireland or Scotland and those who put coverage quality ahead of cost.
Generali Global Assistance
Best for Medical Coverage
Generali scored 92 out of 100 overall and 100/100 for financial stability, the highest stability rating among providers we reviewed. The Standard plan is $73 for $50,000 in medical coverage and $250,000 in evacuation coverage. Upper-tier plans go to $100,000 emergency medical and $250,000 evacuation. Buy within 24 hours of your initial trip deposit and pre-existing condition waivers become available.
Best for: Travelers with pre-existing conditions, seniors and anyone prioritizing medical coverage and financial security.
Allianz
Best Customer Service
Allianz earned a 100 out of 100 service score, with 24/7 phone support, a mobile app, live chat and a full online claims portal. Though more expensive than competitors, you'll get 24/7 support with live chat and phone access throughout your trip. Plans include up to $100,000 medical, $500,000 evacuation and a Cancel Anytime option (not traditional cancel for any reason).
Best for: First-time international travelers, those who value accessible support and travelers who prefer managing insurance through a mobile app.
IMG
Best for High Coverage Limits
IMG scored 91 out of 100 with the highest coverage score of any provider we reviewed at 95. The LX plan tops out at $1,000,000 in medical evacuation coverage, which matters most for remote Highland or Irish countryside travel where evacuation costs are highest. Emergency medical coverage reaches $100,000, backed by a 100/100 financial stability rating.
Best for: Travelers visiting remote areas, those who need maximum coverage limits and those who want a wide selection of plan options.
Travel Guard
Best Premium Coverage
Travel Guard scored 91 out of 100 overall with a 98 service rating. The Deluxe plan tops out at $100,000 in medical coverage and $500,000 in evacuation coverage, and the plan's claims handling earned top marks in our evaluation.
Best for: Travelers who need maximum coverage, those with expensive trips requiring high cancellation limits and travelers who want the highest evacuation thresholds available.
BHTP
Best Midtier Value
BHTP scored 90 out of 100 overall with a 96 service score and a 100/100 financial stability rating. The ExactCare Value plan starts at $69. Emergency medical coverage reaches $100,000 across plans, and evacuation coverage ranges from $250,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the plan tier.
Tin Leg
Best Budget Option
Tin Leg's Basic plan is $43 for a one-week trip, the lowest starting price among all providers we analyzed. That entry-level plan covers $25,000 in medical costs and $100,000 in evacuation. Across Tin Leg's plan lineup, medical coverage goes from $25,000 to $100,000 and evacuation goes from $100,000 to $500,000.
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers on short city breaks in London, Dublin or Edinburgh who need basic coverage at the lowest available price.
Cost of Travel Insurance for the UK and Ireland
A one-week UK or Ireland travel insurance policy costs $43 to $291 depending on provider and coverage level. Most travelers land in the $65 to $100 range with $50,000 to $100,000 in medical limits and full trip cancellation coverage.
Average Costs by Provider
Based on a $2,500 trip cost, age 30 traveler and seven-day duration from California:
Tin Leg | $43–68 | $82–92 | $86–118 |
BHTP | $69 | $90–95 | $125 |
Generali | $73 | $86 | $107 |
IMG | $76–78 | $91 | $171 |
World Nomads | $95 | $158 | $291 |
Allianz | $98 | $136 | $184 |
Travel Guard | $103 | $189 | $229 |
Insurance costs for UK and Ireland trips are identical. Both destinations fall in the same risk category for medical claims, trip delays and baggage issues.
Cost by Trip Value
Insurance premiums scale with your trip cost because cancellation coverage must match your prepaid expenses. A $10,000 trip costs more to insure than a $2,500 trip since the insurer's payout risk increases.
$2,500 | $88 | $43–291 |
$5,000 | $177 | $61–393 |
$10,000 | $366 | $97–835 |
Age Impact on Pricing
Travelers over 60 pay 40% to 60% more than younger travelers. Higher medical risk affects the difference:
Example: $2,500 trip, seven days
- Age 30: $69 (Nationwide Essential)
- Age 65: $100 (Nationwide Essential, 45% increase)
Senior travel insurance rates vary widely between providers, so getting at least three quotes is worth the time. IMG and Generali are among the more competitively priced options for travelers over 60.
