Getting ill or injured is scary at the best of times. But when you’re in a foreign country, it can be even more nerve-wracking.
You might not be sure of where to get treatment and how much it might cost. Don’t worry – here's the steps to take if you get ill, plus what your travel insurance covers you for.
What to do in an emergency
If you get seriously ill or injured on holiday, you need to:
Call the local emergency number
Different countries have different emergency numbers – it might not be 999!
Head to GOV.UK’s foreign travel advice page to find out what the number is for the country you’re travelling to.
If it’s safe to, you could also head to a hospital straight away yourself.
If you’re travelling with medication, try to bring the packaging with you if you can. This will help the doctors to understand if you have any pre-existing conditions.
Call our 24-hour emergency assistance helpline
Call your insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance helpline as soon as possible.
If you’re insured with us, give us a call on +44 (0) 292 010 7777 if you:
- think your medical costs might be more than £500
- need to go into hospital
You can also find the contact details under the Medical Emergency section in your policy booklet.
Keep receipts and documents
Make sure you keep a hold of any receipts or documents to do with your treatment.
This will make it easier for your insurer to process your claim.
What to do in a non-emergency
If it’s a less serious or urgent issue, here's what to do:
Find medical treatment
Find a local pharmacy or health facility. Do some research on healthcare in the local area to see what’s available.
If you’re in a rural area, you might need to head into a city to get what you need.
It’s a good idea to have a translation app ready, as well as any details of pre-existing conditions and medication you take. It’ll just help them figure out what you need quicker.
Pay now and claim later
For more minor injuries and illnesses, you might be able to get treatment on a pay and claim basis.
If you’re insured with us and the cost for your medical treatment is less than £500, you can pay upfront and then claim it back when you get home from holiday. This depends on your policy terms.
This could be easier than calling the medical emergency helpline if it’s less serious, as the helpline can take a few days to organise.
What should I do if I’m uninsured?
If you don’t have travel insurance, you’re going to need to pay for any medical costs yourself.
But the steps are mostly the same. You just need to make sure you get the treatment and medication you need as soon as possible.
- For minor injuries or illnesses – find a local pharmacy or health facility.
- For serious injuries or illnesses – call the country’s emergency services or get to a hospital as soon as possible.
Paying out of pocket
If you haven’t got insurance, you’ll need to pay for all your medical costs yourself.
It’s up to you to make sure you have enough money available to cover them completely. Some places might even ask for payment upfront.
Get help from the British consulate
If you’re in hospital overseas and need help, you might be able to get help from the British embassy or consulate (a type of government office).
They might be able to:
- get in touch with your family or friends in the UK if you can’t
- put you in touch with local organisations that can support you
- help medical staff abroad get in touch with medical professionals in the UK
They can’t help pay for any medical costs or pay to get you back to the UK though.
The risk of falling ill abroad without insurance
Getting ill abroad can be very expensive. It differs from country to country – but as an example, you could be looking at tens of thousands of pounds if you broke your leg in the USA.
Getting travel insurance before you go is the safest way to make sure you’re not left out of pocket.
We hope you never have to use it – but if you do, you’ve got a safety net!
How do I use my Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you access medical treatment at approved facilities in some European countries.
The card tells foreign medical professionals about your identity and medical history.
It also reduces the cost of medical expenses or makes them free, depending on the country and facility.
Read our guide to using the EHIC or GHIC abroad.
What happens if you don’t have a GHIC card
If you’ve just forgotten your GHIC, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) while you’re on holiday. You can apply for a PRC here.
Your insurance should still cover you for emergency medical treatments.
If you don’t have a GHIC and don’t have travel insurance either, unfortunately you’ll need to pay for all your medical costs yourself.
Where do I go for treatment?
There could be a reciprocal health agreement between the UK and the country you’re visiting. This just means you can access healthcare for free or at a lower cost.
These agreements can vary around the world, so it’s important you try to research this before you head off on holiday.
Often you won’t be able to access this healthcare if you haven’t registered beforehand.
Read GOV.UK’s guide to reciprocal health agreements with different countries.
Europe
If you’re in Europe and have an EHIC or GHIC card, it’s important you try to find a facility that will accept the GHIC card.
Australia and New Zealand
If you’re travelling to Australia or New Zealand, you should register for Medicare.
If you haven’t, you’ll need to contact your insurer's emergency assistance service as soon as possible.
That’s because you’ll need to get their authorisation for any treatment that’s not available under Medicare.
The USA
Medical treatment in the USA can be very expensive and there’s no reciprocal health agreements for UK residents.
- If you have a medical emergency, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance.
- If your issue isn’t life-threatening, you can get medical service at urgent care centres. They accept walk-ins, offering convenient access without the need for an appointment.
You need to call your insurer’s emergency assistance helpline as soon as you can. With us, it’s really important you do this if you have a medical emergency or your medical expenses are likely to be more than £500.
What does your travel insurance cover?
Your travel insurance should protect you if you get ill or injured on holiday. We’ll cover necessary costs for emergency medical treatment when you’re abroad.
Your policy doesn’t cover you for pre-planned or medical treatment you choose to have while abroad – including if there’s any complications because of it.
Remember, you need to let us know about any relevant medical conditions when you buy your policy. If you don’t, it could affect your claim if you need to make one.
We’ll also cover costs for getting you back to the UK if it’s medically necessary, or if you can’t use your return ticket after your treatment has finished.
Log in to your travel portal to see your policy documents and start a claim if you need to. Remember, policy limits and exclusions apply.
