Martin Lewis Travel Insurance: What to Know 

If you’ve landed here after frantically typing “Martin Lewis travel insurance” into Google, you’re in the right place. 

In the next few minutes, I’ll walk you through who (or rather what) Martin Lewis travel insurance actually is.

Expect rapid-fire pros and cons, a peek inside the buying process, the nitty-gritty of claims, plus a final verdict that could save your next trip from turning into an epic face-plant.

Stick around; you’ll be back to planning that cliff-side selfie in no time.

Ready? Let’s roll.

Who is Martin Lewis Travel Insurance?

“Martin Lewis travel insurance” isn’t actually a standalone insurance company.

It’s a bit of a misnomer. Martin Lewis is a well-known British money-saving guru (the founder of MoneySavingExpert) who dishes out advice on all things finance, including travel insurance

In other words, you can’t buy a policy from Martin Lewis (he’s not an insurer), but you can follow his guidance to find a good deal.

Martin’s advice is famously no-nonsense: for example, he warns holidaymakers to get travel insurance ASAB (“as soon as you book”) – because if you wait until the day before take-off, you won’t be covered if an illness or emergency forces you to cancel.

My Pro Tip: Read more about it in my Can You Buy Travel Insurance After Booking a Flight guide.

Essentially, Martin Lewis' travel insurance advice is about shopping smart and early.

His MoneySavingExpert site even has a Travel Insurance Finder and regularly updated picks for the cheapest decent policies.

He’s not selling his own insurance; rather, he’s pointing travellers to insurers that meet minimum cover levels at low prices.

In short, Martin Lewis is the guy who helps you find travel insurance, not a brand of insurance himself. It’s a bit like a travel insurance coach shouting from the sidelines, “Don’t overpay, and don’t you dare travel without it!” 

Is it really that good? Well, let’s dig in and see.

Pros and Cons of Martin Lewis Travel Insurance

Speaking as someone who’s scrutinised more policies than I’ve had cups of tea, I find Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice comes with clear pros and cons:

The Pros

Martin’s tips are grounded in facts and consumer-first principles.

He emphasises getting adequate cover at a bargain price, which is great for travellers on a budget.

For instance, his team highlights policies that meet minimum recommended cover (£1+ million medical, £2,000+ cancellation, etc.) while remaining cheap.

You’ll often find exclusive discounts or promo codes via his site (e.g. an Admiral policy with an MSE discount), a nice perk for your wallet.

Martin also tailors his advice to different needs: he suggests specialist insurers like Avanti, Staysure, or AllClear for older travellers or those with medical conditions, and he reminds folks to add on cruise cover if they’re sailing, since standard policies might not cover missed port stops or helicopter evacuations (more on that later).

In short, the pro of “Martin Lewis travel insurance” is that you’re benefiting from trusted, research-backed recommendations. But there are also some negatives.

The Cons

On the flip side, Martin’s approach has some limitations.

For one, there’s no single “Martin Lewis” policy. You’ll still have to pick from various insurers he lists, which can be a bit overwhelming if you were hoping for a one-click solution.

Additionally, his top picks are often “no-frills” options chosen for price, not for stellar customer service.

In fact, the MoneySavingExpert site explicitly notes its cheapest picks are judged on price not feedback, so you might need to do extra homework on an insurer’s reputation.

Another potential con: specialised needs may not be fully met by the cheapest general policies. 

Martin himself has flagged that many standard travel insurance policies exclude adventurous activities or cruises unless you add upgrades.

So, if you’re planning to go bungee jumping in New Zealand or skiing off-piste, the ultra-cheap policy that Martin’s site finds might not automatically cover those. 

You’d have to ensure you add the right cover or choose a pricier policy.

Lastly, because Martin’s advice is broad and aimed at the masses, it may not delve deeply into niche coverage nuances.

For example, adventure travellers or digital nomads might find the recommendations lacking certain extras (like gadget cover or high-altitude trekking cover) that a specialist policy would include.

So yes, the downside is that while Martin Lewis will help you find a good deal, that deal might not include every bell and whistle you personally need. There’s a bit of legwork required to fine-tune your choice.

But what if you’re set on buying a recommended policy from Martin Lewis?

How to Buy a Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Policy?

Alright, so you’ve decided to follow Martin’s advice. How do you actually buy travel insurance using his approach?

Since there’s no single Martin Lewis insurance product, the process usually goes like this:

Do Your Research on MoneySavingExpert (MSE):

Head to MSE’s travel insurance section or articles.

Martin’s team often publishes updated guides (e.g. “Cheap Travel Insurance” or specific guides for over-65s, family policies, etc.).

These guides list insurers and deals that currently offer good value.

