Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights
2. Introduction
3. What the AllClear survey actually shows — and why it matters
4. Why health and safety now outrank price for many travellers
5. What “high-quality” travel insurance covers — beyond the basics
6. How recent crises changed the cover landscape
7. The relationship between government travel advice and insurer obligations
8. Real-world scenarios that illustrate where cheap cover fails
9. How insurers and brokers are responding to changing demand
10. Practical buying guidance: what travellers should check before they purchase
11. Choosing between single-trip, multi-trip, and specialist policies
12. The economics of better cover: costs, pricing pressures and trade-offs
13. The role of comparison sites and price-led marketplaces
14. How to handle a claim when things go wrong
15. When travel advisories change mid-trip: navigating uncertainty
16. Regulatory and consumer-protection considerations
17. The broker advantage when visiting volatile regions
18. Technology and service improvements shaping the market
19. How climate change and geopolitics will continue to shape travel insurance
20. Practical checklist for travellers buying “quality” cover
21. Consumer education: what insurers should do better
22. What to ask your insurer or broker — suggested questions
23. Market implications for travel businesses and tour operators
24. Looking ahead: what travellers should expect in the near term
25. FAQ

Key Highlights

• A post-conflict survey by AllClear found 68% of UK holidaymakers planning summer travel now prioritise higher-quality travel insurance or better cover rather than the cheapest policy.
• Rising demand for medical evacuation, cancellation protection and political-risk clarity is reshaping product design, underwriting and consumer behaviour across the travel-insurance market.

Introduction

Holiday planning used to be a choice driven by price, destination and itinerary. That calculation has changed for a growing share of British travellers. Since the outbreak of the recent conflict in the Middle East, a new priority has emerged: securing travel insurance that reliably protects health, safety and evacuation options. The survey from AllClear Travel Insurance captured that shift, with two-thirds of respondents saying they will actively seek higher-quality cover for upcoming trips.

That change in consumer priorities reflects experiences from recent crises — pandemics, regional conflicts and sudden natural disasters have exposed gaps in conventional policies and in the expectations travellers place on insurers. As holidaymakers weigh the cost of premiums against the potential financial and physical consequences of disrupted travel, insurers, brokers and regulators face pressure to clarify cover, tighten underwriting and create products that match a more risk-aware customer base.

The following analysis unpacks what consumers now mean by “high-quality” travel cover, why geopolitical instability has altered buyer behaviour, how insurers are adapting, the practical choices travellers should make before they leave, and what to expect from the travel-insurance market over the year ahead.

What the AllClear survey actually shows — and why it matters

AllClear’s research arrived after notable geopolitical instability and indicates a clear behavioural pivot. When 68% of prospective travellers say they will seek higher-quality or better cover, several market dynamics follow:

• Demand shifts. Customers who previously compared only on price will now evaluate benefits such as emergency medical limits, repatriation and cancellation for political reasons. That attracts more business to specialist brokers and underwriters who can package bespoke protection.
• Price sensitivity declines for some buyers. Willingness to pay more for perceived safety reduces the power of the lowest-cost providers and comparison-only marketplaces.
• Product transparency becomes vital. Customers require plain-language explanations of exclusions — particularly those tied to war, terrorism or government travel advisories.

The statistic therefore signals more than a temporary preference: it points to a rebalancing of priorities that will affect distribution, underwriting and regulatory scrutiny.

Why health and safety now outrank price for many travellers

Two trends make quality cover more attractive than ever.

First, recent crises have highlighted what inexpensive policies routinely exclude. Policies that advertise “worldwide cover” may exclude travel to destinations after a government advisory, or omit evacuation and political-risk benefits. A traveller confronted with sudden unrest, or needing rapid hospital transfer, can face bills that dwarf the premium saved by choosing a low-cost policy.

Second, the memory of the pandemic persists. Insurers withdrew or tightened pandemic-related cover in 2020–2022; customers experienced denied claims and complex reimbursement battles. Those episodes left a residue of distrust. Many travellers now judge an insurer on its ability to deliver timely, practical support in emergencies — not merely on the headline premium.

This combination of risk awareness and demand for tangible assistance explains the survey’s result: holidaymakers now place a higher value on certainty, service and meaningful limits than on the lowest possible price.

What “high-quality” travel insurance covers — beyond the basics

“High-quality” means different things to different travellers, but several features recur across consumer expectations and specialist product designs.

