Coverwise Travel Insurance Review: My Month-Long Backpacking Experience 

Looking for an honest, quick Coverwise travel insurance review? 

A few months ago I went on a one-month backpacking trip through China, and I want to share my honest review of Coverwise travel insurance’s standard policy, which I purchased for that adventure.

I’ll walk you through what Coverwise is, what the standard policy includes, how the buying and claims process works, and where it shines or doesn’t.

As a frequent traveller and adventure junkie, I’ll also note a few areas where I found Coverwise can perform better.

Ready? Let’s roll.

What Is Coverwise Travel Insurance?

Coverwise is a UK-based travel insurance provider known for its low prices and high coverage limits. 

They act as an intermediary for policies underwritten by AXA, one of the world’s largest insurers.

In plain terms, you buy the policy from Coverwise, but big-name AXA is the one backing it, which gave me some peace of mind that there’s a global network if things go wrong.

My Pro Tip: Curious about AXA? I wrote an in-depth AXA travel insurance review. Check it out.

I opted for Coverwise’s “Standard” single-trip policy, their most basic tier out of seven (they offer Standard, Standard Plus, Bronze, Silver, Silver Plus, Gold, Platinum).

Even as the entry-level cover, I was pleasantly surprised by how much it included:

• Trip cancellation and curtailment, 
• 24/7 emergency medical assistance, 
• up to £20 million in emergency medical cover, 
• personal liability, 
• baggage cover, 
• legal expenses, 
• and travel delay/disruption cover.

Those are pretty robust benefits for a budget policy. For context, £20 million medical cover is among the highest in the market and more than enough for any hospital bills abroad.

It’s the kind of generous medical limit you usually see on pricier plans, so having that as standard was reassuring, especially since I was headed to remote parts of China where a serious injury could mean costly evacuations.

Another standout feature: Coverwise includes cover for 100+ sports and activities as standard. This is not as much as what Rise & Shield offers, but it's pretty solid.

For example, I did some hiking in China and knew I’d be covered (Coverwise covers hiking up to 3,000m altitude in the standard policy).

I didn’t end up doing anything extreme enough to test the limits, but knowing activities like scuba diving, cycling, kayaking, and even bungee jumping were covered by default gave me extra confidence.

By comparison, many insurers either exclude these or make you pay for an adventure sports add-on. Coverwise’s approach here is great value for adrenaline-seekers on a budget.

That said, note that truly extreme activities (think high-altitude mountaineering above 3,000m or unguided off-piste skiing) are not covered unless you upgrade to their specialist policies like winter sports. 

Again, this is pretty normal for mainstream travel insurance. Let’s continue my Coverwise travel insurance review by looking at how it compares to the wider market.

How Does Coverwise Compare to the Wider Market? 

In terms of coverage, I’d say it punches above its weight for the price.

You’re getting benefits (like that £20 million medical cover and broad sports cover) that some mid-range or premium policies offer, but at a budget price.

The company has been around since 2010 and is regulated out of Gibraltar/UK. They pride themselves on good customer service and “traditional values” (their words).

In fact, Coverwise has excellent customer ratings on review sites: an average 4.7/5 on Trustpilot from tens of thousands of reviews.

Many travellers praise its competitive rates and value for money, often noting it was the cheapest option for the cover provided.

This tracks with my experience: I found Coverwise via a price comparison site, where it consistently came up as one of the least expensive options for the coverage levels I wanted.

So, at first glance, Coverwise’s standard policy looked almost “too good for the price”. It was comprehensive on paper, yet very affordable.

Of course, an insurance policy only truly proves its worth when you actually need to use it.

Before I talk about how it was to buy and manage a policy, and what I learned about the claims process (even though I never had to make a claim, thankfully), let's look at some pros and cons of using Coverwsie travel insurance.

Pros and Cons of Coverwise Travel Insurance

Here’s what you need to know before you buy a Coverwise policy.

Pros

• Super Affordable: Consistently one of the cheapest travel insurance options for the coverage provided. Ideal for budget travellers and backpackers who want solid cover without paying a fortune.
• Very High Medical Coverage: £20 million emergency medical expenses limit on standard policies. This includes hospital bills, repatriation, and 24/7 emergency assistance via AXA, giving you a strong safety net abroad.
• Backed by a Reputable Insurer: Underwritten by AXA, a global insurance giant. You benefit from AXA’s worldwide assistance infrastructure (useful if you need support or evacuation from abroad) and its experience in handling large volumes of travel policies.

