Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per personOn Signature policies
Cover for pre-existing medical conditions and all ages
The UK’s favourite travel insurance based on more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider
Excellent 4.7 | 540,888 reviews
We've got more 5-Star reviews on Trustpilot than any other UK travel insurance provider
“An excellent product with a comprehensive range of features and benefits" - Defaqto
Awarded Best Company for Travel Insurance at the British Travel Awards 2016-2025
Travel insurance with COVID cover at a glance
In a post‑lockdown world, you may not need to share your COVID status to enter many destinations, but you might still want travel insurance that covers COVID‑19, just like any other illness. Staysure includes coronavirus cover as standard at no extra cost on new single‑trip and annual policies for all ages and most pre‑existing conditions (subject to screening). It also offers protection for COVID‑related cancellation (e.g., positive test within 14 days of travel or denied boarding), emergency medical treatment, repatriation and more. Getting a quote is simple online or over the phone.
Staysure has specialised in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions since 2004. 97% of customers are able to get medical cover with us. We hold a Defaqto 5-star rating for our Comprehensive and Signature policies, and have more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other UK travel insurance provider.
Sun loungers claimed. Sand between your toes. Sea within reach. It’s official – holidays are back. And COVID-19 is still included in your Staysure cover as standard.
You might not need to open the NHS app at the border anymore, but that doesn’t mean COVID has disappeared or been forgotten. If it stops you from travelling or affects your trip while you’re away, our award-winning travel insurance will be there to help, with cover for cancellation, quarantine and more.
Plus, if you’re still feeling the effects of COVID-19, whether that’s long COVID or related health issues, you can declare them when getting your quote for medical cover built to support you.
Your standard travel insurance policy will include cover for:
emergency medical treatment abroad – including hospital care, ambulance transport and overnight stays if you fall seriously ill or are injured while away.
getting you home safely – repatriation cover if you’re too unwell to travel as planned, including specialist medical transport if needed.
cancellations due to illness or injury – including if you're too unwell to travel, or experience a bereavement.
cutting your trip short – cover if something serious happens mid-holiday and you need to return early.
lost, stolen or damaged belongings – including your baggage, passport and personal money.
pre-existing conditions – if you’ve told us about them and we’ve accepted them, they can be included in your policy.
COVID-19 quarantine – we can provide an added daily benefit if you’re asked to self-isolate in your holiday accommodation.
If you need to cancel your trip, our built-in COVID cover will protect you when:
you have COVID-19 within 14 days of travelling*
you can’t complete your vaccine course due to other illnesses, or you have an allergic reaction to the vaccine that stops you travelling
your travelling companion(s), people you live with, or people you’re staying with on holiday are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of travel**
you’re denied boarding with a positive test for COVID-19 or have a confirmed temperature above 38°C
there's a hospitalisation or death of a close relative or member of your household from COVID-19***
Example: You’re packed and ready, airport coffee in hand. But the COVID test you took “just in case” has come back positive. Because coronavirus cover is included as standard on our policies, we’ll be able to help you recover expenses for your flight, hotel and other pre-booked costs.
What isn’t covered?
cancelling because you’ve changed your mind – cover only applies to unexpected and insured reasons.
missed flights – unless it’s due to a strike† severe weather, or mechanical breakdowns.
undeclared medical conditions – always let us know about any health issues when you get a quote.
unattended items – valuables left alone may not be covered.
activities not listed on your policy – like extreme sports or cruises, unless you’ve added them.
travelling against advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – policies won’t cover destinations where the UK government advises against all travel.
incidents involving alcohol or drugs – claims related to excessive alcohol or controlled substances won’t be accepted.
going against medical advice – for example, flying too soon after an operation or illness.
travelling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment – including consultations, tests, or planned procedures abroad.
Example: You’re not feeling your best, but a last-minute getaway to somewhere sunny sounds like just the thing. It turns out to be COVID and you can’t travel. We wouldn’t be able to cover cancellation, as you were already unwell when you took out your policy.
COVID travel insurance with medical conditions
As a medical travel insurance specialist, we cover over 1,300 medical conditions,‡ and all ages, with up to unlimited medical expenses available on our Signature policies. So, if your condition flares up while you’re away, or you need medical help during your tip, you can rely on us to step in.
That includes long COVID. If you’re one of the 4.8% still feeling the effects, just declare it when you get a quote, including any related symptoms you may be experiencing, such as heart palpitations.
