Excess (Insurance)
Also known as: Policy excess, Deductible (US term), Franchise, Self-contribution, Voluntary excess
An excess is the fixed amount you pay towards each insurance claim before your insurer covers the rest.
Last updated: 2 April 2026
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.
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.
Country-specific notes
Typical UK travel insurance excess: GBP 50-150
UK travel insurance policies typically have a GBP 50-150 excess per claim. Some premium policies offer zero excess for medical claims specifically, while maintaining an excess for other claim types (baggage, cancellation).
Tip
Check whether the excess is per claim or per incident. Per-incident means one excess for everything related to a single event. Per-claim can mean separate excesses for medical, baggage, and cancellation from the same incident.
Frequently asked questions
How Nomedic helps
Your Nomedic record stores your policy excess amount alongside your insurance details, so you know instantly whether a small medical bill is worth claiming.
Sources
Your health records, anywhere you go
Your excess and cover limits, always accessible.
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