UK Travel Insurance in 2026: Balancing Rising Risks and Record Payouts

As of early 2026, travel insurance has shifted from an optional extra to a critical financial safeguard for British holidaymakers. Recent data reveals a market defined by soaring medical costs, a pivot toward annual policies, and a stark divide in how different age groups approach protection.

The Scale of the Market and Payouts

The UK travel insurance market continues its strong post-pandemic recovery, with current valuations around £1.62 billion and projections reaching over £3 billion by 2030.

Record Claims

In 2024, insurers paid out a total of £472 million across more than 500,000 claims.

Rising Medical Burdens

Medical expenses now account for 34% of all claims, up from 29% in the previous year. The average medical payout stands at £1,528, though severe cases involving emergency repatriation often exceed £100,000.

Shifting Costs and Consumer Choices

For the 2025/2026 travel seasons, pricing trends show a clear move toward rewarding frequent travellers.

Policy Preferences

In 2024, approximately 14.5 million UK adults held annual multi-trip policies, while 12.7 million opted for single-trip cover.

Price Drops for Multi-Trip

Premiums for annual policies have seen notable decreases. For example, under-40s saw repeat policy prices fall by 12% to an average of £29, while couples over 60 saw a 10% drop to around £91.

Static Single-Trip Rates

Single-trip premiums remain largely flat, averaging £16 for under-40s and £36 for over-60s.

The Risk of Underinsurance

Despite the clear financial risks, a significant portion of the population remains unprotected.

The "Uninsured" Gap

Recent polls indicate that 21% of Brits have never purchased travel cover. Even more concerning, 43% of respondents in a 2024 survey admitted to not buying cover for their most recent trips.

Common Myths

Nearly 30% of travellers wrongly believe they do not need insurance for European destinations like France or Spain.

Timing Issues

Over 11 million UK travellers still only purchase insurance within two weeks of departure, missing out on vital cancellation cover. Financial experts like Martin Lewis continue to advocate for the "ASAB" (As Soon As you Book) rule to mitigate this risk.

Satisfaction and Trust

While consumer satisfaction reached a record high of 85% in 2025, trust remains fragile.

Claim Acceptance

Around 81% of travel insurance claims are accepted, a figure significantly lower than the 99% acceptance rate for motor insurance.

Top Performers

In terms of customer experience, Santander Bank leads the market with a 68% rating, followed closely by LV= (65%) and M&S Bank (64%).