If you're leaving the UK for more than three months, the standard annual multi-trip travel insurance you might already have probably won't cover you. Here's the honest answer to whether you need long-term travel insurance, what it actually covers, and which providers we've researched in detail.
The 90-day problem
Most UK annual travel policies cap any single trip at 30, 45, or 90 days. The moment you cross that threshold, your cover lapses — even if you've paid for the year. Read your policy documents before you assume you're covered. We've spoken to several families who only discovered this after they'd already been abroad for several months.
What long-stay travel insurance does cover
Long-stay or "backpacker" policies extend cover for trips of typically 6 to 18 months. The good ones cover emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, repatriation, lost baggage, and personal liability. Some include cover for adventure activities up to a defined level, working remotely, and trip interruption.
Where families need to look closely
Two areas matter especially for families: children's cover (some policies offer free or reduced child rates only with specific adult policy types) and pre-existing conditions (which need declaring upfront, even for routine ongoing things like asthma).
For our own decision-making process and the providers we shortlisted, see our True Traveller vs SafetyWing vs World Nomads comparison.
