TL;DR
As an FCA-authorised expert broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands the nuances of private medical insurance in the UK. Many of our clients ask a crucial question: "Am I covered if I fall ill abroad?" This guide provides an authoritative answer, demystifying overseas treatment cover. Details on worldwide coverage, emergency and planned overseas treatment, and exclusions Thinking about your health cover while travelling can be confusing.
Key takeaways
- Initial Emergency Medical Treatment: The costs of stabilising your condition in a local hospital.
- Hospitalisation Costs: Paying for a hospital room and medical care up to a defined financial limit (e.g., £100,000 or £1 million) and for a limited time.
- Medical Repatriation: The cost of transporting you back to the UK once you are medically fit to travel. The insurer’s medical team will decide when and how this happens. The goal is nearly always to get you back to the UK to continue treatment under your core PMI policy or on the NHS.
- The Scenario: Sarah, a 35-year-old marketing manager from London, has a PMI policy with an emergency European travel option. While skiing in the French Alps, she has a bad fall and fractures her leg.
- How Cover Works:
As an FCA-authorised expert broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands the nuances of private medical insurance in the UK. Many of our clients ask a crucial question: "Am I covered if I fall ill abroad?" This guide provides an authoritative answer, demystifying overseas treatment cover.
Details on worldwide coverage, emergency and planned overseas treatment, and exclusions
Thinking about your health cover while travelling can be confusing. Do you need travel insurance, private medical insurance (PMI), or both? The answer depends entirely on your circumstances, your destination, and the type of medical care you might need.
Standard UK PMI is designed for treatment within the United Kingdom. However, many providers offer optional extensions for overseas cover, and specialist international policies exist for those living or working abroad. This article will break down what’s covered, what’s not, and how to ensure you have the right protection, whether you're on a two-week holiday in the Algarve or moving to Australia for a new job.
PMI vs. Travel Insurance: Understanding the Fundamental Difference
Before we dive into the specifics of overseas PMI cover, it's vital to distinguish it from travel insurance. They serve different purposes and getting them mixed up can lead to costly misunderstandings.
Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is an annual policy designed to cover the costs of diagnosis and treatment for new, acute conditions that arise after your policy begins. Its primary function is to give you fast access to private healthcare in your home country—in this case, the UK.
Travel Insurance, on the other hand, is a short-term policy designed to cover unforeseen events related to a specific trip. This includes medical emergencies, but also covers a host of other travel-related mishaps like trip cancellations, lost baggage, and flight delays.
The Crucial Distinction: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
A cornerstone of all UK PMI is that it covers acute conditions only. An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Think of things like a broken bone, appendicitis, or a cataract removal.
PMI does not cover chronic conditions. These are long-term or recurring illnesses that cannot be "cured" but can be managed, such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, or arthritis. Critically, PMI also excludes pre-existing conditions—any ailment you had before your policy started. This rule applies whether you are seeking treatment in the UK or abroad.
Here’s a simple table to illustrate the differences:
| Feature | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) | Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | To cover treatment for new acute medical conditions in your home country. | To cover unforeseen events during a specific trip, including medical emergencies. |
| Coverage Scope | In-patient, day-patient, and out-patient treatment for eligible conditions. | Medical emergencies, repatriation, trip cancellation, lost luggage, delays. |
| Pre-existing Conditions | Almost always excluded. | Can sometimes be covered for an additional premium, but usually only for emergencies. |
| Chronic Conditions | Not covered. Management of long-term illness is excluded. | Not covered for routine management. Emergency flare-ups may be covered if declared. |
| Trip Duration | An annual policy, not linked to specific trips. | Covers a specific trip, or multiple trips up to a set duration (e.g., 30 days) on an annual policy. |
| Repatriation | Usually only included in specialist overseas/international plans. | A core feature, designed to get you home safely after a medical emergency. |
In short: For a holiday, travel insurance is essential. An overseas PMI add-on is a supplement, not a replacement.
Emergency Overseas Cover: What If I Fall Ill on Holiday?
Imagine you're enjoying a well-earned holiday in Greece and you suffer a severe allergic reaction or slip and break your ankle. This is where an 'Emergency Overseas Cover' option on your UK PMI policy could kick in.
Most standard UK private health cover policies do not include any overseas treatment as a default feature. It is an optional benefit that you must actively choose and pay an extra premium for.
If you have this add-on, it is designed for one primary purpose: to deal with medical emergencies that cannot wait until you get back to the UK.
What Does Emergency Overseas Cover Typically Include?
Cover varies between insurers, but a typical emergency add-on will provide for:
- Initial Emergency Medical Treatment: The costs of stabilising your condition in a local hospital.
- Hospitalisation Costs: Paying for a hospital room and medical care up to a defined financial limit (e.g., £100,000 or £1 million) and for a limited time.
