Three travel insurers compared: the wording that differs

Two travel policies can show the same medical limit and still pay different claims. The limit sits on the front page, so it gets compared. The clauses that decide a claim sit further in: how far back the health questions reach, which activities are covered when nobody mentions them, who pays for a rescue, and the age at which cover stops.

This page lines up three UK travel insurance wordings on those clauses. They are called Provider A, B and C, matching the offer links, while partner links are set up. Each is written for UK residents and states its limits in pounds. All of them were read in full on 2 October 2026: Provider A's policy booklet (edition dated March 2026), Provider B's two-page summary (dated August 2025) and booklet (dated December 2023), and Provider C's 2026 wording, valid from 1 March 2026. Insurers reissue wordings often, so treat the table as a map of clauses to find in the document you are offered. It is not a ranking and not advice on what to buy.

UK insurers publish a short Insurance Product Information Document, usually two pages, for each product. Every summary read while preparing this page says of itself that it is a summary and that the full terms are in the policy documents. Provider B's summary, for example, says sports and leisure activities are not covered unless shown as included, then sends you to a table in the booklet. The table is where a climbing claim is decided.

All three wordings exclude claims linked to a medical condition unless you declared it and the insurer accepted it in writing. What you must declare is where they split.

Provider A asks about every diagnosed illness, injury or disease where, in the 12 months before purchase, you were prescribed medication (repeat prescriptions count), had treatment, tests or investigations or are waiting for them, were referred to or seen by a specialist, or were admitted to hospital or had surgery. Accepted conditions show as "accepted" on the schedule. A also excludes an undiagnosed symptom if you had sought a diagnosis and not yet received it.

Provider B uses a two-year window: any prescribed medication, or medical treatment or advice at a hospital, clinic, GP surgery or by remote consultation, plus a waiting list that could make you cancel, plus a terminal prognosis. Its booklet says it cannot cover undiagnosed conditions.

Provider C asks two questions. The first covers the last two years: any medical or psychological condition for which you received treatment, were prescribed medication, or attended consultations, investigations or check-ups. The second covers the last five years: heart attack, angina, chest pain, any other heart condition, stroke, mini-stroke or brain haemorrhage. A yes to either sends you to an online medical screening. A screening endorsement covers emergency treatment if the condition changes, but the wording says it does not cover medication or treatment you need to continue during the trip, with inhalers for asthma as its example.

The windows differ in length. A consultation 18 months ago falls outside A's 12 months and inside the two years at B and C. Whether it matters depends on the condition and the insurer's decision, so answer each form against its own wording. The duty to report changes also varies. A asks only at purchase and at annual renewal. B asks you to tell it about a new condition or a change in medication before you book or travel. C asks you to call if any health issue from its declaration arises between the policy starting and the trip.

Provider A covers "most sports activities" and lists the exceptions: mountaineering, rock climbing, outdoor bouldering, via ferrata, canyoning, kite surfing and trekking that involves an ascent above 5,000 metres, among others. Winter sports are an optional cover. An activity missing from the list is covered by default, subject to the general exclusions.

Providers B and C work the other way. B prints a table of covered activities, and its general exclusions remove any amateur sporting or adventure activity not listed in it. C includes a base list in the price and sells Adventure, Extreme, Ultimate and Winter Sports packs at extra premium. Its wording says hazardous activities are not covered unless specified, or agreed in writing and shown on the certificate.

The same unlisted activity can therefore be covered at A and refused at B or C. With an inclusion list the job is to find your activity by name in the table, and to ask the insurer in writing about anything you cannot find.

A second layer sits inside the lists. B's table has a column showing whether personal accident and personal liability apply to each activity. C's table marks many activities "No Accidental Disability Cover" or "No Personal Liability Cover". A excludes accidental death, permanent disability and liability claims for some activities too. Medical cost cover and liability cover can differ for the same activity, so read both columns.

The headline medical limits are £10 million at A, £15 million at B (Gold Plus level) and £10 million at C on all three of its levels. The FCDO's guidance gives example costs without insurance: a broken leg in Spain at £25,000 or more, a quad bike accident in Greece with surgery and evacuation at £80,000 or more, a hospital stay in the USA at £150,000 or more. All three limits sit far above those figures, so the next line to read is rescue.

Provider A pays "rescue services to get to hospital following injury or illness" as part of emergency treatment. Provider B's general exclusions list "any search and rescue costs". Provider C treats search and rescue as its own benefit: none on its lowest level, £50,000 on the middle level and £100,000 on the highest. Medical evacuation by helicopter falls under its medical section when it is needed and approved by the assistance service.

The approval clause is shared. A will not pay inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment or an early return that its assistance provider has not agreed beforehand. B requires a call to its assistance line as soon as possible after an illness or injury, on admission as an inpatient, before repatriation is arranged and when you are told you need outpatient tests. C excludes medical or repatriation costs over £500 that its assistance service has not authorized. In all three, the call is a condition of payment.

Cancellation limits are £5,000 at A, £5,000 at B on Gold Plus (with curtailment also at £5,000) and £1,000, £3,000 or £7,500 at C depending on level. Provider B sells increased cancellation cover up to £15,000 as an option, and waiting list cover for single trips as another. All three exclude circumstances you knew about when you bought the policy or booked the trip. The FCDO's advice is to buy insurance as soon as possible after booking.

Baggage is where the per-item limit bites. A's belongings cover is optional: £2,000 for belongings and valuables combined, with £400 covering all valuables in total or any one item, pair or set. B's Gold Plus level allows £2,500 in total, £300 for a single article, pair or set, and £450 for gadgets and valuables. C applies baggage cover only if the premium was paid: £1,000, £2,000 or £2,500 overall, £150, £300 or £350 per item, by level. A camera or laptop is paid up to the cap and no further. B and C sell extensions or specified-item cover, and A's wording points to home contents insurance as an alternative.

Provider A covers people aged 79 or under. Provider B's booklet is headed "all ages", but winter sports cover is only offered to people aged 65 and under, and its personal accident benefits are lower for people over 75. Provider C excludes single-trip buyers aged 76 or over and annual buyers aged 66 or over, and does not sell its Extreme and Ultimate activity packs from 66. If a trip includes activity cover, check the age line for the pack as well as the policy.

The altitude and motorbike rows are the two that most often surprise people on a trip in the mountains or in Southeast Asia, and they have their own guides: Does travel insurance cover scooters? and Insurance for hiking above 3,000 m.

If you take regular medication or have had recent treatment, compare the look-back windows first. A condition left off a form that asked for it can lead the insurer to refuse a claim linked to it, and all three wordings say so.

If the trip includes an activity outside the common sports, search each wording for its name. A negative list such as A's covers it unless it is listed as excluded, while B and C need it listed. Ask the insurer to confirm in writing when the name is not there.

If you are 65 or over, read the age lines before the prices. If you carry a camera or laptop, read the single-item limit before the overall baggage limit.

Download the policy wording, not the summary, and search it for "pre-existing", "search and rescue", "licence", "altitude" and the name of each activity you plan. Save the assistance number where you can reach it offline. If the wording and a sales page disagree, the wording is what an insurer decides a claim against. For a destination example of how a hospital handles a visitor, see travel insurance for Japan.