Discover how travel insurance for US residents traveling to the UK may cover medical emergencies, lost baggage, cancelations, and plenty of thrilling activities.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Famed for its high tea and theater (hello, Shakespeare!), historic cities like Edinburgh and Bath, edgy nightlife in East London, idyllic countryside, and the remote, rugged islands of Scotland like the dreamy Isle of Skye, the United Kingdom draws millions of Americans every year.
You can taste smoky whisky across Scotland’s Speyside, pub hop in Manchester, relax in a stone cottage in the Cotswolds, celebrate at Notting Hill Carnival in West London, and amble through castles and along coasts in Wales.
While a trip to the United Kingdom is an amazing experience, there are some things to be aware of when you’re visiting from the US. We’ve learned quite a bit in our travels, and we encourage you to look into travel insurance* to protect your adventures to the United Kingdom.
International travel can bring all kinds of unexpected surprises - like stumbling across centuries-old ruins along the Scottish coast.
Some surprises are not as great though. Nobody wants to think about things like canceled trips, delayed baggage, and medical emergencies, but these things can happen unexpectedly. If you fall and injure yourself while hiking in Cairngorms National Park, you may then wish that you had travel insurance for the United Kingdom.
World Nomads has four plans to select from, and when you get a quote you can compare the options to determine the best international travel insurance for your needs.
You may be planning some hikes in West Midlands or hoping to catch some waves in Cornwall. The United Kingdom is filled with all sorts of adventures such as stargazing in Northumberland International Dark Sky Park. World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Americans traveling to the United Kingdom and includes things like surfing, camping, and hiking.
Before you get a quote for your travel insurance for the United Kingdom, it’s a good idea to have an idea of which activities you’d like to do. Each insurance plan covers different activities so with a rough itinerary, you can select the best insurance for your adventure.
For example, rock climbing in the Peak District is covered under all World Nomads insurance plans. Kayaking, windsurfing, and paddle boarding in the Lake District, among other water sports, are covered as well. If you’re planning to cliff jump in scenic Port Gaverne off the coast of North Cornwall, though, you’ll need to upgrade from the Standard Plan and purchase the Explorer or Epic Plan.
While the United Kingdom doesn’t have as high as peaks as some other destinations, accidents can still happen. You might be trying to ascend Snowdonia—a popular climbing area in Wales—and slip and fall. If you need to seek emergency medical attention, your travel insurance for the United Kingdom may help you get the care you need.
If you have a medical emergency when traveling to the United Kingdom, you can call the 24/7 emergency assistance team and they can help refer you to a place that offers the level of care that you need. In general, the United Kingdom has reliable health care, and your World Nomads travel insurance can help you navigate the system.
If your attending physician (and the 24/7 emergency assistance team) determines that it’s best for you to go home to the US to get medical care, the repatriation coverage that is included in your travel insurance for the United Kingdom may cover the costs to get you there.
To streamline your experience seeking medical treatment in the United Kingdom we recommend signing up for FootprintID before your trip. This non-insurance service is a portable personal health record where your documents, prescriptions, test results, and emergency contacts are accessible in one place anywhere in the world. Whether you need to refill a prescription or deal with a more serious injury, FootprintID expedites the process.
Nobody plans for lost bags, but it happens. If you’re planning to climb Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, you probably packed your new pair of hiking boots. If you get to Glasgow and realize that your bag hasn’t arrived, your travel insurance for the United Kingdom may reimburse you for the cost to replace your hiking boots and other belongings.
If you’re lucky, your bags just took a detour and will eventually make their way to you. Even a delayed bag can be stressful though. If your bag is delayed for at least 12 hours, you could still be reimbursed for a change of clothes and toiletries until you and your bag are reunited.
The first step is to contact the airline. If the airline isn’t able to help you locate your lost bag, the second step is to contact Blue Ribbon Bags, a non-insurance service that will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline. Make sure to have the file reference or record locator number and Property Irregularity Report on hand when you call Blue Ribbon Bags so you can file a lost luggage claim.
Generally, the United Kingdom is a safe destination. Pickpockets can happen occasionally, though, especially in larger cities. You’ll especially want to be careful with public transportation like the Tube in London, which can get super crowded. If anything does happen, make sure you make a police report. You’ll need that if you have to make a claim and get reimbursed for stolen goods with your travel insurance for United Kingdom.
You’ll need to do your part in keeping your belongings safe as well. If you have a few too many pints of Guinness during a pub crawl in Belfast and lose your wallet, World Nomads travel insurance won’t cover your loss.
Even if you have the perfect getaway planned, things happen that can cancel, interrupt, or delay your trip. Before you get a quote, make sure your insurance plan for the United Kingdom covers trip cancelation and interruptions so you can be reimbursed for unused, prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if something unexpected happens.
Sometimes unexpected situations happen that can derail your plans. What happens if you get sick a few days before leaving for the UK? If your doctor tells you not to travel at that time, you could be forced to cancel your trip. A travel insurance plan for the United Kingdom that includes cancelation coverage may reimburse you for those non-refundable flights, hotels, and activities you paid for in advance.
With the Explorer or Epic Plan, several travel inconveniences are covered as well. For instance, if you’re on a road trip through the colorful villages and wild coast of Northern Ireland and your rental car breaks down, causing you to be at least 12 hours late to your scheduled destination or return destination, you may be reimbursed for covered expenses incurred.
Although the UK is typically a safe country, we encourage you to check out the US government’s safety warnings for the United Kingdom before you leave for your trip. Weather, safety, and political situations can change at any time, and this is where they list any current advisories.
If you purchase travel insurance for the United Kingdom, it’s a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your plan number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens.
Not exactly known for its sunny skies, the weather in the UK can change at the drop of a hat. Come prepared for rain, sun, and chilly, windy days. While a change in weather might just mean ducking into a cozy pub if you’re wandering around London, be careful with weather in Wales, Scotland, and other coastal and mountainous regions. Weather can change without notice, which can create dangerous conditions if you’re on a slippery peak or windy cliff.
Consider exploring the United Kingdom by train! The region is well-connected by short- and long-distance routes. Train travel is a fun way to slow down and reduce your carbon footprint, while watching the green pastures of farms and forests flicker by.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.