- Medical Repatriation: The cost of transporting you back to the UK once you are medically fit to travel. The insurer’s medical team will decide when and how this happens. The goal is nearly always to get you back to the UK to continue treatment under your core PMI policy or on the NHS.
Real-Life Example: A Skiing Accident in France
- The Scenario: Sarah, a 35-year-old marketing manager from London, has a PMI policy with an emergency European travel option. While skiing in the French Alps, she has a bad fall and fractures her leg.
- How Cover Works:
- She is taken to a local clinic. She (or a companion) calls her PMI provider's 24/7 helpline.
- The insurer liaises with the French doctors to approve and pay for the immediate surgery needed to set the bone.
- Once Sarah is stable and declared fit to fly by the medical team, the insurer arranges and pays for a medical flight back to the UK.
- Upon landing, she can use her standard UK PMI policy for any follow-up consultations or physiotherapy needed for her recovery.
The Role of the GHIC Card
If you are travelling in Europe, you should always carry a valid Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), the post-Brexit replacement for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare in EU countries on the same terms as a local resident.
However, the GHIC is not a substitute for insurance.
- It only works in state hospitals, not private ones.
- It won’t cover all costs; you may still have to pay for part of your treatment (a "co-payment"), just as a local would.
- Crucially, it does not cover medical repatriation to the UK, which can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Your PMI emergency add-on or travel insurance works alongside the GHIC to fill these gaps.
Planned Overseas Treatment: Can I Choose to Have Treatment Abroad?
This is where the line between standard UK PMI and more specialist cover becomes very clear. A standard UK policy, even with an emergency travel add-on, will not cover you if you decide you want to go abroad for treatment.
For example, you cannot use your UK PMI policy to:
- Fly to Germany for a specialist hip replacement you read about.
- Travel to a US clinic for an innovative cancer treatment.
- Schedule cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
This type of cover is the domain of International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI). These policies are specifically designed for individuals who live, work, or travel extensively outside their home country and want comprehensive global healthcare access.
UK PMI vs. International PMI (IPMI)
If you are a UK resident who only takes occasional holidays, a standard UK PMI policy with a travel insurance policy is usually sufficient. If you are a globetrotter, a digital nomad, or an expat, you need IPMI. An expert PMI broker like WeCovr can help you determine which is right for you, comparing options from leading providers.
Here's how they stack up:
| Feature | UK PMI + Emergency Add-On | International PMI (IPMI) |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Scope | Primarily UK, with emergency-only cover in a specified region (e.g., Europe). | Global or a specified large region (e.g., Worldwide excluding USA). |
| Planned Treatment | Not covered abroad. All planned treatment must be in the UK. | A core feature. You can often choose to have treatment in any country within your area of cover. |
| Repatriation | A key goal is to get you back to the UK for treatment. | Optional. You may be treated locally or choose to return home. |
| Target User | UK residents who take holidays abroad. | Expatriates, high-net-worth individuals, and frequent global travellers. |
| Cost | Relatively affordable. | Significantly more expensive due to wider scope and higher-cost regions. |
Worldwide Coverage Options: Understanding Geographic Limits
When you choose an IPMI policy or a comprehensive travel add-on, insurers don't just offer a single "worldwide" option. They divide the globe into tiers based on the cost of healthcare. This is crucial because choosing the wrong tier can mean you are either uninsured or overpaying.
The most common geographic bands are:
- UK Only: The default for all standard PMI policies.
- Europe: Covers you for emergency (and sometimes planned, on IPMI) treatment within the countries of Europe. This is a popular and cost-effective option for UK residents.
- Worldwide Excluding USA: This is a very common international option. It provides cover across the globe but explicitly excludes the United States, where healthcare costs are the highest in the world.
- Worldwide Including USA: The most comprehensive and expensive tier. It provides cover everywhere, including the notoriously pricey US healthcare system. This is essential for anyone living in, working in, or frequently travelling to the USA.
Choosing the right area is a balancing act. If you have no plans to visit the US, a 'Worldwide excluding USA' policy could save you a significant amount on your premium.
PMI for UK Expats: Staying Covered While Living Abroad
If you are a UK citizen planning to move overseas, this is a critical point: your standard UK PMI policy will almost certainly become invalid once you are no longer a UK resident.
These policies are priced and designed for people who use the UK healthcare system. Once you move, you fall outside that model. You cannot rely on your UK policy to cover you in your new home country.
UK expats need a dedicated International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) policy.
Key Considerations for Expats:
- Local Regulations: Does your new country of residence (e.g., the UAE, Switzerland) mandate that all residents have a specific type of local health insurance? An IPMI policy can often meet these requirements.
- Continuity of Cover: If you move from the UK to Spain for two years, and then to Singapore, an IPMI policy can move with you, providing continuous cover without the need for new medical underwriting each time. This is vital for ensuring any conditions that develop along the way remain covered.
- Underwriting: When you first take out an IPMI policy, you will be medically underwritten. This means the insurer will assess your health history to decide on the terms of your cover. This is another reason why it's wise to arrange cover before you develop any health conditions.
