
As an FCA-authorised private medical insurance broker in the UK, WeCovr has helped arrange over 800,000 policies. Navigating health cover for international travel can be complex, but understanding how your PMI works alongside travel insurance is key to ensuring you're protected wherever you go in the world.
The thrill of booking a holiday or a business trip abroad is undeniable. You plan the itinerary, pack your bags, and dream of new experiences. But have you considered what would happen if you fell ill or had an accident far from home? Many UK residents with Private Medical Insurance (PMI) assume their policy provides a global safety net. While PMI is an outstanding tool for managing your health in the UK, its reach beyond our borders is often limited.
This comprehensive guide will demystify the relationship between your UK private health cover and the insurance you need for international travel. We’ll explore the distinct roles of PMI and travel insurance, explain how they can work together, and introduce solutions for those spending longer periods abroad. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to travel with true confidence, knowing you have robust protection in place.
Before we look at cover abroad, it's essential to understand what standard UK PMI is designed to do. At its heart, private medical insurance is a policy that covers the cost of private healthcare for acute conditions that arise after your policy begins.
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 conditions like cataracts needing surgery, joint pain requiring a hip replacement, or hernias needing repair.
Crucially, standard UK PMI does not cover:
The primary benefit of private medical insurance in the UK is to provide choice, speed, and comfort. With NHS waiting lists reaching record levels—the referral to treatment (RTT) waiting list in England stood at over 7.5 million cases in early 2025 (NHS England, 2025)—PMI offers a valuable alternative.
Key Benefits of UK PMI:
PMI is your key to unlocking fast, high-quality medical care within the United Kingdom. Its purpose is not to be a global healthcare plan.
This is the most common question we receive from policyholders planning a trip. The straightforward answer is: rarely, and if it does, the cover is very limited.
Most UK PMI policies are designed with a "UK-only" focus. However, some providers include a basic "overseas cover" element as a policy feature or a paid add-on. It is vital to understand that this is not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.
This limited cover is typically designed for emergencies only, with the primary objective of getting you stable enough to be repatriated back to the UK for treatment under your main PMI policy.
Here’s what you’ll commonly find in the travel clauses of a UK PMI policy:
| Feature | Typical Limitation in a UK PMI Policy |
|---|---|
| Purpose of Cover | Emergency medical treatment to stabilise your condition. |
| Primary Goal | To make you fit to fly home to the UK for further treatment. |
| Financial Limit | Often capped at a relatively low amount (e.g., £50,000 - £100,000). This can be exhausted quickly, especially in countries like the USA. |
| Duration Limit | Cover may be restricted to trips of a certain length (e.g., 28 days) and a total number of days per year (e.g., 90 days). |
| Geographic Scope | May be limited to Europe and exclude high-cost destinations like the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean. |
| Non-Medical Cover | Almost never included. There is no cover for trip cancellation, lost luggage, travel delays, or personal liability. |
Relying solely on your PMI for travel is a significant financial risk. A serious medical emergency abroad can easily result in bills exceeding £100,000, leaving you with a substantial shortfall to pay out of pocket.
This is where specialist travel insurance comes in. It is a product specifically designed to protect you from the unique risks associated with being in a foreign country. While your PMI looks after your health at home, travel insurance protects your health, finances, and logistics when you are away.
High-Limit Emergency Medical Expenses: This is the cornerstone of any good travel policy. It covers the cost of hospitalisation, doctors' fees, ambulance services, and emergency treatment abroad. Limits are typically high, often ranging from £5 million to £10 million, providing robust protection even in countries with expensive healthcare systems.
Medical Repatriation: If you are seriously ill or injured, travel insurance covers the cost of getting you back to the UK, which could involve a scheduled flight with a medical escort or, in severe cases, a private air ambulance. These costs can run into the tens of thousands of pounds.
Cancellation and Curtailment: If you have to cancel your trip due to illness, bereavement, or another covered reason, travel insurance can refund the pre-paid costs of flights and accommodation. It also covers you if you have to cut your trip short for similar reasons.
Baggage and Personal Belongings: Provides cover if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip.
Travel Delays and Missed Departures: Offers compensation if your travel is significantly delayed or you miss your connection due to circumstances outside your control.
Personal Liability: Protects you if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while abroad.
Unlike PMI, which excludes pre-existing conditions, you must declare all your medical conditions to your travel insurer. This includes chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, as well as any condition you've seen a doctor for in the recent past. Failing to declare them can invalidate your entire policy. While it may increase your premium, it ensures you are properly covered if one of your conditions flares up while you're away.