“On a cruise, a positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis of an acute respiratory illness can mean being confined to your cabin. Our Cruise Plus add-on can help recover the cost of the activities you miss out on, so you're not left out of pocket.
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Proud to be a part of BIBA's medical directory
For people who have trouble finding travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has a directory of specialist insurers, like us!
To find out more, or if on the odd occasion we are unable to provide the cover you need, contact BIBA on 0370 950 1790. You can also search BIBA's medical directory online.
Free English-speaking medical help abroad
Travel Doctor, our new online service, connects you with an English-speaking doctor if you need medical support while you are abroad.* It lets you book a video-based consultation to discuss your health needs with a doctor right from your sun lounger.
You can choose a slot that works for you, go through your symptoms, get your prescription and even use Travel Doctor to find your nearest pharmacy, so you can get your meds and get on with enjoying your holiday.
Pick a travel insurance policy and tailor it to you
Shout bon voyage to a one-size-fits-all policy and give a warm welcome to holiday insurance that's all about you. Join over 12 million people who've trusted us with their travel insurance since 2005.
To get started on your quote, we’ll go over your travel plans. We need to know who’s coming along, where you’re heading, how long your trip will be, and whether you need insurance for a single trip or annual multi-trip cover.
For cruises, it’s important to include every destination on your itinerary, as well as any flights to and from your port.
2. Share your medical history with us
Next on the list, we’ll go over some health questions with you so we can make sure you get the best medical cover while travelling. Now is the time to tell us about any health concerns that needed medication, medical advice, or treatment during the last two years.
3. Get a tailored quote
Once we have everything we need, we’ll give you your personalised quote, either online or by reading it out loud over the phone.
You’ll be able to choose your level of cover and add any optional extras that suit your trip, like Cruise Plus if you’d like more cover while you’re at sea.
If you’d like more time to think it over, we can also send your quote by email so you can go through it in your own time.
Many experts agree that buying travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday is the best way to go. By doing this, you’ll be covered during the run-up to your holiday and while you’re abroad.
Despite the benefits of buying early, lots of people leave it to the last minute. Our sales data from July 2025 to January 2026 shows that the majority of travellers purchased their policy within 30 days of leaving, with a significant proportion doing so within just a few days of departure.
Travel insurance can’t be backdated, so it’s best to get it locked in before you are on holiday. If you still have to get your policy in place for future travels, it’s not too late. Simply get in touch with our friendly team to get a quote.
How much is coronavirus travel insurance?
The good news? COVID cover is included as standard in all of our policy levels and doesn't cost extra. So, the price of your holiday cover depends more on you and your trip.
For example, a quick hop over to Spain will usually be cheaper than a long-haul trip around the USA, where healthcare is the most expensive in the world. Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition, including long COVID, in tow, will likely increase the final cost, as we need to make sure your policy can cover you should the worst happen. The best way to see how much you’ll pay is to get a quote.
How to get cheaper travel insurance with COVID cover
Want to shrink the costs of your travel insurance while still getting the most out of your policy? Keep these tips and tricks in mind before you buy:
get covered early – if you buy your cover as soon as you book your trip, you will have all the protection you need should you need to cancel because of a policy-approved reason.
go for a higher excess – one of the best ways to lower your premium is to increase your excess. Just be sure to settle on an excess you are comfortable paying should you need to.
consider another policy – if you are going to travel more than twice per year, an annual multi-trip policy might be cheaper than multiple single-trip policies.
leave the add-ons – only get add-ons, like gadget cover, that you need.
get group cover – our group travel insurance lets you save on costs by covering everyone under one policy.
find a discount – make sure you drop by our discounts page before buying so you can save on your policy.
Beth Craig
Travel insurance expert
Already covered? Check this first ...
What our expert says…
“If you already have travel insurance through a bank account or another policy, take a minute to check what it really includes. COVID isn’t always covered as standard, meaning you could lose out if you have to cancel.
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The big-ticket costs travel insurance can help with
From October 2024 to October 2025, emergency medical expenses were our most common claim, and for good reason. Hospitalisation for a stomach bug in the USA with medical repatriation back to the UK could set you back £150,000+, according to the UK government.
In reality, the biggest claims are often more costly. While the average emergency medical claim on our worldwide policies was about £3000, the highest we paid was closer to an eye-watering £350,000.^
Over the same period, our second most common claim on worldwide policies was cancellation. If you need to pull the plug on your holiday, we can help you recover the prepaid costs – with the average cancellation claim on our worldwide policies coming in at around £2000, and the highest reaching more than £50,000.