• Robust medical cover and hospital benefits. High-quality policies include generous medical expenses limits and often cover repatriation to the UK if clinically required. They may also include direct billing arrangements with overseas hospitals.
• Emergency evacuation and political evacuation. When conflict erupts or civil unrest endangers foreigners, the ability to secure rapid evacuation — by road, air ambulance or charter — becomes critical. Some policies explicitly offer political or security evacuation, either as standard or as an optional extension.
• Trip cancellation and interruption with broad triggers. Expensive policies extend cancellation rights beyond standard reasons (illness or bereavement) to cover sudden travel advisories, civil unrest, or a close-contact testing positive for an infectious disease. “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) cover exists as an optional excess premium but comes with conditions and usually pro-rata reimbursements.
• Terrorism and war-risk wording. These clauses are small but pivotal. Some policies exclude war and terrorism entirely, others provide cover only where there is no active advisory, and a few will cover losses up to specified limits even when terrorist acts occur. Clarity in this area matters because vagueness creates disputes at claim time.
• Assistance and concierge services. Round‑the‑clock helplines, multilingual case managers, and logistical support for medical transfers or repatriation are hallmarks of higher-tier insurance. Those services often determine whether a claim is successfully navigated.
• Cover for extended stays and repatriation costs. If evacuation requires long-term care or extensive travel arrangements, good policies account for accommodation, additional transport and family travel.
• Cover for pre-existing medical conditions when declared. Policies that accept known conditions for an extra premium or underwriting assessment reduce the risk of denial at claim time.
• Policy clarity and customer support. Straightforward policy summaries, transparent exclusions and accessible claims processes are part of perceived quality.

Travellers who want peace of mind should assess these components, not only the headline price.

How recent crises changed the cover landscape

Three types of events reshaped expectations and product design: pandemics, regional conflicts, and extreme-weather events.

Pandemic effects: The COVID-19 pandemic forced insurers to revisit epidemic exclusions. Initially many policies explicitly excluded pandemics; later, some insurers introduced pandemic-specific cover or limited benefits. Consumers learned to read pandemic wording carefully and to value products that specify whether testing, quarantine-related cancellation and repatriation are included.

Regional conflicts: The 2022–present wave of geopolitical instability in Europe and the Middle East exposed ambiguity about the relationship between government travel advisories and insurer liability. Insurers generally include clauses tying coverage to official guidance: if the UK government advises against travel to a destination, cover may be limited or void. That approach makes sense for underwriting, but leaves travellers with coverage gaps if conflicts escalate rapidly. The AllClear survey suggests shoppers will now favour policies that offer explicit language on political evacuation and criteria for cover when advisories change.

Natural disasters and climate-driven events: Hurricanes, wildfires and floods now interrupt travel with greater frequency. Insurers have responded with clearer definitions about cancellations caused by natural hazards and with optional extensions for extreme-weather disruptions.

These changes prompted underwriters to adapt rates, refine exclusions and offer add-ons. Brokers and specialist insurers now emphasize evacuation capabilities and assistance networks; they often partner with global medical services firms to provide rapid, coordinated responses.

The relationship between government travel advice and insurer obligations

Government travel advice plays a decisive role in insurance cover, and understanding that relationship is essential for consumers.

Most UK insurers use the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice as a benchmark. Policies typically state that if the FCDO advises against travel to a destination, cover for cancellation, curtailment or on-trip incidents may not apply. The practical implications:

• Pre-departure decisions. If FCDO updates advice before departure and classifies a destination as “against all travel” (or similar), insurers often exclude cover for trips booked after the advisory or for travel undertaken against that advice.
• On-trip escalations. If unrest or violence flares while a traveller is abroad and the FCDO issues new guidance, the insurer’s response depends on the policy wording. Some policies provide cover for evacuation or medical assistance during the event, while others limit benefits once an advisory is in effect.
• Exceptions and discretionary assistance. Select insurers and specialist brokers may exercise discretion, offering assistance even where formal cover is limited — particularly in dire medical emergencies. Those discretionary acts are not contractual guarantees.

Travellers must therefore read the wording linking cover to government advice. For journeys to regions with volatile politics, insist on clarity: what happens if the FCDO changes its advice before or during the trip? If the policy excludes cover in such circumstances, consider an alternative product or an add-on that explicitly addresses political risk and evacuation.

