Martin Lewis Delivers 'Crucial' Travel Insurance Alert For 2026 Holidaymakers
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, Martin Lewis, has issued what he describes as a 'crucial warning' to anyone planning or having already booked a holiday abroad for 2026. The prominent financial journalist shared this vital advice during a recent episode of his popular Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds, specifically focusing on travel insurance and life lessons.
Immediate Action Required After Booking
Lewis emphasised the acronym ASAB - 'as soon as possible after booking' - as the golden rule for holiday protection. He explained that many travellers mistakenly delay purchasing insurance until closer to their departure date, potentially leaving themselves vulnerable to significant financial losses.
'If you've booked or are booking a holiday, this is a hugely important warning for you', Lewis stated. 'Make sure you get your travel insurance ASAB. And if you've already booked, that means just do it now. Get it as quickly as possible.'
Understanding The Pre-Departure Coverage Gap
The financial expert highlighted that comprehensive travel insurance policies typically cover numerous eventualities that might occur before travellers even leave home. These include:
- Unexpected illnesses or medical conditions
- Job redundancy or employment changes
- Jury duty summons
- Family emergencies
- Other unforeseen circumstances preventing travel
'Half the point of travel insurance is covering you for things that may happen before you go that stop you going', Lewis explained. 'If you leave it until the last minute to get your travel insurance and something happens, you won't be covered.'
Practical Guidance For Different Policy Types
Lewis provided specific recommendations for different insurance scenarios:
For single-trip policies: 'If you're going away August 1 to August 8, you get a single-trip policy now from August 1-8. You give those cover dates, you pay for it now, you've got your policy in place.'
For annual or multi-trip policies: 'If it's an annual policy that covers all your trips away in the year, you want to always have a live annual policy. So if you don't have one, you get one now, but you need to have the start date being today. You don't leave it until August 1 and try to book it in advance.'
He particularly stressed the importance of continuous coverage: 'If your current annual policy stops before your holiday date, let's say it stops in April and you're going on holiday in August, you will want to get a new policy that starts the day after your old policy ends. So you have continuous cover going all the way through.'
Understanding Policy Limitations And Requirements
Lewis noted that most annual policies can only be purchased approximately 90 days in advance, making timely action essential. He advised holidaymakers to thoroughly review policy documents to understand specific limitations, exclusions, and requirements.
'Always refer to your policy document to see the limits, exclusions, and rules', he cautioned. 'You need to declare pre-existing conditions or risky activities; failing to do so could make your coverage invalid.'
What Comprehensive Travel Insurance Typically Covers
Proper travel insurance provides essential financial protection against numerous potential problems while travelling abroad. Standard coverage usually includes:
- Emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation costs
- Trip cancellation due to covered reasons
- Trip interruption or curtailment
- Lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and personal belongings
- Personal money and document replacement
- Missed departure assistance
- Personal liability protection
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
Important Distinctions For UK Travellers
Lewis clarified that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), serve different purposes from comprehensive travel insurance. While these cards provide access to necessary healthcare within participating countries, they do not replace proper travel insurance, which offers broader financial protection including trip cancellation, baggage loss, and personal liability coverage.
The financial journalist's warning comes as many Britons begin planning and booking their 2026 holidays, with early booking often securing better prices but potentially creating insurance coverage gaps if protection isn't arranged promptly.
