In this independent travel insurance review, we take a look at Churchill travel insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs and how it compares to its competitors. We recommend that you read the review in full, but you can jump to specific sections of the article using the following links.
- What is Churchill travel insurance?
- Churchill travel insurance key features
- Churchill travel insurance policies
- What does Churchill travel insurance cover?
- Does Churchill travel insurance cover covid-19?
- Does Churchill travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
- Does Churchill travel insurance have an age limit?
- How much does Churchill travel insurance cost?
- Churchill travel insurance policy excess
- How to claim on Churchill travel insurance
- Churchill travel insurance customer reviews
- Churchill travel insurance pros and cons
- Alternatives to Churchill travel insurance
- Summary
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What is Churchill travel insurance?
Churchill Insurance was founded in 1989 initially offering home insurance products to its customers. It has since expanded its product range and now offers car, van, travel, pet and breakdown insurance. Churchill's travel insurance policies have a 4-star defaqto rating and are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited.
Churchill travel insurance key features
- 4 star defaqto rated policies
- Enhance your travel insurance with optional cover for winter sports, weddings, golf and personal belongings
- Up to £10m emergency medical cover
- Covid-19 cover
- Insurance for groups, couples, families and individuals
- No upper age limit for single trip policies
- 10% discount on annual multi-trip policies for existing Churchill home or car insurance customers
- 10% no claims discount upon renewal of an annual multi-trip policy
Churchill travel insurance policies
Churchill offers a range of travel insurance policies and we explain the differences between the cover types below.
Churchill single trip travel insurance
Single trip travel insurance insures travellers for a single trip. There is no upper age limit on Churchill's single trip travel insurance but single trips can only be insured for a maximum of 90 days and this reduces to 45 days for those aged over 60.
Churchill annual multi-trip travel insurance
Annual multi-trip travel insurance insures more than one trip away in a policy year meaning it provides good value for those who frequently travel and can be cheaper than multiple single trip policies. Each trip can be up to 45 days long on an annual multi-trip policy and this insurance policy can be purchased by travellers aged up to 74 years old. If you turn 75 during the policy year, Churchill says it will still cover you until the policy ends.
What does Churchill's travel insurance cover?
In the following comparison table, we compare Churchill's travel insurance policies.
| Single Trip | Annual multi-trip | |
| Trip limit (age limits apply) | Up to 90 days | Up to 45 days |
| Age limits | No upper age limit
Trip limit reduced to 45 days for over 60s |
Available for ages 18 to 74
If you turn 75 during the policy term you will be covered until the policy end date. |
| Policy excess | £50 | £50 |
| Emergency medical cover | £10m | £10m |
| Hospital benefit | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Holiday cancellation | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| Personal possessions | £2,000 (optional extra) | £2,000 (optional extra and option to upgrade to £3,000) |
| Replacement items for delayed luggage | £200 | £200 |
| Loss of passport/money | £500 each | £500 each |
| Delayed departure | £200 | £200 |
| Missed departure | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Personal accident | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Catastrophe cover | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Emergency dental fees | £250 | £250 |
| Legal expenses | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Personal liability | £2m | £2m |
Churchill travel insurance policy add-ons
You can also tailor your Churchill travel insurance policy to suit your trip with the following travel insurance policy add-ons.
Churchill winter sports insurance
If you are planning on taking part in winter sports you will need to add winter sports insurance to your travel insurance policy otherwise you will not be covered in the event of a winter sports-related claim. Churchill's Winter Sports add-on will cover you for the following:
| Ski equipment | £500 |
| Ski equipment hire | £300 |
| Ski pack | £500 |
| Piste closure | £300 |
Churchill wedding insurance
If you are planning to have a wedding abroad then you can add Churchill wedding insurance to your travel insurance policy. The following cover is included in the Churchill wedding cover add-on:
| Wedding rings | £250 |
| Wedding gifts | £1,000 |
| Wedding day outfits | £1,000 |
| Photos or videos of the day | £750 |
Churchill golf insurance
If you are going away for a golf trip you may wish to purchase additional cover to protect your golf clubs in the event of loss, theft or damage. We have provided the key features of the golf insurance add-on below and further information can be found within the policy documents.
| Green fees | £300 |
| Golf equipment | £1,000 |
| Hired golf equipment | £400 |
Churchill new-for-old replacement cover
You can purchase a 'New-for-old' add-on to your travel insurance policy which will pay the replacement or repair cost of damaged items. Clothing and towels are subject to a deduction for wear and tear.
