Coverwise travel insurance review: prices, cover levels, exclusions and claims. Find out if this cheap AXA-backed policy suits you
I’ll be honest: I’ve been guilty of skipping over travel insurance like the fine print at the bottom of a software update: scroll, click, skip. That is, until someone told me about a friend of a friend who checked the box on the cheap little box-tick box and ended up in hospital for a week in Europe.
So I decided to dig into Gigasure travel insurance properly, and I had one thing I needed to figure out. Is Gigasure travel insurance risky? Is it a decent value safety-net or simply a cheap cover that hides booby traps?
The short answer: it‘s a pretty decent, cheap option for simple outings, with some useful bonuses and a couple of caveats you definitely need to be aware of before you buy. Read the long answer below, over a brew or two.
Coverwise Travel Insurance at a Glance
| Question | Summary |
| Best for Ultimately which is best | Budget viajeros on regular holidays, city breaks, business travel |
| Types of policy | One-off trips, yearly multi-trip cover, business travel and ski holidays |
| Cover levels | 7 levels of single trip policies from Standard to Platinum |
| Underwriter | Inter Partner Assistance S.A., part of the AXA Group |
| Regulator | Gibraltar Financial Services Commission |
| Initial price | *We quote prices for a 4-day European single trip, and they start from approximately 5.45 for persons aged 20-40 |
| Top re-alert watch-outs | Does not include pandemic cancellations, conditions require declaration |
Prices and cover levels fluctuate, so consider this table a snapshot and obtain a live quote before you book.
What is Coverwise, and Who is the Real Boss Behind It?
Here’s where people get confused. Coverwise isn’t an insurer in the traditional sense. Coverwise is an insurance intermediary, similar to a travel agent for policies. As the insurance intermediary, Coverwise creates and markets the policies, and Inter Partner Assistance S.A. The real insurer is Inter Partner Assistance S.A., part of the AXA Group, and it takes on the risk.
What does that matter? Because it’s at the time of problems that you don’t have the services of a tiny start-up running from a back bedroom with a dodgy website working for you, you have the claims of the underwriter and emergency teams. To a nervous traveller such as myself, that really does matter.
Coverwise operates from Gibraltar and has been selling UK travel insurance for quite a few years already, so we don’t really even need to get onto the next question.
Is Coverwise Credible and Bonds?
And yes it probably is, but worth understanding the detail: Coverwise Limited call themselves an independent insurance intermediary which the financial services commission in Gibraltar authorises and regulates.3 That’s different from having the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK authorise and regulate it. Which is something that quite a few people don’t realise.
Is that a no go? Not always. Gibraltar has been a traditional insurance storage for years and since then there are numerous big, familiar insurance names in Gibraltar, but if you want that FCA number on your purchases, do your homework. This is the kind of thing I now always look for since I learned the hard way that reading the boring bits at the start is a good idea.
My advice: Before you purchase any policy take a quick look at the regulator, underwriter, and complaints route in the policy documents. It takes five minutes and saves a lot of headache later.
What Are the Different Types of Coverwise Travel Insurance That Are Available?
I like Coverwise because they keep it straightforward. When it comes to choosing an insurance, it’s like selecting a contract for your phone – nobody wants that kind of hassle!
Single trip insurance covers you for one holiday or break.There are seven levels of cover: Standard, Standard Plus, Bronze, Silver, Silver Plus, Gold and Platinum. Imagine them as star ratings for hotels; the cheaper ones are less luxurious, but the more expensive options give you higher cover limits and lower excesses.
An annual multi-trip insurance includes any number of trips during the year. It’s cheaper than taking single policies one after the other if you’re planning on being away more than twice. Coverwise has various levels here.
Business trip insurance means you get to extend your standard cover for work issues. Useful if you’re self-employed, or if your boss’s policy is about as useful as a sieve.
Winter sports insurance is for ski and snowboard breaks, and almost certainly require additional cover because insurers don’t include them as standard.