For example, you might see recommendations like Coverwise, Admiral, or Staysure with starting prices and what they cover.

MSE also has a Travel Insurance comparison tool.

Use these resources to identify a few policies that fit your needs (consider your destination, trip length, age, and any medical conditions or activities).

Compare and Choose Your Policy:

Don’t just grab the first name on the list.

Martin’s mantra is to compare widely, and I agree. So, take the shortlist from MSE and maybe cross-check on comparison sites.

Ensure the policy you lean toward meets your needs – coverage amount, activities covered, excess level, etc.

If you’re older or have medical issues, use Martin’s tip to try the MoneyHelper medical directory to find specialist insurers.

Basically, shop around smartly, guided by Martin’s pointers.

Purchase Via the Recommended Link or Directly:

Martin Lewis often provides links (sometimes marked with an * for affiliate, which helps keep his site free). You can click through those to buy.

These links take you to the insurer’s site with the promo applied.

Alternatively, once you know the insurer and policy name (say, Coverwise Bronze), you can go directly to that insurer’s website or phone them.

My Pro Tip: Read my Coverwise Travel Insurance Review before you do.

There’s no extra fee for buying through MSE’s referral; in fact, you might get a small discount or bonus.

The key is to double-check all details as you fill in your info. Be honest about pre-existing conditions, declare all the countries you’re visiting, and so on (Martin would insist on full disclosure to avoid invalidating your cover). 

Finally, pay for the policy and boom, you’re insured.

Just remember Martin’s golden rule: get it ASAB – buy that policy as soon as you’ve booked your trip, not at the last minute. That way, your holiday deposit is protected from day one.

How to Manage Your Martin Lewis Travel Insurance?

So, you’ve bought a travel insurance policy following Martin Lewis’s advice – what now? Managing your policy is essentially the same as managing any travel insurance:

Save Your Policy Documents

You’ll receive an email with your policy schedule and wording (or a link to download them).

Save a digital copy on your phone and maybe print a hard copy. Make a note of your policy number and the insurer’s emergency contact number.

Make Any Necessary Updates

If anything changes after purchase, say you develop a new medical condition or you decide to add a risky activity to your plans, inform your insurer.

For example, if you bought a basic policy but later think “Actually, I’m going to try skydiving in Dubai,” you may need to call the insurer and upgrade your cover (an extra premium for a sports add-on).

Failing to update them could mean a claim related to that change gets rejected.

Martin Lewis’s advice often highlights disclosure: always tell your insurer about changes in health or itinerary.

In fact, on a recent TV segment, he emphasised updating your insurer if you have any new medical developments before you travel, to stay covered (it’s the kind of fine-print detail people overlook).

The rule of thumb: when in doubt, ring the insurer’s customer service and ask. They’re there to help adjust your policy as needed.

Manage Via the Insurer’s Portal or Support

Many insurers (especially ones Martin recommends) have online portals where you can log in, view your policy, and make simple changes like address updates or get new copies of documents.

If tech isn’t your thing, good old phone or email works too. Just reach out to the insurer’s support.

Since Martin Lewis pointed you to a Financial Conduct Authority-regulated insurer, you can expect a basic level of customer service. Use it whenever you need reassurance or clarification about your cover.

Got that? Great. Now, let’s see what to do when you must make a claim.

How to Make Claims

Nobody wants to imagine their holiday going pear-shaped, but if you do need to make a claim on your travel insurance, here’s how to handle it calmly and effectively:

Contact Your Insurer ASAP

The moment you realise you might need to claim, inform your insurer’s claims department or emergency assistance line.

For medical emergencies or major incidents abroad, most insurers have a 24/7 helpline – call it as soon as it’s practical (from the hospital if you’re able).

They can often pre-approve treatment or advise you on next steps.

For less urgent claims (like a stolen camera or a trip cancellation), you usually have to notify the insurer within a set time frame (often 30 days of returning home, for example).

Don’t delay. Prompt notification is key.

Other Martin Lewis Travel Insurance Online Reviews

If you’re googling around, you’ll find that plenty of folks online have weighed in on Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice, from bloggers to forum users.

The consensus? Martin’s guidance is generally held in high regard as a starting point for finding good cover, but people also add their two pence based on personal experiences.

Several independent review sites and blogs basically echo Martin’s key points.

They often mention that Martin Lewis emphasises value over rock-bottom price, i.e. the cheapest policy isn’t always the best if it won’t pay out when needed.

This is something I’ve seen reiterated in travel forums: travellers appreciate that Martin highlights things like minimum cover levels and policy features, not just cost.

Additionally, bloggers note Martin’s knack for pointing out gaps in standard policies.