Does Churchill travel insurance cover covid-19?
Churchill travel insurance does offer cover for covid-19 as standard and we detail some of the coronavirus-related claims you will be covered for below. As with all travel insurance policies, Churchill travel insurance will not cover costs that are recoverable elsewhere. This means that if possible, you should first attempt to reclaim costs from your holiday provider as well as your credit or debit card provider. For more information and a more detailed explanation of Churchill's travel insurance covid-19 cover, refer to the policy documents.
Churchill's travel insurance covers the following coronavirus-related claims:
Medical claims
- You are covered for emergency medical expenses if you or any insured person on the insurance requires treatment or needs to quarantine as a result of covid-19
Cancellation
- Cancellation claims if you, a travelling companion or close relative tests positive for covid-19 and are unable to travel as a result
- Cancellation if you, a travelling companion or someone you were staying with on holiday has been notified to self-isolate or quarantine abroad or in the UK
- Cancellation due to a change of FCDO advice within 28 days of travel (as long as the advice wasn't present at the time the holiday was booked or you bought your policy)
- Cancellation because you are unable to use your pre-booked and previously paid-for accommodation due to covid-19
Curtailment (cutting your trip short)
- Curtailment of your trip due to a change in FCDO advice (as long as this advice was not in place when you travelled)
- Cutting short your trip as you are no longer able to stay in your accommodation due to covid-19 or a pandemic
Churchill travel insurance will not cover cancellation if you have to quarantine upon return to the UK.
Does Churchill travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Churchill may cover some pre-existing medical conditions but you will need to call Churchill travel insurance on the following number for a quote: 0800 032 6534. Churchill travel insurance defines the following as a pre-existing medical condition:
- Any type of cancer
- Heart conditions e.g. heart disease or angina
- Diabetes and other circulatory conditions e.g. high blood pressure
- Breathing conditions e.g. asthma
- Gastrointestinal or digestive conditions e.g. IBS and Crohn's disease
- Gout
- Any terminal diagnosis
- Any medical condition where you have had advice, treatment or investigation up to 12 months leading up to the start or renewal date of your insurance
The Money Helper website (formerly known as the Money Advice Service) has a list of travel insurers that cover pre-existing medical conditions should you need to look for a specialist travel insurance provider. You can also compare pre-existing medical condition insurance via comparison sites such as PayingTooMuch*.
Does Churchill travel insurance have an age limit?
There is no upper age limit on a Churchill single trip travel insurance policy. There is an upper age limit of 74 years old on an annual multi-trip policy but if you turn 75 during the policy term your cover will remain the same until the policy ends, after this you will only be able to purchase a Churchill single trip travel insurance policy.
How much does Churchill travel insurance cost?
In this section of the review, we compare the cost of Churchill's travel insurance policies. The cost of your travel insurance policy will vary depending on your age, your health and the destination where you are travelling to. For the purpose of the quotes, we have compared the cost of a trip to Europe for an individual traveller with no underlying health conditions aged between 20 and 80 years old. For the single trip travel insurance, the quotes are based on 7 nights in Europe.
| Churchill single trip | Churchill annual multi-trip | |
| Policy excess | £50 | £50 |
| Medical expenses | £10m | £10m |
| Cancellation | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| Baggage | £2,000^ | £2,000^ |
| Individual trip limit | Up to 90 days | Up to 45 days |
| European policy cost (20 years old) | £33.44 | £73.25 |
| European policy cost (30 years old) | £33.44 | £73.25 |
| European policy cost (40 years old) | £33.44 | £73.25 |
| European policy cost (50 years old) | £33.77 | £73.98 |
| European policy cost (60 years old) | £39.37 | £86.24 |
| European policy cost (70 years old) | £72.29 | £158.30 |
| European policy cost (80 years old) | £140.03 | N/A |
(^Optional extra but included in the above quotes) Quotes correct as of 07/03/24
Churchill travel insurance policy excess
The policy excess is deducted from your expenses should you need to make a claim. How much excess you have to pay will vary depending on what you are claiming for. Typically the excess for claims on a Churchill single or annual multi-trip policy is £50.
