How Brexit has changed traveling for UK residents
From duty free booze to health cover, what travel looks like for UK travelers in a post-Brexit world.
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Post Brexit Travel to the EU for UK travelers
Visas, passports, health care and travel insurance
- Do I still get reciprocal health care in the EU?
- Does travel insurance cover medical emergencies for UK travelers in the EU?
- Do UK travelers to EU countries need new passports or visas?
- Do I need travel insurance if I travel to the EU from the UK?
During the more than 40 years before 1 January 2021, the people of the UK enjoyed a smorgasbord of benefits as citizens of a country within the European Union. Not least was the right to work freely in other European countries, and exemptions from holiday visas.
More importantly, UK residents traveling to the EU could also take advantage of reciprocal state health care in other European Union countries, in the event of illness or accident while traveling… a rather marvelous benefit and potentially a huge cost saver if plans went awry.
Brexit has changed the travel landscape, raising the question of how travel insurance can support UK travelers while abroad.
Do I still get reciprocal health care in the EU post Brexit?
Thanks to the fantastic European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), millions of travelers from the UK have enjoyed reciprocal state health care while European Union citizens. While the UK government advice states you can still use your existing EHIC until it expires, the level of cover available to UK residents has changed with the introduction of the slightly more international sounding Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
The GHIC has different rules and cover to the EHIC – it may not offer the same cover you previously enjoyed when holidaying to Europe as the cover available in some countries has already changed. Before traveling, check your card expiry and even if you have traveled to a country in the EU before, it’s a good idea to know the new rules and cover provided under the EHIC And GHIC for your destination. If the cover isn’t what you need, travel insurance may be able to bridge any gaps in emergency medical assistance while you’re abroad. It is worth noting that you can apply for a card six months before your current card expires.
Does travel insurance cover medical emergencies for UK travelers in the EU?
World Nomads Travel Insurance has two plans - Standard and Explorer - which offer overseas medical assistance, medical repatriation or evacuation if required. Benefit limits apply and vary depending on the plan you purchase.
World Nomads travel insurance also offers cover for more than 150 activities. There are limits and exclusions around these, so take the time to consider what activities you might plan on doing and the level of cover you’ll need.
And if you’re already abroad and discover you don’t have the health care cover you thought you might, you can purchase travel insurance online and may be immediately covered for unexpected accidents, although be aware a 72 hour time excess does apply before some benefits kick in.
Do UK travelers to EU countries need new passports or visas?
Not having the right visas or travel documents can not only see your dream holiday abroad cancelled or delayed, it may mean any additional costs you incur are not covered by your travel insurance. A double whammy you definitely want to avoid.
Yes, the rules did change from in 2021 and the transition period ended on 31 December 2021.
Depending on where, what and how long you plan to travel, you may need to apply for a visa and consider getting a new passport if yours is close to expiring. There are also restrictions on the age of your passport as it shouldn’t be more than 10 years old.
How your passport looks is changing too – the new UK ones will no longer be the smart burgundy colored passport, used by most countries within the EU, but a return to the navy version of pre-European Union days.
You might need to get your passport stamped (great if you love to collect stamps!) and show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay.
From early 2022 the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) kicked in and it’s anticipated it will be obligatory by 2023 meaning you may need to apply and pay for a visa waiver to travel to Schengen area countries in the future.
Travel Insurance Tip: It pays to be prepared – not having the right travel documentation might leave you out of pocket and isn’t a reason for cancellation or trip interruption under many travel insurance policies. Make sure you know what travel documents you need, how much time you’ll need to apply and be approved for them, any other documentation you might need, and have a valid passport with plenty of time before it expires (at least 6 months).
Do I need travel insurance if I travel to the EU from the UK?
That’s up to you – but here at World Nomads we believe it’s always a great idea and here’s some reasons why. The UK government has also included it in their list of things to do before traveling to the EU.
When buying travel insurance, make sure it has the level of health care cover you might need, including overseas medical cover and repatriation, travel disruption, lost, stolen or damaged baggage cover, and the activities you plan to do on your trip abroad. You can get a quote here which outlines what’s covered on World Nomad’s Standard and Explorer Plans.
If you’ve any questions about World Nomads travel insurance, contact us for more.
The UK government has also published advice on what Brexit means for UK travelers – you can read more here.
World Nomads travel insurance includes cover for:
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Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Been made redundant?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the teamFree, mandatory and compulsory travel insurance
Questions to ask about how it works before you travel
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Did someone say free travel insurance?
- Could free travel insurance possibly be a bad idea?
- Purchased Travel insurance vs free, mandatory or compulsory travel insurance
- Questions you should ask about compulsory, mandatory or free travel insurance
- What do travel insurance policies cover?
- How much travel insurance do I need?
- How to get a letter for your visa stating travel insurance coverage
Yes, you heard that right! COVID-19 has led to the rise of free travel insurance being offered by some travel providers in a bid to improve confidence in traveling abroad.
It has also seen an increase in the number of governments imposing additional entry or visa travel restrictions for foreigners around travel insurance. These vary from mandating the purchase of a specified travel insurance policy and insurer, to the compulsory requirement to travel with an insurance policy with minimum benefits and levels.
While on the face of it, it may seem like a dream come true (after all who doesn’t like free stuff?), or a forced imposition to be complied with, it’s still a good idea to ask some questions about these policies and understand if they’re sufficient for your unique travel needs.
Could free travel insurance possibly be a bad idea?
‘Maybe’, is the short answer, depending on your unique travel plans.
Before you take-up that free travel insurance, or purchase the mandatory or compulsory travel insurance you need in order to enter the country you’re traveling to, it’s worth pausing for a moment and considering if the cover the travel insurance policy offers is sufficient for your individual travel plans.
