The Defaqto 5-Star Travel Insurance Comparison Checklist
When comparing “5-Star” policies for cancer or other serious conditions, don’t just look at the stars. Use this checklist to ensure the policy actually works for your specific health needs.
1. The “Big Three” Limits
A 5-star rating usually guarantees high limits, but verify these specific numbers for 2026:
Medical Expenses: Is it at least £10 million? (Essential for US/Caribbean travel).
Cancellation Cover: Does it cover the full cost of your trip? (Standard 5-star is £5k, but some like Saga Plus go up to £20k).
Repatriation: Does it include a 24/7 medical emergency helpline and air ambulance back to the UK?
Compare Your Travel Insurance for any age
This type of insurance is tailored for those who do not frequently travel but seek peace of mind for that one-off holiday or business trip. The cover typically encompasses a range of potential issues, from trip cancellations and medical emergencies to lost luggage and flight delays. Opting for Single Trip insurance means you're purchasing a bespoke safety net for the duration of your travels, ensuring that unforeseen events don't turn your one-off trip into a financial burden.
- Example Quote* - £32.36 (Single Trip)
> GET A QUOTE FROM COMPARE YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
- Link not working? try this
Travel Supermarket Comparison
Travelsupermarket insurance will give you a broad view of the whole of the travel insurance options for your longer stay trip.
Compare 120 holiday insurance policies from over 50 travel insurance providers including SAGA, Staysure and Allclear.
- Policies tailored to you
- Cover from just £6.00
> GET A QUOTE FROM TRAVEL SUPERMARKET
- Link not working? try this
Staysure Travel Insurance for ANY AGE
5 Star reviews on Trustpilot than any other travel insurance provider.
Covering you for one trip to any worldwide destination, with no upper age limit
100% of claims are progressed to the decision stage within 2 days of receiving all documents
- 99% of global destinations covered
- Example Quote* - £55.00
> GET A QUOTE FROM STAYSURE INSURANCE
- Link not working? try this
Avanti Insurance for the Over 65s
Single Trip Travel Insurance covers anyone up to the age of 120! Cancellation cover starts as soon as you take out the policy and ends when you’re back home again. Ideal if you are planning on a long stay in the winter sun of Spain or Portugal, or further afield like Mexico or Thailand.
- Example Quote* - £29.00
> GET A QUOTE FROM AVANTI INSURANCE
- Link not working? try this
Good to Go for the over 80s
Goodtogoinsurance.com provides travel insurance cover to travellers of any age, with or without pre-existing medical conditions. They can also cover your travelling companions on the same policy.
- Pre existing conditons such as Cancer, Heart Conditions, Diabetes, Stroke, Epilepsy and many more
- Single trip and annual travel insurance with no age limit
- Three levels of travel insurance cover available and No AGE LIMITS!
- Example Quote* - £67.34 (Silver Policy)
> GET A QUOTE FROM GOOD TO GO INSURANCE
- Link not working? try this
Globelink Insurance for seniors up to 89
Single trip policies are available for up to 89 year olds, Over 50 pre-existing medical conditions covered for free
24/7 medical emergency helpline - we’re there if you need us
- Example Quote* - £40.99
> GET A QUOTE FROM GLOBELINK
- Link not working? try this
Columbus Insurance up to the age of 85
Columbus offer a range of flexible single-trip policies from just £2.69 and annual policies from £22(1) covering both Europe and Worldwide destinations. All policies include cover for over 150 sports and activities. For those with a more adventurous streak, many more daring activities can be covered for a small extra premium.
- Example Quote* - £12.69
> GET A QUOTE FROM COLUMBUS INSURANCE
- Link not working? try this
Quick Comparison: Top 5-Star Medical Policies
Core Criteria for a 5-Star Rating
To achieve 5 stars, Defaqto generally requires policies to meet “Core Criteria.” If a policy has a £20 million medical limit but lacks essential “missed departure” cover, it likely won’t get 5 stars.
Common features in a 5-star rated policy include:
-
Medical Expenses: Usually £10m–£15m+ (to cover air ambulance/repatriation).
-
Cancellation Cover: Typically £3,000–£5,000 per person.
-
Baggage: £2,000–£3,000 limit.
-
Emergency Help: 24/7 UK-based medical assistance lines.
-
Specific Extras: Often includes “Enforced Stay” or “Trip Disruption” as standard.
A Note on “The Small Print”
While Defaqto rates the features, it does not rate customer service or claims handling speed. To get the full picture, it is often wise to cross-reference a Defaqto 5-star rating with a high Trustpilot score to ensure the company actually pays out when needed.