Excess (Insurance)

An excess is the fixed amount you pay towards each insurance claim before your insurer covers the rest.

Also known as

Policy excess, Deductible (US term), Franchise, Self-contribution, Voluntary excess

Why travellers need to know

The excess determines whether small medical bills are worth claiming at all. A policy with a GBP 100 excess means any bill under GBP 100 comes entirely out of your pocket. Higher excesses mean lower premiums but more out-of-pocket for minor incidents. For budget travellers, a higher excess with lower premiums can make sense. For travellers to expensive healthcare countries (US, Switzerland), a low excess is worth the extra premium.

Real-world example

You visit a doctor in Lisbon for a chest infection. The bill is EUR 90. Your travel insurance has a EUR 75 excess per claim. You submit the claim and receive EUR 15 back. For a EUR 50 bill, you'd receive nothing because the entire amount falls within the excess. For a EUR 5,000 hospital bill, you'd pay EUR 75 and the insurer covers EUR 4,925.

Country-specific notes

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

UK travel insurance excesses typically range from £0 to £250 per claim

Budget policies use higher excesses to reduce premiums. Policies aimed at older or higher-risk travellers often charge higher excesses or per-condition excesses. Excess waiver add-ons are available from most insurers.

Calculate the break-even point: if your excess is £150 and you claim £200, the net payout is just £50. For small claims, it may not be worth the premium increase at renewal.

🇫🇷 France

French public hospitals charge foreigners the full published tariff — the excess applies immediately

An excess of €200–500 on a travel policy means paying that amount before the insurer contributes. Using the EHIC/GHIC at a French public hospital removes most costs and may allow you to avoid the excess entirely.

Carry your EHIC/GHIC if eligible — using it for EU treatment is often more efficient than a travel insurance claim for minor hospital visits.

🇦🇺 Australia

Australian public hospitals bill overseas visitors at full cost (AUD 1,000–5,000/day)

The Australia-UK bilateral health agreement covers emergency treatment at public hospitals for UK citizens, but does not eliminate travel policy excesses. Other nationalities must pay in full without their own travel insurance.

Keep your travel insurance emergency number on your phone before arrival — Australian hospitals will ask for insurance confirmation on admission.

Frequently asked questions

Is excess the same as a deductible?

In practice, yes. 'Excess' is the standard term in UK, Australian, and European insurance. 'Deductible' is the equivalent US term. Both mean the amount you pay before your insurer starts covering costs.

Should I choose a higher excess to save on premiums?

It depends on your risk tolerance and destination. A higher excess (GBP 200-500) reduces premiums significantly but means you pay more for every claim. If you're visiting a country with cheap healthcare (Thailand, India), a higher excess makes sense because small bills are affordable anyway. For the US, keep the excess low.

Your Nomedic record stores your policy excess amount alongside your insurance details, so you know instantly whether a small medical bill is worth claiming.