
Planning a trip abroad? As an FCA-authorised expert broker that has helped arrange over 800,000 policies, WeCovr knows that understanding your insurance is vital. Many people wonder if their UK private medical insurance (PMI) will cover them. The short answer is almost always no; you need dedicated travel insurance.
It's a common point of confusion, but Private Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance are fundamentally different products, designed for entirely different circumstances. Think of it this way: PMI is for your planned and unplanned healthcare at home in the UK, while travel insurance is for emergencies and mishaps away from home.
Understanding this distinction is the first step to ensuring you're properly protected, whether you're on holiday in Spain or seeking specialist treatment in London.
Here is a simple breakdown of the core differences:
| Feature | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) | Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Geographical Scope | Typically UK only. | Specific overseas country or region for a set period. |
| Primary Purpose | To cover the costs of private medical treatment for acute conditions in the UK. | To cover unforeseen emergencies and mishaps while travelling. |
| Medical Cover Focus | Diagnosis and treatment of eligible acute conditions (e.g., surgery, consultations). | Emergency medical treatment to stabilise you, and repatriation if needed. |
| Non-Medical Cover | None. It is purely a health product. | Yes. Covers trip cancellation, lost baggage, delays, personal liability, etc. |
| Duration of Cover | Ongoing annual policy. | Per-trip or an annual multi-trip policy for a set number of days. |
Let's explore these differences in much greater detail so you can make an informed choice.
Private Medical Insurance, often called private health cover, is an annual insurance policy that covers the cost of private healthcare in the UK. Its primary benefit is to help you bypass NHS waiting lists for eligible treatments, giving you more control over when and where you are treated.
According to NHS England data, the median waiting time for consultant-led elective care was 14.6 weeks in April 2024. PMI is designed to significantly reduce this wait for eligible conditions.
This is the single most important concept to understand about private medical insurance in the UK:
Crucially, standard UK PMI also does not cover pre-existing conditions—illnesses or injuries you had before your policy began. It is designed for new, acute conditions that arise after you take out the cover.
While policies vary between the best PMI providers, most comprehensive plans will include:
| Included (Core Benefits) | Often Excluded |
|---|---|
| In-patient and day-patient treatment (when you need a hospital bed). | Pre-existing conditions. |
| Out-patient consultations, tests, and therapies (up to a set limit). | Chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes). |
| Cancer cover (often a comprehensive benefit). | Routine pregnancy and childbirth. |
| Mental health support (can vary significantly). | Cosmetic surgery (unless medically necessary). |
| A private room in a partner hospital. | Emergency services (A&E is handled by the NHS). |
| Choice of specialist and hospital from an approved list. | Alcohol or substance abuse treatment. |
The main takeaway is that PMI is your key to accessing private healthcare within the UK. It has no function once you step on a plane for a holiday.
Travel insurance is a short-term policy designed to protect you from a range of unforeseen problems that can occur while you are travelling abroad. While its most critical component is medical, it covers much more than just your health.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reported that travel insurers paid out £352 million in claims in 2022, with the average medical claim being £1,470. This highlights its importance.
A good travel insurance policy is built on several key protections:
Emergency Medical & Repatriation Expenses: This is the most vital part. It covers the cost of emergency medical treatment if you fall ill or have an accident abroad. This can range from a visit to a local doctor for food poisoning to major surgery after a car accident. Crucially, it also covers repatriation—the cost of getting you back to the UK in a medically safe way, which could involve an air ambulance and can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Cancellation, Curtailment & Interruption: This covers you if you have to cancel your trip before you go, or cut it short while you're away, due to a valid reason (like illness, bereavement, or jury service).
Baggage & Personal Belongings: This reimburses you if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip.
Travel Delay & Missed Departure: Provides compensation for long delays and may cover costs to help you catch up with your itinerary if you miss your flight for a reason outside your control.
Personal Liability: This covers you if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while on holiday.
Real-Life Example: Imagine you're skiing in the Alps and you break your leg.
Let's put the two side-by-side to make the distinction crystal clear.
This is the simplest difference.
This is a more nuanced but equally important distinction.
How these policies handle conditions you already have is vastly different and a common pitfall for travellers.
| Policy Type | Handling of Pre-existing Conditions |
|---|---|
| PMI | Generally excludes them. When you buy PMI, you either go through 'Full Medical Underwriting' (where you declare your history) or 'Moratorium Underwriting' (where anything from the last 5 years is automatically excluded for an initial period). The goal is to cover new conditions only. |
| Travel Insurance | You must declare them. The insurer will then assess the risk. They may: 1. Cover the conditions as standard. 2. Cover them for an additional premium. 3. Exclude claims related to those specific conditions. Failure to declare can void your entire policy, leaving you with a huge bill. |
This is non-negotiable. Always be completely honest on your travel insurance application.
Yes, if you want comprehensive health protection both at home and away, you need both. They serve different purposes and do not overlap.
Scenario 1: The Holidaymaker in Portugal
Scenario 2: The Business Traveller with a Post-Trip Concern
Scenario 3: The Expat Living Abroad
Some high-end UK PMI plans offer a feature called "overseas emergency medical cover." This can cause dangerous confusion.
This is NOT a substitute for proper travel insurance. It is typically:
Think of it as a very basic safety net, but never rely on it as your sole source of protection abroad.
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) allows UK residents to access state-provided healthcare in EU countries (and a few others, like Switzerland) on the same terms as a local citizen. This might mean treatment is free or available at a reduced cost.
However, the GHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance.
| Feature | GHIC | Comprehensive Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Healthcare | State-run hospitals and clinics only. | Covers private facilities (often faster and better-equipped). |
| Repatriation | No cover. Will not pay to bring you back to the UK. | Yes. A core benefit, covering costs up to millions of pounds. |
| Mountain Rescue | No cover. Not included in state healthcare schemes. | Yes. Essential for skiing or hiking holidays. |
| Cancellation/Baggage | No cover. It is purely for medical access. | Yes. Covers a wide range of travel mishaps. |
| Geographical Scope | Most EU countries + a few others. | Worldwide, depending on the policy you buy. |
The official advice from GOV.UK is clear: You should have both a valid GHIC and comprehensive travel insurance for trips to Europe.
Navigating the complexities of the private medical insurance UK market can be daunting. Policies are filled with jargon, and comparing providers like-for-like is a challenge. This is where an expert, independent PMI broker can be invaluable.
At WeCovr, we provide a no-cost service to help you find the right private health cover for your needs and budget. Our team of specialists will:
As a WeCovr client, you also gain complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, helping you stay on top of your health goals. Furthermore, customers who purchase PMI or Life Insurance through us are often eligible for discounts on other types of cover. With consistently high customer satisfaction ratings, our focus is on providing clear, authoritative advice to give you peace of mind.
Before you travel, run through this simple checklist:
Ready to secure your peace of mind with the right private health cover for your life in the UK? The experts at WeCovr are here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today and let us simplify the world of private medical insurance for you.