Excellent 4.7 | 540,888 reviews
The UK’s favourite travel insurance provider
with more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider.^^
A good place to be for your Eye Surgery
From the first day of my eye Appointment to the day of my eye Surgery the staff at this hospital have been very professional, wel coming and very helpful.
Massampo Augusto,
Staysure are always very helpful
Staysure are always very helpful and accomodating when I come to renew my travel insurance, and when I recently had to update my medical history. I would recommend them to anyone looking for travel insurance.
Sara SJ,
Very good guidance from phone contact…
Very good guidance from phone contact explained everything clearly. Came away thinking had the correct cover for our needs.
Price good for cruise cover for two people.
Customer,
Voted Best Travel Insurance 9 years running
The British Travel Awards have recognised us as the Best Company for Travel Insurance nine years in a row (2016-2025). This achievement is based on the votes of real customers, showing the trust travellers place in us.
This award is only given to travel companies that provide stellar service to their customers. It shows that we prioritise customer service, round-the-clock support when you need it most, and a reliable and speedy claims process.
Travel insurance with COVID cover FAQs
Our travel insurance policies include COVID-19 cover as standard, meaning if coronavirus affects your trip for an insured reason, you can make a claim.
This could include cancelling if:
you have COVID-19 within 14 days of travelling*
you can’t complete your vaccine course due to other illnesses, or you have an allergic reaction to the vaccine that stops you from travelling
your travelling companion(s), people you live with, or people you’re staying with on holiday are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of travel**
you’re denied boarding with a positive test for COVID-19 or have a confirmed temperature above 38°C
there's a hospitalisation or death of a close relative or member of your household from COVID-19
Or if you need any of the following during your time away:
Emergency medical expenses cover.
Repatriation cover to help you get back home.
Cover for additional accommodation and transport, if deemed necessary by our medical officer.
A daily benefit if you are ordered to self-isolate in your holiday accommodation if you have COVID-19.
If you test positive for coronavirus, you shouldn’t travel. Even though most destinations no longer have strict entry requirements, travelling while unwell can put your health at risk, and may affect others around you.
If COVID stops you from travelling, your cover should be able to help you with cancellation costs.
If you or someone you’re travelling with gets COVID-19, contact your travel provider to see if you can change the dates of your holiday.
If you can rearrange your holiday, you’ll need to update your travel insurance policy with the new travel dates.^^ Log in to your My Staysure account to do this yourself online, or contact us.
If you’ve had a positive test result within 14 days of travel and you are not able to rearrange your trip, you may be able to make a claim on your travel insurance policy*.
The same level of cover applies for both adults and children with our travel insurance policies.
Each named person over five years old must have had all vaccinations offered to them to be covered for COVID-19-related claims. This includes any booster vaccinations.
Your child may also be covered if they can’t have the vaccine due to a medical exemption.
If you choose not to have a recommended COVID-19 vaccination without a medical reason, it might affect your claim.
Travel insurance is designed to cover the unexpected, but you’re expected to take reasonable care of your health and avoid unnecessary risks. That includes following recommended vaccinations where it’s safe to do so.
If you can’t have the vaccine for medical reasons, for example, due to other illnesses or an allergic reaction, we should still be able to cover you.
If you’re required to quarantine and can’t travel as a result, you may be able to claim, depending on the reason and your policy.
For example, if you’re told to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 and this stops you from going on a trip you had booked, we’d be able to help cover the costs of cancelling.
The key is that it needs to be for an insured reason, and your policy must be in place before it happens. Take a look at our policy documents for more details.
If you catch coronavirus while you're on holiday, it doesn’t mean you’re on your own.
Our policies include COVID protection as standard, meaning we could provide cover for up to unlimited medical costs (on Comprehensive and Signature policies) if you need treatment, or additional costs if you need to cut your trip short or are unable to travel home as planned.
It depends on the level of cover you choose. If you declare you’re going on a cruise and stick with our standard policies, you can be covered for things like cancellation if you test positive for COVID before you travel, as well as emergency medical treatment while you’re away.
But some cruise-specific situations, like being confined to your cabin due to a COVID outbreak, aren’t included as standard. For that, you’ll need our Cruise Plus cover, which can help you recover the cost of time you’re unable to enjoy on board.
Stay in control of your account with My Staysure
You can make changes to your policy, online and in your own time with My Staysure.
It’s quick and easy to make changes to your policy online. If you need to make simple changes such as updating traveller details or renewing a policy that’s details are staying the same, just visit your My Staysure account.
Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per personOn Signature policies