Key Coverage Types and Limits
The main coverage types and their typical limits for UK and Ireland trips are:
Emergency Medical | Hospital stays, surgery, ambulance, physician fees, prescriptions, emergency dental | $50,000–100,000 |
Medical Evacuation | Air ambulance, medical escort, repatriation to U.S., return of remains | $250,000–1 million |
Trip Cancellation | Prepaid, nonrefundable costs you lose when canceling before departure | Up to 100% of trip cost |
Trip Interruption | Unused trip costs plus additional transportation when returning early | Up to 150% of trip cost |
Travel Delays | Meals, accommodation, local transportation during delays | $100–250/day (max $500–2,500) |
Baggage Loss | Lost, stolen or damaged belongings | $500–2,500 total |
Baggage Delay | Essential purchases while luggage is delayed | $100–500 |
Adventure Sports | Hiking, skiing, water sports coverage | Varies by plan; may require upgrade |
Coverage notes:
- Medical coverage pays the NHS and Irish health care charges billed directly to overseas visitors.
- Evacuation coverage gets you from remote areas like the Scottish Highlands or western Ireland to a major hospital.
- Trip cancellation pays out only for covered reasons. Illness, injury, severe weather and family emergencies are the most common.
- Cancel for any reason coverage costs 40% to 60% more than standard trip cancellation and must be purchased early.
Do You Need Travel Insurance for the UK and Ireland?
Travel insurance isn't required for U.S. citizens entering the UK or Ireland, but offers financial protection against unexpected costs. Your decision depends on trip cost, travel dates, health status and risk tolerance.
- Your trip has more than $2,000 in nonrefundable expenses.
- You're traveling between November and March, when storms disrupt UK and Irish airports.
- You're 60 or older and need strong medical coverage.
- You're combining the UK and Ireland with other European destinations.
- You're planning adventure activities in the Scottish Highlands or Irish countryside.
- You're booking six or more months out.
- Your total trip cost is under $500.
- Every expense is refundable or changeable without a penalty.
- You're on a two-to-three-day weekend city break.
- Your credit card already covers travel protection fully.
- You have international health insurance that covers overseas care.
- You could absorb the loss financially if the trip gets canceled.
UK and Ireland Travel Risks
Weather disruptions: Winter storms (November to March) frequently disrupt UK and Irish airports, with December and January seeing the highest cancellation rates. Highland road closures in Scotland can trap travelers or prevent reaching destinations. Trip delay and interruption coverage manages weather-related costs.
Strike activity: UK rail and airline strikes create disruptions uncommon in the United States. Strikes are announced days in advance but can't be predicted months ahead. Trip interruption coverage reimburses additional transportation costs when strikes force alternative routes. Some policies exclude strikes, so review your policy terms.
Brexit health care impacts: The UK is no longer part of EU health care agreements. Verify your policy covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separately from Ireland and EU countries. When combining UK and Ireland with mainland Europe travel, ensure your policy covers all destinations.
How to Get the Best Travel Insurance for the UK and Ireland
- 1Calculate Your Total Trip Cost
Add up all prepaid, nonrefundable expenses:
- Round-trip flights
- Hotel reservations
- Prepaid tours and activities
- Event tickets (theater, sporting events, concerts)
- Train or rail passes
- Rental car prepayments
Buy coverage equal to your total nonrefundable costs. If you've paid $2,500 for flights and hotels, the policy should cover at least $2,500 in trip cancellation.
- 2Compare Quotes From Multiple Providers
Get quotes from at least three companies. Use your actual trip details so pricing is accurate:
- Exact departure and return dates
- All travelers' ages (rates go up after age 60)
- Total trip cost
- Specific destination (UK, Ireland or both)
- Your home state (rates vary by location)
Compare prices, medical limits, evacuation coverage and policy exclusions before choosing.