Real-world scenarios that illustrate where cheap cover fails

Scenario 1 — Sudden unrest during a holiday A family travels to a coastal resort. Midway through the trip, local demonstrations escalate into violent clashes. The FCDO issues a warning advising against all travel to parts of the country. The resort is recalled by their tour operator. On a low-cost policy that excludes political evacuation and excludes cover once the FCDO advises against travel, the family faces unrecoverable losses: cancellation refunds are unavailable, and emergency evacuation costs fall to them. A high-quality policy with political evacuation and generous cancellation triggers would have mitigated both financial loss and safety risk.

Scenario 2 — Medical evacuation from a remote area A hiker injures themselves in a remote mountain region. Local hospitals can stabilise but not repatriate them. Evacuation by air ambulance to the UK becomes necessary. Low-end policies may cap medical expenses at levels well below the cost of an international air ambulance, leaving families to fund six-figure bills. Premiums for policies with high medical and evacuation limits are higher, but the financial protection vastly outweighs the extra cost.

Scenario 3 — Sudden pandemic-related border shutdown A traveller contracts an infectious disease shortly before travel; they cancel and claim on cancellation cover. A budget policy with narrow cancellation reasons rejects the claim because the policy does not define the condition as covered or because pandemic-related cancellation is excluded. Premiums for policies including pandemic-related triggers will be higher but provide better certainty.

These scenarios show that the cheapest policy often trades immediate savings for downstream financial risk and stress.

How insurers and brokers are responding to changing demand

The market reacts to consumer demand and regulatory pressure. Several responses are visible.

Product innovation: Insurers are creating modular products where basic cover can be augmented with political-evacuation, enhanced medical and CFAR options. Specialist providers focus on medically complex travellers and high-risk destinations; mainstream insurers aim to make key cover features clearer on the summary page.

Partnerships with assistance providers: High-quality policies emphasise access to global medical assistance firms who can coordinate repatriations, hospital admissions and case management. Such partnerships become selling points.

Underwriting discipline: Faced with higher perceived risk, many underwriters review destination lists and increase premiums or introduce exclusions. Underwriting now often accounts for FCDO guidance, local hospital capacity and regional political risk.

Enhanced service models: Customers expect rapid response. That drives investment in 24/7 helplines, multilingual case managers and digital platforms that enable quicker claims and document uploads.

Broker-led solutions: Brokers that specialise in travel to higher-risk destinations are packaging tailored solutions and advising on contingency planning. Their role as intermediaries becomes more prominent as travellers seek bespoke answers to complex questions.

Regulatory alignment: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and consumer bodies emphasize product transparency and fair value. Insurers must ensure policy documentation is accessible and that customers understand exclusions. That pressure makes policy summaries and clear exclusions commercially vital.

Practical buying guidance: what travellers should check before they purchase

A careful purchase process reduces the chance of denial or unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

1. Read the policy summary and the full policy wording. Focus on exclusions and definitions: what exactly counts as “war”, “terrorism”, or “political unrest”? How does the policy use FCDO advice?
2. Check medical limits and repatriation cover. Look for high medical expense limits and explicit air-ambulance or medical-evacuation provisions.
3. Understand cancellation triggers. What reasons qualify for cancellation or curtailment cover? Does the policy include cancellation due to travel advisories or quarantines?
4. Declare pre-existing conditions. Failure to declare relevant medical history commonly leads to denial of medical claims. If in doubt, contact the insurer or broker for written confirmation of how a condition is treated.
5. Consider optional add-ons for political or security evacuation. If you plan to visit an area at risk of unrest, buy a policy that explicitly covers political evacuation.
6. Examine the small print on pandemics. If pandemic-related cancellations or medical costs are a concern, secure a policy that addresses them specifically.
7. Assess assistance services. A policy that offers 24/7 multilingual assistance, direct hospital payment and case management often delivers better outcomes than one that does not.
8. Compare beyond price. Comparison sites show premiums but often hide subtle differences in exclusions. Use a specialist broker to understand nuances.
9. Confirm claims process and time limits. Know the documents you will need to make a claim and the deadlines involved.
10. Keep evidence. If you cancel due to an advisory or curtail your trip because of unrest, retain correspondence, receipts and official notices. Insurers rely on documentation.

These steps convert a policy from a vague promise into an actionable safeguard.

Choosing between single-trip, multi-trip, and specialist policies

The dominant product types each serve different needs.