Optional Extras: You can add gadget cover as an optional extra. If you take out a Silver Plus policy and above, you can add travel disruption cover as an optional extra for trip cancellation, delayed departure and missed departure.
What is Included in Coverwise Travel Insurance?
The precise boundaries depend on the level you select so always check the policy summary. In broad terms, Coverwise policies cover the basics that most travellers need:
- There’s a lot to be said about Emergency medical expenses and repatriation here is the important one. A broken ankle when away can be costly to fix and you certainly don’t want to be on Google trying to find out prices from a hospital bed.
- Cancelling and Curtailment if you have to cancel or curtail your trip for a reason the policy covers.
- Traveller‘s baggage and personal property, including: delays, loss and theft, subject to one item‘s limits.
- Personal liability: policies quote it at £2 million, a reasonable amount for a starter product.
- Travel delay and missed departure: payouts go up as you move up the tiers.
Just think about it like your burger, Standard gets you the bun and burger patty. Step up the levels and you’re adding cheese, bacon, and the special sauce. For a simple week in Spain: the basic burger is often more than enough. For a once-in-a-lifetime trip: you may want all the extras.
What Isn’t Covered (the Bit Nobody Reads)
I won’t lie… My eyes didn’t even stay on this part of the page. Please don’t be me.
Every policy has exclusions, and Coverwise is no exception. The ones worth flagging:
- Review of cancellation from pandemics. If government advice related to a pandemic impacts your trip, there is no cancellation cover. That’s a huge feature in the wake of the last few years.
- Official government travel alerts. There is usually very limited cover if you go to a destination your government has warned you not to go to, as well as limited unrelated loss cover.
- Undeclared health conditions. If you don’t declare something that you should have, the insurer could diminish or reject your claim.
- Standard general exclusions, for example, damage drunkenness causes or participating in hazardous activities that your level doesn’t include.
Lesson: Can cheap policies fantastic when you stick to what they cover. The real trouble comes from believing in a policy that covers everything, which is never the case.
Coverwise Travel Insurance and Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
This is the one I get questioned the most. And it’s one where honesty matters.
You must declare any previous medical conditions before taking out a Coverwise policy. This is industry-wide, but it is the most common aspect to trip people up. If you have a medical condition that doctors have treated in the past few years, be as comprehensive as possible. Does that blister pack count? Does that doctor’s note? Declare it if you’re unsure.
The policy can sometimes accept conditions, but cover for more serious or complicated conditions can carry limits or come at a higher cost. In some table comparison sites, Coverwise refers people with more serious conditions to a directory of providers who offer cover for this type of condition.
My honest opinion: if your illness is reasonably simple and you manage it well, get a quote and see what’s available. If you have a complex medical history, compare it with a specialist provider too. Getting this one wrong is the most expensive mistake you can make.
Pricing of Coverwise Travel Insurance
Coverwise performs very well on Price, especially for young travellers.
Here’s what the company advertises at the time of writing:
- One way from about £5.45 for 4 days to Europe (£20 for those aged 20-40).
- Annual multi-trip from approximately £9.70 for a traveller aged 26 to 30 travelling to Europe.
- An independent review was pricing around £3.42 for Europe and £19.48 for the USA for a 30-year-old on a one-week visit.
Those are just headline starting prices – the equivalent of the “from £9” seat on a budget airline. Your price will vary depending on your age, destination, length of trip, level of cover and any pre-existing medical conditions. The difference with the US is normally massive – as American healthcare prices are obscene.
My tip: always get quotes at two cover levels. I find there can be just a couple of pounds difference between one cover level and the next but you can double their limits – a steal.
So how do they work?
No one wants to need to claim, but that’s where claims put insurers to the test. This is the basics of how Coverwise works:
- If you have a medical emergency, call the 24-hour helpline immediately. You will find this number on your policy documents – we suggest you save it on your phone before you travel.
- For other claims like lost baggage, or cancellation you may file a claim at the online claims portal or get in touch with the claims office your documents state.