It's not all sunshine and roses. Here are some disadvantages of Coverwise travel insurance:

Cons

• Claims Process Can Be Difficult: Numerous reviews report slow or frustrating claims handling, with lengthy delays, repeated paperwork requests, and strict interpretations of policy terms. Claims are managed by AXA via an online portal, which can feel impersonal. Some customers feel valid claims get denied on technicalities, leading to dissatisfaction.
• Strict Documentation Requirements: In the event of a claim, expect to provide extensive proof. For example, a missed flight due to illness required a doctor’s note which can be impractical to get last-minute. Failing to meet the exact requirements (or not declaring every past medical detail) may result in non-payment.
• Not Ideal for Extreme Adventures: Standard policy excludes very high-risk activities. For instance, no cover for trekking above 3,000m altitude, mountaineering, or off-piste skiing without a guide. If your trip involves extreme sports or expeditions, you’d need to find a specialist insurer like Rise & Shield. Coverwise isn’t designed for the far extremes of adventure.
• Limited to UK/EU Residents: This is a big one. You can only purchase Coverwise if you’re resident of the UK or certain European countries. It’s unavailable to travellers from many other countries. (In comparison, some providers, like Rise & Shield, offer policies regardless of residency, which is handy for expats or nomads.)
• Claims Helpline Hours: The dedicated claims phone line (if not using the online portal) operates only during UK business hours. In a global travel context, this might not be convenient if you need to speak to someone immediately about a new claim out of hours. (Emergency medical assistance is 24/7, but claim filing isn’t 24/7 by phone.)
• Website and Communication Issues: The Coverwise website, while functional, is a bit dated and not always easy to navigate. Some users reported difficulty reading certain pages or finding info. Additionally, a few complained about confusing communication during claims (e.g., correspondence with spelling mistakes or hard-to-understand explanations), which can add to the frustration when you’re already stressed over a claim.

As you can see, the pros are significant, mainly cost and coverage, but the cons largely revolve around how claims are handled and some coverage limitations for edge-case scenarios.

It’s a trade-off many are willing to make for the savings, but it’s important to go in with eyes open.

So, what if you still want to buy a Coverwasie travel insurance policy? Let’s continue my Coverwise review and look at how you’ll do that.

Buying and Managing My Coverwise Policy

Purchasing my Coverwise policy was straightforward and entirely online.

I actually used a comparison website to get quotes, saw Coverwise at the top with a great price, and clicked through to their website.

The online form was easy to fill out, inputting my trip details (one month in Asia, worldwide cover excluding USA), my personal info, and declaring any pre-existing medical conditions.

They advertise that they can cover a wide range of pre-existing conditions (like asthma, diabetes, etc.), often without a huge premium hike, which is a big plus if you have health issues. 

In fact, some reviewers specifically praised Coverwise for offering cheap coverage for older travellers and those with medical conditions who often struggle to find affordable insurance elsewhere.

Within minutes of payment, I received an email with my policy documents, including the Insurance Policy Document (a ~40-page PDF with all the fine print) and a handy Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) that summarised the key cover limits.

I printed out the certificate to carry with me (Chinese immigration never asked, but some countries want proof of insurance).

Coverwise also has a Members Area on their site where you can log in to retrieve documents or make certain requests. I tried it out of curiosity.

It’s pretty basic in design (their website UI does feel a bit 2000s-era), but it worked.

There’s even a feature where you can quickly do things like resend your documents or correct traveller details online without having to call. Not bad!

Coverwise and Emergencies

Thankfully, I never needed emergency assistance during my trip, but I did take note of the 24/7 medical assistance hotline Coverwise provided.

It’s operated by AXA Assistance, with worldwide offices, so in theory, help would be available wherever I went. I kept the number in my phone, just in case.

Managing Your Coverwise Policy

Managing the policy was minimal effort.

I didn’t have to make any changes, but if I did, Coverwise’s customer service was a quick phone call or email away. 

Many other customers have noted that Coverwise’s staff are helpful and explain things clearly.

tl&dr:

Overall, buying and setting up my Coverwise cover was quick and painless. For a backpacker juggling a million trip prep details, that ease is appreciated.

Next, let’s talk about something I fortunately didn’t have to do: filing a claim.