- 3Choose Appropriate Coverage Levels
Medical coverage minimum: $50,000. The UK and Ireland have solid health care infrastructure, but American visitors still pay out of pocket. A weeklong hospital stay costs $3,500 to $14,000. Emergency surgery goes well above that.
Medical evacuation minimum: $250,000. Getting out of remote areas like the Scottish Highlands or western Ireland to Edinburgh or Dublin costs $50,000 to $75,000. Evacuation from there to the United States adds another $50,000 to $75,000.
Higher limits for seniors or pre-existing conditions: At 65 or older, or with existing health concerns, target plans with $100,000 in medical coverage and $500,000 to $1,000,000 in evacuation.
- 4Add Cancel for Any Reason When Booking Early
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage costs 40% to 60% more than standard trip cancellation. It's worth adding when:
- You're booking six or more months out.
- Work or family circumstances could shift your plans.
- Standard cancellation restrictions feel too narrow.
- You want the option to back out for any reason at all.
CFAR requirements:
- Buy within 14 to 21 days of the initial trip deposit.
- Cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
- Reimbursement is 50% to 75% of prepaid costs (the percentage varies by provider).
Not every provider offers CFAR.
- 5Review Adventure Sports Coverage
Standard plans exclude many activities popular in the UK and Ireland:
- Hiking in the Scottish Highlands
- Rock climbing
- Cycling tours
- Surfing in Ireland
- Skiing in Scotland
- Water sports
Check that your specific activities are listed as covered. "Adventure sports" is defined differently by each provider.
- 6Buy Coverage Within 14 to 21 Days of Booking
Buying within this window unlocks three things that aren't available later:
- Pre-existing condition waivers: Medical conditions that would otherwise be excluded get covered.
- Cancel for any reason: Only available on policies purchased early.
- Full trip coverage: The policy covers the period from your booking date forward, not just from the purchase date.
Travel Insurance for the UK and Ireland: FAQ
Yes. Emergency medical coverage reimburses NHS charges that overseas visitors must pay. Though emergency department visits are free, any resulting hospital admission bills you at 150% of standard NHS rates.
Generali Global Assistance and IMG offer the best senior coverage with high medical limits ($100,000), medical evacuation up to $1 million, pre-existing condition waivers and competitive senior pricing.
Some policies include limited rental car damage coverage, but most don't offer full protection. Your options: travel insurance with CDW (rare), rental company's collision damage waiver (most expensive), credit card rental car coverage (check validity in Ireland) or standalone rental car insurance (often cheapest).
Pre-existing conditions are covered when you purchase insurance within 14 to 21 days of initial trip deposit, purchase coverage for full trip cost and are medically able to travel when purchasing. Generali requires purchase within 24 hours for the waiver. Without the waiver, pre-existing conditions are excluded.
Not under standard coverage. Standard trip cancellation requires covered reasons like illness or severe weather. Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage refunds 50% to 75% of trip costs for any reason, including general discomfort, news events or change of plans. CFAR requires purchase within 14 to 21 days of initial deposit.
How We Chose the Best Travel Insurance for the UK and Ireland
We evaluated 13 travel insurance providers for UK and Ireland coverage using MoneyGeek's scoring methodology:
Affordability (40%): We collected quotes for UK and Ireland trips across multiple scenarios, varying trip costs ($2,500 to $10,000), traveler ages (30 and 65) and durations (seven to 14 days). Lower premiums for comparable coverage scored higher.
Coverage quality (30%): We analyzed policy benefits across seven categories: trip cancellation and interruption limits, emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation limits, baggage protection, trip delay benefits and coverage breadth. Plans with higher limits and fewer exclusions scored higher.
Service and claims (25%): We evaluated customer service accessibility (24/7 availability, phone, email, chat support and mobile apps) and claims experience through customer ratings and company responsiveness metrics.
Financial stability (5%): We assessed each company's financial strength using AM Best ratings, prioritizing insurers with A- or higher ratings to ensure claims-paying ability.
Our final rankings combine these weighted scores to identify providers offering the best value, coverage and service for UK and Ireland travelers.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.