LONDON – Round-the-clock medical support is emerging as a growing feature in travel insurance products, with 17% of current annual and single-trip policies now offering some form of 24/7 medical assistance, according to new analysis from Defaqto, a leading financial services research firm. The report highlights how insurers are expanding healthcare-related benefits to meet traveler demand for accessible support during trips.
Phone or video consultations: A core component of 24/7 support, these virtual services are included in 11% of annual travel insurance policies and 10% of single-trip products.
In-person assistance: More hands-on support—such as arranged clinic visits or on-site hotel callouts—remains less common but is still offered in 6% of all travel insurance policies.
Beyond direct medical access, the report flags another traveler-friendly trend: waived excess for medical claims. Approximately 27.5% of travel insurance policies eliminate medical expense excess (the out-of-pocket amount a traveler pays before coverage kicks in) if the claim is made after following advice from the insurer’s provided doctor. This feature reduces financial barriers for travelers seeking medical help abroad.
Insurers are also expanding add-on healthcare services to enhance policy value. These extras include facilitating outpatient referrals to local medical providers and helping travelers access UK prescriptions through pharmacies at their destination—addressing common pain points like navigating foreign healthcare systems or replacing lost medication.
Gap year travelers stand out as the primary beneficiaries of these enhanced medical services. Defaqto’s data shows 23% of policies tailored to or used by gap year travelers include phone or video consultations, while 12% offer clinic visits or hotel callouts—far exceeding the averages for general travel insurance. This discrepancy reflects the unique needs of gap year travelers, who often take longer trips to diverse destinations and prioritize reliable, accessible healthcare support.
The analysis underscores a broader shift in travel insurance: as travelers increasingly prioritize safety and convenience, insurers are responding by integrating more robust, flexible medical benefits—moving beyond basic emergency coverage to offer holistic support that aligns with modern travel patterns.
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