I’ll share what the process would have been and what others have experienced when making claims with Coverwise.

How to File a Claim with Coverwise (and What Reviews Say)

Even though I never made a claim on my policy (the trip went smoothly – knock on wood!), I made a point to research Coverwise’s claims process and read up on other travellers’ experiences.

After all, an insurance policy is only as good as its payout when you need it. This is an area where I noticed some important things to consider.

Filing a Claim

Filing a claim with Coverwise is done through AXA’s systems.

Specifically, Coverwise directs you to use the AXA online claims portal for most travel insurance claims.

You create an account, submit your claim details and documents, and you can track status updates there.

The upside of an online portal is convenience. There’s no waiting on hold, and you get notified whenever there’s progress on your claim.

If you prefer phone or have an issue with the website, you can call AXA’s travel claims line during business hours (UK number provided).

Essentially, Coverwise themselves don’t handle the claim in-house; it’s handled by AXA’s claims team. This isn’t unusual for an insurer of this type, but it’s good to know who you’ll actually be dealing with.

Claims Feedback

So, how smooth is the claims experience? It depends who you ask. I’ve seen a mix of feedback:

Some travellers report hassle-free claims – for example, one forum user mentioned they “submitted a claim through [Coverwise/AXA] – all went fine”.

These tend to be folks who had straightforward cases with proper documentation, and they were pleased with the quick resolution.

However, a number of others had a rougher time. 

A common complaint in negative reviews is that claims get rejected on technicalities or “unfair grounds.”

For instance, one person fell ill en route to the airport and missed their flight, but Coverwise/AXA refused the claim because he hadn’t obtained a doctor’s note at 3 am; something he pointed out was unrealistic (who goes to A&E for a stomach bug in the middle of the night?).

Others mention AXA, citing undisclosed pre-existing conditions as a reason to deny claims, even in cases where the medical issue wasn’t previously known.

One reviewer dealing with a mental health-related cancellation said Coverwise wrongly labelled it pre-existing despite evidence to the contrary, and delayed the case beyond the 8-week complaint window, forcing an ombudsman involvement. That’s pretty concerning.

But wait. It gets’ worse.

Slow Processing

Another theme is slow and arduous processing.

Quite a few customers describe having to submit and re-submit documents, long periods of silence, and needing to chase up for updates.

In an aggregated review analysis, it was noted that responses on claims sometimes took weeks or even months, and the correspondence could be difficult and drawn-out.

I even read that no one was singing Coverwise’s praises about the claims process itself i.e., even some people who eventually got paid weren’t thrilled with how painful the process felt.

The Reality Check

Now, keep in mind, dissatisfied voices tend to be louder in reviews.

Coverwise has a 94% positive rating on Trustpilot, and many of those people never had to claim (they’re rating the purchase and value).

The negatives (maybe ~3% of reviews) often come from claims experiences.

This is common across insurance companies: when claims go smoothly, people rarely shout from the rooftops; but if something goes wrong, you definitely hear about it.

What concerned me in Coverwise’s case was the pattern of complaints about technical loopholes.

Some reviewers felt that because the policies are so cheap, the insurer (AXA) tries extra hard to avoid paying out by invoking fine print.

One harsh comment that stuck with me was: “They are cheap but don’t be fooled to think you are covered – they don’t pay out”. Ouch.

How Was My Experience with Coverwise Travel Insurance?

Since I never claimed, I can’t personally vouch for either side.

What I take from all this is: if you buy Coverwise, read your policy carefully and understand the requirements.

If you have any kind of medical history in the past couple years, declare it upfront (even if it was something minor like a one-off GP visit).

If you need to claim, be prepared to provide thorough documentation, doctor reports, receipts, proof of travel disruption, you name it. 

And be patient but persistent with the AXA claims handlers. The coverage is legit (AXA can and does pay valid claims), but you need to follow their process to the letter.

On a related note, this is an area where I’ll admit I see Rise & Shield doing things differently. 

Rise & Shield promises a more hassle-free claims process with a more personal touch on support. 

Speed and responsiveness matter when you’re stressed with a hospital bill or a stolen backpack on the road. It’s one reason I’m inclined to lean towards specialist insurers now.

Now, after weighing all that and having used Coverwise for my China trip, here’s my personal verdict in this Coverwise travel insurance review.

My Final Verdict

Overall, my experience with Coverwise’s standard policy was positive for what I needed.