- Collect your proof. Save all receipts, police reports for theft, airline delay correspondence and medical reports. Remember, the golden rule of claims: if you can’t prove it, you can’t claim it.
My recommendation: snap away and keep everything digital in a single folder. In the future you will thank me.
Coverwise Travel Insurance Pros and Cons
Pros
- Pricing is quite competitive, remarkably so for young travellers.
- A leader of the AXA Group supports it
- Seven levels of single trip policies to suit your trip.
- One stop source for business, annual and winter sports options
- Optional extras: gadget cover & travel disruption cover
- Online claims portal and 24-hour emergency assistance
Cons
- Regulations that the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission issues govern Gibraltar, however the FCA does not directly supervise such intra-group pay transactions
- No cover for cancellations related to government advice on pandemics
- Levels based on entry-level policy may feel like a low ceiling for costly trips.
- Some reviewers find the website less clear than it could be when you compare policies
- You must disclose sickness, and insurers restrict cover where more involved conditions come into play
For Whom is Coverwise Best and for Whom Should You Consider Other Plans?
Coverwise is a good fit if:
- You’re looking for inexpensive cover for a typical holiday or city break
- You travel often and require an easy annual policy
- You’re a younger, healthy traveller seeking mainly comprehensive medical coverage
- Why pay high premiums for business or winter sports cover?
Look elsewhere if:
- You are experiencing a significant or complicated medical issue
- You’re scheduling a really costly journey and desire high cancellation caps
- You require particular cover for outbreak interruption
- You purchase solely from companies the FCA licenses
It’s like choosing a family car. This decent hatchback will get you to school and back without breaking down, but I wouldn’t take it on the drive across the Sahara. Just choose the policy that suits the journey.
My Verdict: Should You Buy Coverwise Travel Insurance?
So, where do I come in? Coverwise is a practical solution with competitive prices for general ordinary travel. The price is hard to beat, the AXA backing sets your mind at ease, and there’s enough of a selection of cover to meet just about all straightforward journeys. As for the pitfalls, like pandemic exclusion and detailed medical declarations: they’re manageable, but only if you’re aware of them in advance.
Would I use it if I wanted to buy a last-minute flight to Europe? Yes, I think. And I’d probably compare it against other websites if I was going on a major, costly trip and I had extensive medical history.
Bottom line – if we treat insurance like a seatbelt. You don’t want to have to use it, but you will be so happy that you took precautions if you do need it.
Coverwise Travel Insurance FAQs
What is Coverwise travel insurance? Coverwise insurance policies are value for money for simple trips, with good prices and a major underwriter. It is not suitable for extensive medical cover or trips of very high value.
9. Who underwrites coverwise travel insurance? Inter Partner Assistance S.A., a member of the AXA Group, underwrites Coverwise travel insurance.
Is Coverwise regulated? The Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar authorises and regulates Coverwise Limited.
Does Coverwise cover old / pre-existing conditions? You must state them when you buy. Cover will be available, but there are limits and prices, and more serious conditions may require a specialist insurer.
Does Coverwise insure winter sports and business travel? Not only does Coverwise have winter sports, but there is also cover for business travel. Please check your policy for the specific activities and the limits.
How much is Coverwise travel insurance? Starting at a few pounds for a quick continental trip, your premium depends on your age, destination, length of trip and level of cover.
Is there cancellation cover for pandemics? Reviews by specialists conclude that the policy doesn’t include cancellation as a result of government travel advice applied to pandemics. Make sure you look at the latest policy wording.
Trusted Resources
- MoneyHelper Travel Insurance Directory: Money Helper Directory Search for specialist insurance providers if insurers have refused you insurance, excluded a condition or given you a quote that is more than you think it should be because of a serious medical condition.
- Finder’s Coverwise Travel Insurance Review: independent review with cover levels, claims process, pros and cons, is it right for you? Useful as a second opinion before you buy.