For example, one online guide mentioned how Martin frequently recommends specialist insurers for older travellers or those with pre-existing conditions, naming brands like Avanti, Staysure, AllClear, and Saga that come up often in his discussions.

This aligns with what actual customers say too: if you’re 75 with a heart condition, the crowd wisdom (influenced by Martin) is to skip the generic comparison sites and go straight to these specialist providers who won’t baulk at insuring you.

I’ve also read some cautionary tales in forums: occasional gripes that the super-cheap policies from comparison sites (some of which Martin lists) had high excesses or slow claims handling.

For instance, a few travellers on MoneySavingExpert’s forum shared experiences where an insurer was very inexpensive but made them jump through hoops for a claim.

These aren’t so much criticisms of Martin Lewis as they are reminders that you get what you pay for. In fairness, Martin does alert people that his cheapest picks are no-frills, and he provides options for higher-cover policies if you’re willing to pay a bit more.

Another thing others online point out is Martin’s focus on timely purchase.

Social media is full of folks quoting his ASAB mantra – “get your insurance as soon as you book”.

There’s a sort of collective head-nodding to that advice, often followed by anecdotes of someone’s friend who didn’t do so and then fell ill before the trip, losing thousands.

Martin’s warning stories on TV (like “please don’t be the person who asks me for help when it’s too late”) have clearly struck a chord.

So, broadly speaking, the online travel community respects his advice for its practicality.

My Final Verdict: Martin Lewis Travel Insurance

So, is Martin Lewis travel insurance worth the hype?

Here’s my verdict: Martin Lewis’s travel insurance advice is a fantastic baseline for most travellers.

If you’re a regular holidaymaker looking for a good deal and solid cover, following Martin’s guidance will likely serve you very well.

He’ll help you avoid rip-offs and under-insuring yourself. 

However – and it’s a big “however” – his advice is by nature general. It doesn’t cater specifically to the adrenaline junkies, the off-the-beaten-path explorers, the “I’m going trekking in Nepal and then scuba diving in Bali” crowd.

And that’s where a specialist like me raises an eyebrow and points to alternatives like Rise & Shield.

In my experience, Rise & Shield is better suited for adventure travellers and here’s why: it’s an insurer that was built with adventurous souls in mind.

Remember those gaps I mentioned earlier – activities not covered, limited emergency support? 

Rise & Shield fills them.

This policy covers helicopter rescue for medical emergencies. Yes, if you’re stuck on a mountain at 4,000m with altitude sickness, they can send in the chopper.

It also automatically includes cover for 99 common adventure activities and lets you upgrade to cover over 190 adventure pursuits – basically almost any thrilling activity you can name is covered in some way.

Martin Lewis’s recommended policies, by contrast, often exclude a lot of these or require paying extra per activity. With Rise & Shield, the breadth is built-in or easily added.

Another area is medical coverage.

Martin’s picks typically meet a minimum (like £5m medical cover which is decent), but Rise & Shield goes big on this: their top plan offers up to £6 million for emergency medical expenses and includes things like robust emergency evacuation and repatriation benefits.

Plus, you get a 24/7 emergency assistance team who know how to handle adventure-related incidents – they’ve been there, done that.

This kind of robust medical emergency supportrobust medical emergency benefits is a lifesaver (literally) if you’re in a remote corner of the world.

From my perspective, that level of cover is worth the slightly higher premium for anyone pushing beyond the usual tourist trail.

Now, I’m not saying Rise & Shield is the end-all-be-all for everyone.

If you’re just nipping to Paris for a weekend, a simple policy from Martin’s bargain list might do you just fine. But if you’re like me – someone who lives for adventure travel – then you want an insurer that’s as adventurous as you are.

I’ve seen Rise & Shield step up for customers in ways big-brand cheap insurers might not, whether it’s coordinating a complex multi-country medical evacuation or covering an obscure sport (looking at you, zorbing enthusiasts!).

For adventure travellers, Rise & Shield offers peace of mind that generic policies often can’t match.

So my final verdict: Martin Lewis will get you a good deal, but Rise & Shield will get you a policy that truly has your back in extreme situations.

And when you’re hanging off a cliff (figuratively… hopefully) or stranded in a jungle, that difference matters.

My Final Thoughts

And there you have it: Martin Lewis has done all travellers a favour by making the boring bit of trip planning – insurance – accessible, affordable, and even kinda conversational.

I applaud his advice; I follow it in spirit (and I’ve quoted his “ASAB” rule to countless friends). 

But as someone deeply embedded in the travel insurance industry, I’ll leave you with this: your insurance should match your travel style.

The good news is you have options. Rise & Shield is one I recommend – it’s built for adventure, by people who understand adventure. Now, go forth and explore safely and confidently. Happy travels!