For a month of backpacking in China, it gave me comprehensive coverage on paper, and I travelled with peace of mind.

I didn’t have to test the policy with a claim (and I’ll be honest, not having to make a claim is the best outcome with any insurance!).

From the standpoint of cost vs. benefit, Coverwise delivered fantastic value.

I can see why so many travellers, especially from the UK, use it for their holidays and short adventures.

Would I use Coverwise again? Possibly: but with some reservations.

If I were doing a similar short trip that isn’t too extreme, and I wanted to save money, Coverwise would be on my list.

However, knowing what I do now, I’m also more aware of the potential headaches if something did go wrong.

The tales of drawn-out claims and technical gotchas worry me a bit.

As someone who frequently travels to offbeat places and pushes the adventure envelope, I’m willing to pay a bit more for an insurer that I feel will 100% have my back when the chips are down.

You’ve probably picked up that I have a connection with Rise & Shield (after all, I’m writing on their blog!). And it’s true: I’m a huge fan of what they offer.

Rise & Shield is an adventure travel insurer that prides itself on top-notch claim support, higher-risk coverages, and flexibility for people like me who wander.

I acknowledge my bias, but it’s based on genuine belief: if I had an accident while trekking in the Himalayas or needed a quick evacuation, I trust that R&S’s 24/7 emergency line and hassle-free claims process would make life easier in that critical moment.

They also cover many things by default that others don’t, for example, 150+ adventure activities (versus Coverwise’s 100) and options for trekking up to 6,500m and other extreme add-ons that cater to serious adventurers.

For someone like me, that’s a big deal.

So, while Coverwise absolutely offers a great product for the average trip, I’d personally choose Rise & Shield for my next big adventure. In fact, I likely will for my future travels. 

It comes down to this: I’d rather spend a bit more upfront to ensure smoother support if I have to make a claim, and to have cover tailored to the crazy stuff I get up to (hello, skydiving and mountain climbs!).

Rise & Shield ticks those boxes for me in a way Coverwise (and many traditional insurers) don’t.

Coverwise Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

Got some more burning questions before I conclude my Coverwise travel insurance review? Here are the answers:

Who underwrites Coverwise travel insurance and why does that matter?

Coverwise policies are underwritten by AXA Insurance, one of the world’s largest insurers.

That means while you buy your cover from Coverwise, AXA’s global medical-assistance network handles emergencies and any claims you file, giving you big-brand backing at a budget price.

Does Coverwise cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Yes, many stable pre-existing conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma, controlled heart issues) can be declared and, in most cases, covered for a small extra premium.

When you complete the medical screening, answer every question honestly, failing to declare something can invalidate a later claim.

How do I make a claim with Coverwise if something goes wrong?

Claims are submitted online via the AXA Travel Insurance claims portal. Create an account, upload your documents (receipts, medical reports, police reports, etc.), and track progress there.

For urgent medical situations, call the 24/7 AXA Assistance helpline first – the number is on your policy certificate.

What sports and activities are included as standard?

Over 100 activities, from trekking (up to 3,000m) and kayaking to bungee jumping and scuba diving (down to 18m), are automatically covered on standard policies.

More hazardous pursuits (high-altitude trekking, off-piste skiing, technical climbing) require a specialist winter-sports or adventure add-on, or a different insurer.

How long can my trip be, and can I extend cover while I’m away?

Single-trip Coverwise policies run up to 90 days. You can’t extend a policy once travel has started, so if you’re planning a longer backpacking stint you’ll need a provider offering long-stay or backpacker insurance.

Does Coverwise provide COVID-19 protection?

Yes. If you, a travelling companion, or someone you’re due to stay with tests positive and you have to cancel or cut short your trip, you’re covered for cancellation/curtailment (with a doctor’s note).

Emergency medical costs abroad for COVID-19 are also covered. Government travel bans or quarantine-on-arrival rules, however, are not.

My Final Thoughts

And there you have it: This concludes my Coverwise travel insurance review. Coverwise is a strong contender, and my month in China with their policy was worry-free.

Just be diligent with understanding the policy terms and keep your documentation in order, should you need to claim.

But if you know you’ll be engaging in more adventurous activities or you simply want that extra assurance of responsive claim support, consider going with a specialist like Rise & Shield.

Disclaimer: The above review is based on my personal experience and research up to 2025. Always read the latest policy documents and reviews before choosing an insurance provider.