• Single-trip policies. Appropriate for infrequent travellers or a single high-cost trip. Single-trip policies can be tailored to a particular itinerary or risk profile.
• Annual multi-trip policies. Cost-effective for frequent travellers who take several short trips per year. Check limits on trip length and maximum duration per trip; some multi-trip policies limit the number of days abroad per trip.
• Specialist policies. For high-value, high-risk or medically complex travel, specialist insurers or brokers provide bespoke cover — for example, extended medical evacuation, expedition cover, or business travel with political-risk components.

When choosing, align the product to the trip: a luxury long-haul family holiday needs different protections than a short, budget city break.

The economics of better cover: costs, pricing pressures and trade-offs

Better protection costs more. Insurers price for expected claims, cost of evacuation, medical inflation and perceived destination risk. Key economic drivers:

• Increased claims-cost volatility. High-cost evacuations and complex international medical cases push up the expected cost of claims.
• Capacity and reinsurance availability. Insurers purchase reinsurance to manage large losses. Reinsurance pricing fluctuates with global events; higher reinsurance costs feed into retail premiums.
• Moral hazard and underwriting. When policies include generous CFAR or political-evacuation clauses, insurers refine underwriting to mitigate misuse.
• Distribution mix. Broker-placed business and bespoke policies tend to carry higher premiums because they include hands-on assistance and higher limits.

For consumers, the decision becomes a cost-benefit calculation: pay more now to avoid potentially catastrophic out-of-pocket costs later. That decision varies by traveller, destination and personal risk tolerance.

The role of comparison sites and price-led marketplaces

Comparison sites remain valuable for a first pass at costs. They quickly show price ranges and basic benefits. But they have limitations:

• They often surface cheapest options first, which may not list nuanced exclusions.
• Small differences in wording can materially affect cover, but comparison filters rarely capture that nuance.
• Specialist broker or insurer offerings may not appear on major comparison platforms.

Buyers seeking certainty or travel to riskier destinations should use a broker or consult a specialist provider to understand bespoke exclusions and to obtain explicit written confirmation of cover for specific scenarios.

How to handle a claim when things go wrong

Claims are moments when policy wording and service quality matter most.

• Notify early. Contact your insurer or assistance provider as soon as an incident occurs. Many policies require prompt notification for emergency assistance.
• Use the emergency helpline for medical crises. Assistance firms can arrange hospital transfers, direct payments and case management. Make use of these services rather than relying on local arrangements.
• Document everything. Keep receipts, medical reports, police statements and official advisories. Photographs and timestamps can strengthen a claim.
• Follow procedural requirements. Policies often require that you obtain an official cancellation reason from carriers or authorities to support a cancellation claim.
• Escalate if needed. If a claim is denied and you believe the denial is unjust, raise the issue through the insurer’s complaints process and, if unresolved, with the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Timeliness and documentation increase the likelihood of a successful claim.

When travel advisories change mid-trip: navigating uncertainty

Advisory changes are common in volatile regions. A few practical rules help travellers navigate them.

• Maintain situational awareness. Follow local news and your nation’s official travel updates. Register with your embassy or consulate when travelling to higher-risk areas.
• Consult your insurer immediately. Changes during travel may trigger assistance provisions even when cancellation or curtailment benefits have limitations.
• Act on official guidance. If local authorities or your government advise evacuation, follow instructions and retain official notices as evidence.
• Expect complexity. An advisory does not automatically invalidate every element of cover; outcomes depend on policy wording and on whether the insurer exercises discretion.

Proactive communication with both assistance services and the insurer reduces confusion and speeds resolution.

Regulatory and consumer-protection considerations

Regulators and consumer groups have sharpened their focus on travel insurance following the pandemic and subsequent events.

• Clarity and transparency. Regulators expect insurers to present benefits and exclusions plainly. Misleading marketing that implies more protection than the contract provides draws scrutiny.
• Value and fairness. Under the FCA’s Consumer Duty framework, insurers must ensure products deliver fair value relative to price. Products with hidden exclusions or mismatched expectations risk regulatory intervention.
• Complaints oversight. The complaints-handling and redress system ensures consumers have recourse where insurers deny legitimate claims without adequate reasoning.

For consumers, the regulatory environment increasingly supports demands for clear, comparable policy summaries and better disclosure of exclusions tied to political or health emergencies.