If it’s not, you, and possibly your family, could be left out of pocket, or completely uncovered for events you thought your insurer would cover.
We’re not saying you must buy more insurance – we're suggesting the important question to ask about any policy is whether it’s appropriate for you and your plans, not whether it’s free or you have to buy it.
Purchased travel insurance versus free or mandatory travel insurance
- Purchased travel insurance: It helps to understand that traditionally purchased travel insurance policies are generally designed to help travelers cover the costs of the many unexpected events travelers encounter every year – not just COVID-19. Different plans with differing levels of benefits will suit different people – you can purchase a more well-rounded policy that covers many kinds of events such as baggage, evacuation, repatriation, cancellation and more, or there are also some single-event policies that might only cover cancellation. If you compare travel insurance plans you’ll see the categories of cover and benefit limits generally increase as the price of the policy goes up.
- Free, mandatory or compulsory: In comparison, many free, mandatory and compulsory travel insurance policies were introduced in response to COVID-19… that means it’s worth checking if they include cover for non COVID-19 related events and when they start. After all - there are plenty of other things that can go wrong while traveling. Many of the COVID-19-related free, compulsory or mandatory travel insurance policies may only cover medical costs or COVID-19 related costs. They may also have lower benefit limits than what you might expect from traditional travel insurance policies on-offer.
Questions you should ask about compulsory, mandatory or free travel insurance
The following questions are a good place to start to understand the level of cover a free, mandatory or compulsory insurance policy is offering. You’ll no doubt have more.
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Policy start and end date/location: If I get ill, are my medical costs covered for all destinations I’m traveling to or through, including transit countries? When does it start? Is it as soon as I book my holiday, or is it only when I arrive at my destination? What happens if I get hurt en-route or need to cancel?
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Cancellation: Does it include costs of canceling all my travel or just those of the provider I’ve purchased with? Does it include accommodation costs if I’m quarantined or hospitalized?
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Evacuation and repatriation: Will it cover the costs of paying for emergency flights to evacuate me home if needed? What if I break my leg while skiing or hiking – does the policy include evacuation costs off the mountain?
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Benefit limits: Are the benefit limits sufficient for my destination? Are they likely to cover the cost of an average hospital stay if something goes wrong… or will I be left out of pocket.
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Medical: Does it cover me if I get sick with something other than COVID-19 such as if I’m injured and need surgery or other medical help?
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Who is covered: Who does the policy cover – my family or just me? Do I need to buy a separate policy for each family member?
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Quarantine costs: If I’m quarantined unexpectedly, who will look after my children, or my pets if they’re traveling with me? Will the costs for their care be covered?
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Baggage: What if my stuff is stolen, damaged or lost – is that covered?
What do travel insurance policies cover?
It varies between providers – and depends on how much you pay. As an example - all World Nomads policies offer two kinds of plans (Standard and Explorer) with different benefit limits for:
- Overseas emergency medical and dental expenses
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance.
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Trip delay, cancellation, or interruption due to an unforeseen event
- Delayed, damaged, or stolen gear or bags (if they've been checked in with a carrier)
- Cover for more than 150 activities… and even more on some of the Explorer Plans (Benefit limits apply)
And many policies offer extras you can buy such as baggage cover or additional activities… for an additional fee of course.
How much travel insurance cover do you need?
How much cover you need depends on your circumstances. All plans have benefit limits which define the maximum amount the insurer will pay in the event of a successful claim for that event. You should consider:
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Where are you traveling to, or through? If something goes wrong, will medical assistance or evacuation be difficult and expensive? Remote locations might not be covered by travel insurance policies, or you might have to pay extra to get cover. Do you need a plan that has an unlimited benefit limit for medical costs and evacuation, or the choice of a cheaper but reduced benefit limit? If your unexpected medical costs go over the benefit limit, you’ll be out of pocket for the difference.
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What activities will you be doing? For more adventurous sports you might need a higher level of cover, or they may not be covered at all. Check what you’re planning to do against the level of cover and covered activities in your policy.
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What items are you taking with you? Benefit levels vary so don’t assume your phone will be covered if you lose it. Also, some policies won’t cover luxury items so if you can’t afford to lose it, don’t travel with it.
How do I get a letter with supporting information for my visa stating my insurance cover and limits?
Some countries require a letter outlining your travel insurance medical cover and limits as a condition to obtaining a visa. It pays to be prepared and leave plenty of time (at least six months depending on where you’re going and the visa you need) before your consulate visit or travel to obtain the supporting information you need.
Bought your travel insurance with World Nomads? Contact our Customer Service Centre who may be able to help. Allow enough time for us to process this before your appointment at a consulate.
Bought with a different provider? Contact their customer service and find out if they can help.
Travel insurance tip: Does Travel Insurance cover visa delay? While the answer is that 'It depends on the insurer and their plans’, you should check your policy carefuly as many don’t. It pays to be prepared and leave plenty of time to get your visas before you travel, at least six months depending on where you’re going and the visa you need, and consider holding off on booking and paying for anything until you have it.
What next?
Just remember, you should consider taking out a travel insurance policy that provides cover for your trip and activities with the benefit levels you need. You can have a look at World Nomads What’s covered pages, get a quote and compare our plans or contact us to ask more.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Teeth hit the ground
I put my foot in a funny way while I was walking quickly because it was raining. I fell unexpectedly to the floor, face first, so I put my arm out, broke the shoulder and my front teeth hit the ground breaking a tooth.
P.R. Italian Nomad.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Suddenly sick?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the team