The following table clearly illustrates the different roles of these two vital insurance products.
| Coverage Area | UK Private Medical Insurance (PMI) | Specialist Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Focus | United Kingdom | Worldwide (or chosen region) |
| Medical Purpose | Planned & acute care (non-emergency) | Unforeseen medical emergencies |
| Medical Limit | High for UK treatment | Very high (e.g., £5M+) for foreign treatment |
| Pre-existing Conditions | Excluded | Must be declared; can often be covered for an additional premium |
| Trip Cancellation | Not covered | Core benefit |
| Lost Baggage/Delays | Not covered | Core benefit |
| Repatriation | Not a primary feature | Essential benefit |
For some travellers, neither UK PMI nor standard travel insurance is the right fit. If you plan to live, work, or study abroad for an extended period (typically more than 90 days), you need a more robust solution: International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI).
IPMI is essentially global health insurance. It’s designed to give you comprehensive access to healthcare wherever you are in the world, just as your UK PMI does for you in the UK. It’s not for short-term emergencies; it’s for your ongoing health and wellbeing as an expatriate or long-term traveller.
IPMI policies are highly flexible. You can choose your area of cover—for example, "Worldwide excluding USA" is a common option that is cheaper than a full global policy. These plans cover everything from routine GP visits and wellness checks to major surgery and cancer care, providing true peace of mind for those living an international lifestyle.
| Feature | UK PMI | Travel Insurance | International PMI (IPMI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Acute medical care within the UK | Short-term emergencies abroad | Comprehensive healthcare abroad |
| Duration | Annual, ongoing policy | Per trip or annual multi-trip | Annual, for long-term stays |
| Scope of Care | Diagnostics, surgery, cancer care | Emergency treatment only | Full inpatient, outpatient, wellness |
| Best For | UK residents needing fast UK care | Holidaymakers, business travellers | Expats, digital nomads, retirees abroad |
As an expert PMI broker, WeCovr can help you determine whether a standard UK policy, an international plan, or a combination of products is the right solution for your unique circumstances.
Building your protection strategy doesn't have to be complicated. By following a few logical steps, you can ensure there are no dangerous gaps in your cover when you travel.
Start by understanding what you already have. Find your policy documents and look for a section titled "Overseas Cover," "Travel Cover," or similar. Pay close attention to:
For the vast majority of UK residents going on holiday or short business trips, a standalone travel insurance policy is essential.
Think of your UK PMI and your travel insurance as a team.
Let's look at how this works in practice.
Scenario 1: The Holidaymaker
Scenario 2: The Business Traveller
Scenario 3: The Long-Term Expat
Insurance is your safety net, but the best strategy is to stay healthy in the first place. Travelling can disrupt routines, but a few simple tips can make a huge difference to your wellbeing.
Navigating the world of private health insurance, whether for the UK or for international travel, can feel overwhelming. As an independent and FCA-authorised PMI broker, WeCovr is here to provide clarity and find the solution that’s right for you.
We can help you review your existing cover, identify any gaps, and build a robust health and travel insurance plan that gives you complete peace of mind, wherever your journey takes you.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about PMI and travel.
1. Does my UK PMI cover pre-existing conditions when I travel abroad? No. Standard UK Private Medical Insurance is designed for new, acute conditions that arise after your policy starts and does not cover pre-existing conditions at home or abroad. When buying travel insurance, you must declare all pre-existing medical conditions to the insurer. They may then offer to cover them, potentially for an increased premium, ensuring you are protected if a condition flares up overseas.
2. I have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Do I still need travel insurance for Europe? Yes, absolutely. The GHIC (and the old EHIC) allows you to access state-provided healthcare in EU countries on the same basis as a local resident. It is not a substitute for travel insurance. It will not cover costs for private treatment, repatriation back to the UK, trip cancellation, or lost baggage. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) strongly advises that all UK travellers have comprehensive travel insurance, even for trips to Europe.
3. What is the main difference between a PMI "travel add-on" and a standalone travel insurance policy? The biggest difference is the scope of cover. A PMI travel add-on is almost always limited to emergency medical expenses and repatriation, often with a low financial cap. A standalone travel insurance policy is far more comprehensive, offering high medical limits (typically £5 million or more) plus essential non-medical cover for cancellation, baggage, travel delays, and personal liability, which PMI add-ons do not include.
4. How can a broker like WeCovr help me with my travel health cover? WeCovr can help in several ways. First, we can analyse your existing UK PMI policy to explain exactly what, if any, overseas cover it provides. Second, we can help you find the best private medical insurance in the UK that might include a useful travel benefit. Finally, by understanding your travel habits—whether you're a holidaymaker or a future expat—we can advise on whether you need standalone travel insurance or a full International PMI plan, ensuring you are never underinsured.
Ready to travel the world with confidence, knowing you have the right health protection in place? Let our experts help you build your perfect safety net.
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote and expert advice on combining your UK PMI with the right travel cover.