The broker advantage when visiting volatile regions

Brokers play a crucial role for travellers going to politically sensitive or medically under-resourced destinations.

• Tailored underwriting. Brokers can negotiate bespoke clauses and obtain underwritten acceptance for pre-existing conditions.
• Access to specialist products. Some policies are only available through Lloyd’s brokers or niche insurers.
• Advocacy during claims. Brokers can act as advocates when claims become complex, using industry relationships to escalate urgent cases to assistance partners or underwriters.
• Risk advice. Good brokers also advise on contingency planning, evacuation options and local medical infrastructure.

For travellers with complex needs or high-risk itineraries, broker engagement is an investment in risk management.

Technology and service improvements shaping the market

Technology improves responsiveness and clarity.

• Digital policy documents and in-app claims submission reduce friction.
• Telemedicine services allow remote medical assessment and reduce unnecessary hospital transfers.
• Real-time travel-advisory integration can trigger alerts in insurer apps, prompting customers to consult assistance lines proactively.
• Data analytics helps insurers better price political-risk add-ons and identify fraud.

While technology improves operational efficiency, the human element—experienced assistance coordinators and case managers—remains crucial in emergencies.

How climate change and geopolitics will continue to shape travel insurance

Climate change increases the frequency of travel disruption through storms, floods and wildfires. Geopolitical volatility concentrates risk in particular corridors and alters the calculus for evacuations. Expect three broad trends:

• Greater demand for evacuation and contingency cover.
• Premium recalibration for routes and destinations with persistent risk.
• Growth in specialist providers offering tailored policies for adventure travel, remote medical needs and travel to unstable regions.

Insurers that combine generous limits, robust assistance networks and transparent wording will capture customers willing to pay for certainty.

Practical checklist for travellers buying “quality” cover

Before purchase

• Confirm medical expense and repatriation limits.
• Check for explicit political-evacuation wording.
• Read the FCDO-advice linkage clause and ask how advisories affect cover.
• Declare pre-existing medical conditions and get written confirmation.
• Consider CFAR only after weighing cost and reimbursement level.
• Verify assistance-service capabilities and helpline availability.

Before departure

• Keep digital and physical copies of the policy and emergency numbers.
• Register travel with your embassy or consulate.
• Prepare a medical summary for complex conditions, including medication lists.
• Note the nearest medical facilities and local assistance partners.

During travel

• Notify assistance immediately for medical emergencies.
• Retain all official notices if curtailing or cancelling due to advisories.
• Photograph damaged property and obtain police reports where relevant.

After an incident

• Compile documentation promptly.
• Submit claims with complete evidence.
• Follow up persistently and escalate through formal complaints if necessary.

This checklist converts general insurance doctrine into practical steps that reduce risk.

Consumer education: what insurers should do better

The AllClear survey highlights gaps in consumer understanding. Insurers should:

• Publish clear, comparable summaries of critical covers — medical, repatriation, political evacuation, and exclusions tied to advisory changes.
• Use real-world examples in marketing to show when cover will and will not apply.
• Offer short decision tools that help buyers match product features to trip risk profiles.
• Provide more transparent underwriting information, including how pre-existing conditions are handled.

When insurers improve transparency and education, consumers make better choices and claims disputes fall.

What to ask your insurer or broker — suggested questions

Ask direct, specific questions rather than broad ones.

• Does the policy cover evacuation if the FCDO changes its advice while I’m abroad?
• What are the medical expense and air-ambulance limits in monetary terms?
• Are pre-existing conditions covered after underwriting? If so, what documentation do I need?
• Does the policy include terrorism or war-risk cover? If so, what definitions apply?
• Is there a “Cancel for any reason” option and what percentage will be reimbursed?
• Which global assistance provider does the policy use and how quickly can they mobilise?
• How are quarantine-related cancellations treated?

Obtain answers in writing where possible. Clear responses prevent disputes and support later claims.

Market implications for travel businesses and tour operators

Tour operators, cruise lines and travel agencies must adapt to customers who value robust protection.

• Product bundling. Tour operators may bundle higher-quality insurance into premium packages to reduce customer friction and to manage reputational risk when incidents occur.
• Clear pre-booking communication. Agents must explain what insurance covers and where gaps exist, particularly for destinations with advisory potential.
• Cooperation with insurers. Coordinated relationships between operators and assistance firms can reduce paperwork and speed evacuations.

