Travel insurance recommendations needed

Question

My brother and his two kids (11 and 12) are residents in California and are going to be visiting family here in the UK next week and I just found out that they don't have any travel insurance. So I'm currently trying to locate a suitable policy for them and wondering if anyone could provide any pointers...

Money is quite tight so it doesn't need to be an all-singing, all-dancing, super snazzy policy - just something from a reliable provider that will cover the necessities (main things are flights and medical issues/emergencies). They'll be staying with family so won't need cover for hotel costs or accommodation.

Can anyone provide any recommendations for insurance that they have used and been impressed with?

Thanks

Answer

Great question — very smart to make sure they have travel insurance. Here are some solid, relatively affordable, and reliable options from U.S.-based providers, plus tips for what to look for in a policy. I’ve focused on medical/emergency coverage, since that’s your biggest concern, rather than very-expensive cancellation / “Cancel-for-Any-Reason” features.

Good Travel Insurance Options to Consider

World Nomads — Their U.S. plan is very flexible and covers a good range of medical emergencies. Their “Standard” plan includes up to $125,000 in emergency medical coverage, and they also provide emergency evacuation and repatriation.
- Pros: Easy to buy online, good 24/7 support, fairly inexpensive for basic coverage, good for active travelers.
- Cons: Trip cancellation coverage in their cheaper plan is limited; not the absolute cheapest if you only care about medical.
Seven Corners Travel Medical Insurance — Very strong option for international medical coverage. Their “Global” plan provides up to $1,000,000 in medical expenses and $500,000 for evacuation.
- You can choose a deductible (like $0, $250, or more), which lets you balance cost vs. out-of-pocket risk.
- They also have good travel-assistance services (finding a doctor abroad, medical transport) through Seven Corners Assist.
- If you want only medical coverage (no trip cancellation), their “Excluding USA” or “Global” plans are designed for that.
WorldTrips / Nomad Insurance (Atlas Nomads) — This is more of a “travel health” plan than a full trip cancellation policy. Their “Nomad” plan offers high levels of medical coverage (up to $250,000 depending on age and trip).
- Pros: Very good for medical-only coverage, especially if money is tight and you don’t need trip cancellation.
- Cons: May not cover trip cancellation or baggage, so make sure to read the policy details carefully.

Things to Watch When Buying

Emergency Evacuation / Repatriation: Since they’re going overseas, make sure the plan includes coverage to get them to a suitable hospital (or home) if needed.
Medical Limits: Check how much “emergency medical” they cover — $100K is good, but higher is safer if they go to a really expensive hospital in the UK.
Pre-existing Conditions: If any exist, make sure the plan covers “acute onset.” Some policies limit how much they’ll pay for these.
Duration of Coverage: Make sure the policy covers the full trip. Some plans have maximum trip lengths.
Claims Process: Read how to make a claim — keep medical receipts, hospital paperwork, and know who to call in the insurer’s assistance line.

My Recommendation Given Their Needs

- For a relatively inexpensive but reliable option: World Nomads Standard Plan — gives good medical coverage and 24/7 assistance without overpaying for full trip cancellation. - If you want stronger medical protection and are okay paying a little more: Seven Corners Travel Medical Global — very solid limits, and good for someone who just needs medical coverage, not cancellation. - If their main worry is medical (not losing money on flights): Atlas Nomads / WorldTrips plan — likely the cheapest way to get meaningful medical protection.

One more tip: since time is short (trip is next week), they should get quotes now, compare, and buy as soon as possible. Rates may go up the closer to travel date, and having coverage in place before flying is important.

Travel insurance recommendations needed

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