How to claim on Churchill travel insurance
You can claim on your Churchill travel insurance policy via its online portal or alternatively, you can call 0345 603 3591 between the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday - Friday. When making a claim you will need to provide original receipts, invoices and documentation related to your claim. If you are claiming for something that is lost or stolen you need to report the incident to the police within 24 hours of the theft or loss.
If you are making a claim for cutting short your trip early you will need to contact 01252 740 050 to have any expenses authorised beforehand. For any medical claims abroad you will need to contact + 44 (0) 1252 740 050 and if possible you will need to contact this number before receiving any treatment. The medical line can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Churchill travel insurance customer reviews
Churchill has a customer review rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars from over 16,000 reviews on the consumer website Trustpilot. 67% of customers rate Churchill as Excellent, while 15% rate it as Bad. It is worth noting that the scores are based on the entire Churchill insurance group and so are not specific to its travel insurance policies. Upon reading the reviews left about Churchill travel insurance customers have commented on their experiences of good customer service while others have complained of claim delays.
As with all travel insurance policies it is best to research the policies carefully to ensure you are getting the right cover for your trip. Read our article, 'The best travel insurance providers in the UK' to compare other policies.
Churchill travel insurance pros and cons
Churchill travel insurance pros
- Enhance your policy with optional add ons
- No upper age limit for single trip policies
- Single and annual policies include cover for strikes (terms apply)
Churchill travel insurance cons
- No longer offers Explorer travel insurance
- Policy auto-renews unless you cancel when notified
- No refund on the insurance premium if you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period or on single trip policies with cover for less than one month
Alternatives to Churchill travel insurance
One way to compare travel insurance policies is via a comparison website such as Quotezone*, PayingTooMuch* or MoneySuperMarket*. Comparison sites allow you to compare a range of travel insurance policies at once to find the cheapest one to suit your needs. When using comparison sites you do need to check that you are getting the right cover for your trip and as with all travel insurance policies ensure you read your policy documents carefully so you know exactly what you are covered for. Another thing to consider is that you may be able to get a better deal elsewhere as some insurers such as Direct Line, are not featured on most comparison sites.
Below, we compare Churchill travel insurance to other comprehensive travel insurance policies. We have compared the most comprehensive single trip travel insurance policies with Direct Line and Staysure travel insurance*. The policies are based on a 30-year-old individual travelling to Spain for 7 nights. How much you pay for your travel insurance policy will vary depending on the travel destination, your age and how long you are travelling. To find out more about the travel insurance policies mentioned above read our independent reviews:
Churchill travel insurance vs Direct Line travel insurance
Below we compare Churchill travel insurance to Direct Line travel insurance. Both travel insurance companies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited which means that in the event of a claim it would be dealt with by the same insurer. Below, we have compared the cover between the single trip policies with each provider. More information on Direct Line travel insurance can be found in our Direct Line travel insurance review.
| Churchill | Direct Line | |
| Policy excess | £50 | £75 |
| Emergency medical cover | £10m | £10m |
| Cancellation cover | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| Baggage cover | £2,000^ | £1,500^ |
| Policy cost 7-night single trip to Europe (30-year-old) | £33.44 | £22.99 |
(^Optional extra but included in the above quotes) Quotes correct as of 07/03/24
Churchill travel insurance vs Staysure travel insurance
In the following comparison table, we compare Churchill travel insurance to Staysure travel insurance. Staysure travel insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited.
| Churchill | Staysure* | |
| Policy excess | £50 | £0 |
| Emergency medical cover | £10m | Unlimited |
| Cancellation cover | £5,000 | £10,000 |
| Baggage cover | £2,000^ | £5,000 |
| Policy cost 7-night single trip to Europe (30-year-old) | £33.44 | £34.99 |
(^Optional extra but included in the quote) Quotes correct as of 07/03/24
Summary
Overall, Churchill travel insurance offers a number of policy options, particularly for older travellers as its single trip policy has no upper age limit. Churchill used to offer an Explorer policy for those wishing to travel for longer periods of time, although it no longer offers this policy to new customers. Finally, Churchill travel insurance offers covid-19 cover as standard on all of its policies and the optional add-ons that allow you to cater your policy to suit your trip mean you are only paying for the cover that you need. To see how Churchill travel insurance compares to alternative providers, read our article, 'Best travel insurance in the UK'.
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. But as you can clearly see this has in no way influenced this independent and balanced review of the product. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses or take advantage of any exclusive offers - MoneySuperMarket, Quotezone, PayingTooMuch, Staysure