- Family Cover: IPMI policies are well-suited to covering your entire family, wherever they are in the world.
Navigating the IPMI market can be complex. Working with an experienced broker like WeCovr is invaluable. We can compare policies from global providers like Bupa Global, Cigna Global, and AXA Global Healthcare to find a plan that fits your expat lifestyle and budget.
Critical Exclusions and Limitations: What PMI Will Not Cover Abroad
Understanding what is excluded is just as important as knowing what is covered. This helps prevent nasty surprises when you need to make a claim. Whether it's a UK policy with a travel add-on or a full IPMI plan, some exclusions are universal.
The Golden Rule: Private medical insurance is designed for new, curable (acute) conditions that arise after your policy has started.
Here is a list of common exclusions for any overseas treatment:
- Pre-existing Conditions: Any medical condition, symptom, or related ailment you had or sought advice for before your policy start date will be excluded.
- Chronic Conditions: Long-term conditions like diabetes, Crohn's disease, hypertension, and asthma are not covered. PMI is not for managing ongoing illness.
- Treatment Outside Your Chosen Area: If you have a 'Europe' policy and fall ill in Thailand, you are not covered.
- High-Risk Activities: Injuries sustained during professional sports, mountaineering, diving, or other specified hazardous activities are usually excluded unless you have paid for a special extension.
- Cosmetic Surgery: Any treatment that is purely for aesthetic reasons is excluded. The only exception is often reconstructive surgery required after an accident or illness covered by the policy.
- Pregnancy and Childbirth: Standard PMI often excludes routine pregnancy and childbirth or imposes a waiting period (e.g., 10-12 months) before you can claim for it.
- Self-inflicted Injuries: This includes harm resulting from suicide attempts or substance abuse.
- Rehabilitation for Drug or Alcohol Addiction.
- Undeclared Trips: You must inform your insurer of your travel plans as required by your policy.
A Practical Guide: How to Choose the Right Overseas Cover
Feeling overwhelmed? Here is a step-by-step process to find the right level of protection.
-
Assess Your Lifestyle:
- Holidaymaker: Do you take one or two short holidays a year, mainly in Europe? A good quality standalone travel insurance policy is essential. An emergency overseas add-on to your UK PMI could be a useful, but not essential, extra layer of protection.
- Frequent Traveller/Digital Nomad: Do you spend several months a year abroad, in various countries? An annual multi-trip travel insurance policy is a minimum. You should seriously consider an IPMI policy, especially if you travel outside Europe.
- Expat: Are you moving abroad to live and work? You must have a dedicated International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) policy.
-
Review Your Existing Policies: Dig out your current UK PMI documents. Read the policy wording carefully to see if any overseas cover is included as standard (unlikely) or what the optional add-ons entail. Check the financial limits and geographical scope.
-
Compare Your Options: Weigh up the costs and benefits. Is it cheaper and more effective to buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy than to add a travel option to your PMI? For expats, compare different IPMI plans.
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Speak to an Independent, Expert Broker: This is the single most effective step. An FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr works for you, not the insurer. We can:
- Quickly assess your needs based on your travel and residency plans.
- Compare the entire market to find the most suitable and cost-effective options.
- Explain the complex jargon and small print in plain English.
- Help you with the application process, ensuring everything is declared correctly.
- All this comes at no extra cost to you.
As a WeCovr client, you also get complimentary access to our AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero, to help you stay healthy on your travels, plus exclusive discounts on other insurance products like life or home insurance.
Staying Healthy and Well While Travelling
Your insurance is a safety net, but the best approach is to avoid needing it. Here are some simple wellness tips for your travels.
Before You Go
- Check Health Advice: Visit the NHS Fit for Travel website for country-specific vaccination and health advice.
- Pack a First-Aid Kit: Include basics like plasters, antiseptic wipes, pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen), antihistamines, and any personal medication.
- Get Enough Sleep: Don't start your journey exhausted. A good night's sleep before you fly can boost your immune system.
During Your Trip
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of bottled or purified water, especially in hot climates. Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine.
- Food Safety: Be adventurous, but sensible. Favour freshly cooked, hot food. Be wary of salads or uncooked items that may have been washed in tap water. "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it" is a good mantra.
- Sun Protection: Use a high-SPF sunscreen, wear a hat, and stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day (usually 11 am to 3 pm).
- Beat Jet Lag: On arrival, try to adapt to the local time immediately. Get some daylight exposure in the morning and avoid long naps during the day. Melatonin can sometimes help reset your body clock, but speak to a pharmacist first.
Does my standard UK PMI policy cover me for a holiday in Spain?
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Ready to explore your options for private health cover, at home or abroad? The expert, FCA-authorised brokers at WeCovr are here to help. Get your free, no-obligation quote today and find the perfect protection for your peace of mind.