Those travel providers that help customers navigate coverage choices will likely maintain stronger customer trust and loyalty.

Looking ahead: what travellers should expect in the near term

Expect incremental market movement rather than overnight change.

• More product differentiation. The market will offer clearer tiers: entry-level price-focused policies; mid-range cover with improved assistance; and premium policies targeted at travellers who require robust evacuation and medical benefits.
• Continued premium pressure for high-risk destinations. Prices will reflect geopolitical and climate-induced risk.
• Greater transparency due to regulatory pressure and consumer demand. Policy summaries and marketing will become less ambiguous.
• Increased broker involvement for complex travel. Travellers to volatile regions will rely on specialist intermediaries more often.

For most travellers, the practical choice will be to align policy features directly to the risk profile of their trip rather than defaulting to the cheapest option.

FAQ

Q: If the FCDO advises against travel to a destination, will my travel insurance cover me? A: Many policies exclude cover for trips to destinations where the FCDO advises against travel. The exact effect depends on the policy wording: some policies void cancellation and curtailment cover if the advice existed when the trip was booked, while others limit benefits once an advisory applies. Check the clause linking cover to government advice and consider a product that explicitly outlines how such changes are handled.

Q: Does travel insurance cover evacuation from a conflict zone? A: Standard policies rarely guarantee political evacuation from an active conflict zone. Some higher-tier or specialist policies include political-evacuation cover, or the insurer may offer discretionary assistance in extreme emergencies. If evacuation is a likely requirement for your destination, seek a policy with explicit political or security evacuation wording or consult a specialist broker.

Q: Is “Cancel for any reason” worth the extra premium? A: CFAR can be valuable in uncertain times because it reimburses a proportion of non-refundable trip costs for reasons not otherwise covered. CFAR is usually an expensive add-on, with reimbursement typically not 100%, and it often must be purchased within a limited time after booking. Evaluate CFAR based on trip cost, likelihood of cancellation and the specific terms.

Q: What should I do if I have a pre-existing medical condition? A: Declare it. Many policies require disclosure of pre-existing conditions. Some insurers will accept conditions with an additional premium or after medical screening. Failure to declare can lead to denied medical claims. If you have complex health needs, use a specialist insurer or broker.

Q: How quickly should I notify my insurer after an emergency abroad? A: Notify your insurer or the assistance service as soon as possible. Early notification allows the insurer to coordinate medical care, manage evacuation logistics, and, where appropriate, make direct payments to hospitals. Many policies stipulate prompt notification as a term of cover.

Q: Can I rely on the embassy or consulate for evacuation? A: Embassies and consulates provide crucial consular assistance but rarely fund commercial medical evacuations or private medical bills. Their role is to offer guidance, local contacts and help with documentation. For medical evacuation and substantial transport logistics, rely on your insurance and assistance provider.

Q: Should I buy insurance from my tour operator, an insurer, or a broker? A: It depends. Operator-packaged insurance offers convenience and sometimes aligned policies for the trip. Independent insurers may offer broader choice and competitive rates. Brokers can obtain specialist or bespoke cover for complex needs. For high-risk travel or medical complexity, a specialist broker often provides the best fit.

Q: What documentation will strengthen a claim for cancellation due to travel advisories? A: Keep official notices (FCDO updates, airline cancellations), correspondence from your tour operator, receipts for non-refundable expenses, and any independent news or government statements that support your reason for cancellation. Promptly submit these with your claim.

Q: How will travel insurance evolve with climate and geopolitical risk? A: Expect more granular product options, with clearer political evacuation clauses and higher medical and evacuation limits on premium products. Pricing will reflect destination-specific risks, and assistance services will grow more central to provider offerings. Travelers should expect to pay more for certainty in volatile regions.

Q: Where can I get help understanding my policy? A: Start with your insurer’s policy document and the policy summary. If wording remains unclear, contact the insurer’s customer service or a regulated broker for detailed explanations. If disputes arise, the insurer’s complaints process and the Financial Ombudsman Service offer routes for resolution.

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Higher-quality travel insurance carries a higher price tag, but the cost of being uninsured — medically, financially and logistically — can be far worse. The AllClear survey is a snapshot of a broader shift: holidaymakers are trading off price for certainty. For anyone travelling this year, careful selection, clear documentation and an understanding of what a policy will actually deliver are the best safeguards against the unpredictable.