Whether you're relaxing for a fortnight in Florida, dashing off for a long weekend in New York, or exploring Southeast Asia for six months, worldwide travel insurance could cover you for medical treatment, loss of personal items, flight cancellations and much more.

Some travel insurance policies will only cover you for travel in the UK and Europe, so if you're planning to go further afield, worldwide travel insurance may be right for your trip.

Worldwide travel insurance is split into two categories: worldwide cover and worldwide cover excluding the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Check with your policy provider before you leave the UK to ensure your holiday destination is covered.

It's also wise to note that the definition of 'worldwide' can differ depending on provider. Countries considered by one insurer to be part of Europe may be considered a 'worldwide' destination by others, so it's important to make sure you have the right cover.

Do I need worldwide cover?

Travel insurance may be a good idea, whether you're jetting off to a far-flung country in the Middle East or popping over to Paris for the weekend. A good travel insurance policy can provide peace of mind, knowing you are covered for unexpected accidents or illnesses abroad.

Bear in mind, some European policies stretch the boundaries to include cover for travel to destinations that you may not expect such as Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey. Worldwide travel insurance is typically more expensive than a European policy, so it may be worth checking whether your holiday destination is covered under a European policy, so you don't pay over the odds for your cover.

What does worldwide travel insurance cover?

Medical cover

If you fall ill unexpectedly or suffer an accident overseas, worldwide travel insurance can help to cover your medical bills and if needed, transport back home.

Stolen, lost or damaged luggage

A good travel insurance policy may pay out if your personal possessions or luggage are lost or stolen. Bear in mind, most travel insurers place a limit per item on the claim for valuable items, so if you carry lots of expensive items such as laptops and cameras, you may wish to take out separate cover for your gadgets. Check if these are covered under your home insurance policy.

Flight delays

Cover for travel delays varies between insurers. Depending on the policy, you may be able to claim for certain costs or receive compensation if your flight is significantly delayed.

Cancellations and curtailment

If your policy covers cancellation, you should be able to claim back money spent on your hotel and transport should you be unable to travel. It's worth noting that policy providers differ on what they consider to be a valid reason to cancel your holiday and may require proof of when an incident occurred, so they can ensure you have not taken out the policy with the intention to claim back on a known event.

Personal liability

Intended for those unexpected instances where you may inadvertently cause damage to another person or their property and are left financially responsible for the damage. This could include a car accident where you have injured someone and damaged their car, for example.

Do I need travel insurance for Australia?

If you're heading Down Under, making sure you have the right travel insurance in place should be high on your holiday checklist.

Australia has an excellent healthcare system, and, thanks to reciprocal healthcare arrangements, eligible UK travellers can access certain medically necessary treatment through the Australian Medicare scheme. However, this isn't a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance. It won't usually cover things like medical repatriation to the UK, and it won't help if your belongings are lost or stolen while you're away.

The reciprocal healthcare agreement also has its limits. It's designed to provide access to medically necessary treatment during your stay and may not cover every healthcare cost you encounter. That's why it's important to have travel insurance in place for added protection and peace of mind.

Australia is also a very long way from home. If illness, injury or an unexpected emergency cuts your trip short, the cost of changing travel plans or arranging transport back to the UK can quickly add up. Having suitable travel insurance means you can spend more time enjoying the beaches, wildlife and laid-back lifestyle, and less time worrying about the unexpected.

Do I need travel insurance for the USA?

From the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls to the bustling cities of Chicago and New York, there's nowhere quite like America. But as you are probably aware, medical care in the USA is managed privately and is notoriously expensive.

Before you travel to the USA, make sure you have suitable travel insurance in place to help protect you from potentially expensive hospital bills. As treatment in the US is so costly, travel insurance for this destination can be pricier than a worldwide policy that excludes the USA, but don't be tempted to skip on your cover, as without it a trip to ER could end up costing you 'an arm and a leg'.

America is an extremely vast country, and climates range from temperate to tropical to sub-zero. Due to this, the USA can be prone to extreme weather and natural disasters. You may find that some insurance policies don't cover natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, so check your policy documents before you purchase.

What do I need to consider?

If your adventure abroad includes taking part in any sporting activities or you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you should ensure you are covered for this. Considerations you should be aware of include:

Extreme sports

If you're a bit of an adrenaline junkie and fancy trying out some extreme sports such as paragliding, bungee jumping or rock climbing, make sure your insurance policy covers you for this.

Winter sports

If you get your kicks on snowy excursions, make sure you're covered for any winter sports you may get involved in such as skiing, snowboarding and dogsledding.

Cruise cover

Perhaps the laidback nature of a cruise appeals to you. If so, you'll likely need special cruise cover for your holiday.

Should I get an annual or single trip travel insurance policy?

It depends. If you are going on one trip this year and have no plans for another holiday, then a single trip policy may be the cheapest option. An annual policy could save you money in the long run if you are a regular traveller who takes multiple trips a year.

However, an annual policy is not always the cheapest option for multiple trips. For example, if you are planning a trip to the US and then a city break to Barcelona later in the same year, these destinations will require two different levels of cover. The trip to the US would require worldwide travel insurance including the US, Canada, and the Caribbean, which may be pricy if you got annual cover, whereas the trip to Barcelona will only require European cover, so it may be cheaper to buy two single policies.

In addition, if you have pre-existing medical conditions, it may be cheaper for you to buy single trip policies.

You can compare travel insurance quotes for both single trip and annual trip to see which works out cheaper for your holiday plans.

How can I compare travel insurance policies?

We've made finding and comparing travel insurance quotes quick and easy. Our online quote form aims to be simple to use, and our travel guides are full of helpful facts and information to answer questions you may have about choosing a travel insurance policy that meets your needs.