Best UK Travel Insurance Plans for Hongkongers 2025

Kathy Kwok
Written By:
Kathy Kwok
| Updated September 12, 2025
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Best UK Travel Insurance Plans for Hongkongers 2025

The UK offers an amazing mix of history and culture, from the famous chime of Big Ben to the delicious food at Borough Market. But medical care in the UK is very expensive for tourists. That's why getting a comprehensive travel insurance is a must for a worry-free trip. We've compared top travel insurance plans—looking at premiums, coverage, and things to watch out for—to help you pick the best one for your vacation.

TLDR? Here’s the Summary!

  • Medical Costs: The UK's NHS is not free for tourists, and medical care is expensive. Visitors are charged 150% of the standard cost for treatment.

  • Trip Disruptions: Train delays, service interruptions, and strikes are common. Look for policies that cover delays caused by industrial action, mechanical issues, and bad weather.

  • Common Issues: Petty crime in crowded areas can lead to loss of passports,phones, or personal belongings. Flight and luggage delays are also frequent at major airports like Heathrow.

  • Essential Coverage: Prioritize travel insurance plans with robust coverage for medical costs, trip cancellations, and lost baggage or documents. For those with active plans, consider add-ons for adventure sports.

  • Support: Choosing an insurance plan with multilingual 24/7 assistance (specifically Cantonese or English) can be critical in an emergency.

Why Travel Insurance is a Must for UK Trips for Hong Kong Visitors

1. Expensive medical costs for visitors

Medical bills in the UK can be very expensive for non-residents. An unexpected injury or illness could result in a bill of thousands of pounds. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is not free for tourists. Visitors are charged 150% of the standard cost for any medical services they receive.

2. Get ready for transport delays

Public transport in the UK can be unpredictable. Train delays and service interruptions on the London Underground are common. Heavy snow, bad weather, strikes at airports and on public transport can also cause major delays and cancellations, leading to losses on non-refundable bookings.

3. Common mishaps Hongkongers have faced

  • Losing a passport or phone to petty crime in crowded tourist spots or on the Tube.

  • Lost luggage at major airports like Heathrow.

  • Flight delays caused by technical issues at air traffic control.

What to Look for in UK Travel Insurance (for Hongkongers)

1. Medical & Hospitalisation Coverage

A basic private doctor's visit in London starts from £95 (~HK$1,000), and a hospital stay can cost over £586 (~HK$6,167) a day. These costs can add up quickly if you get sick or have an accident.

2. Trip Cancellations & Delays

With frequent transport strikes and technical failures, a plan with strong trip cancellation benefits is vital. Look for policies that specifically cover delays caused by industrial action, mechanical issues, and bad weather. 

Some plans even offer "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage, which can give you a partial refund even for typically non-covered reasons. Currently only FWD and Allianz offer such coverage. Check out Allianz Travel Insurance Gold Plan for its Cancel for Any Unforeseen Reason travel protection.

3. Lost Baggage or Travel Documents

With the risk of losing personal property, you'll need a policy with good coverage for valuables. Many Hong Kong insurers offer specific limits for lost or stolen baggage and travel documents. If you're bringing electronic devices, check for high coverage limits on things like phones and laptops. Travel insurance on MoneySmart offers up to HK$ 25,000 coverage on Loss/Damage of Baggage.

4. Adventure Sports Add-ons

If you plan on doing outdoor activities like hiking or skiing, make sure that your policy covers adventure sports. Some Hong Kong insurers include coverage for a wide range of non-professional amateur sports as part of their standard plans, such as hiking, skiing, diving, marathon and more.

5. Multilingual 24/7 Assistance

In a high-stress emergency situation, clear communication is critical. Support hotlines that offer Cantonese or English service are invaluable in high-stress moments — especially when contacting clinics or local police. Some insurers also offers 24/7 emergency assistance.

Top 5 UK Travel Insurance Plans for Hong Kong Travellers

Here’s a breakdown of policies popular with HK residents travelling to UK in 2025:

Travel Insurance Plan

Medical Coverage

Trip Cancellation

Personal Baggage

Premium (14-day trip)*

Unique Features

STARR Companies TraveLead Supreme Plan

HK$1,500,000

HK$50,000

HK$20,000

HK$324.35

Rental Vehicle Excess up to HK$5,000

Allianz Travel - Gold Plan (Single Trip)

HK$2,000,000

HK$40,000

HK$25,000

HK$395.4

"Cancel for Any Reason" of up to 75% of costs for non-covered reasons

Blue Cross TravelSafe Plus - Global Gold Plan (Single-plan Cover)

HK$750,000

HK$15,000

HK$10,000

HK$362.4

Cover medical expenses of Chinese medical treatment, physiotherapy treatment and chiropractic treatment within 90 days after returning to Hong Kong as a follow-up treatment

AXA SmartTraveller Plus Premier Plan

HK$500,000

HK$25,000

HK$8,000

HK$331.5

Covers for non-professional sports activities 

Dah Sing Insurance JourneySure Travel Insurance - Diamond

HK$1,000,000

HK$50,000

HK$20,000

HK$381.5

Zero excess for all coverage

*The discounted rates are applicable only to bookings made via MoneySmart.

👉 All prices shown are for individual travellers aged 30 departing from Hong Kong to the UK for 14 days. 

🛫 Need Help Choosing the Right Plan for your UK trip?

MoneySmart helps you compare UK travel insurance for Hongkongers in minutes. Whether you’re prepping for a ski trip in Scotland or a quick getaway trip, we’ll help you find:

  • The best prices in HKD

  • Plans with Cantonese/English-speaking support

  • Providers with good reputation for claims payout

  • Options for frequent flyers and family travellers

👉 Compare UK Travel Insurance Plans Now


Final Tips Before You Buy

  • Buy early — Buying a policy early covers potential financial losses from unforeseen events that might prevent travel, such as a sudden illness. If you buy insurance after the event is known (such as heavy snow, typhoon, or illness), related coverage might be excluded from the policy benefits. Therefore, it is best to purchase travel insurance as soon as you book the trip to prevent such a situation.

  • Keep hotline numbers handy — some insurance companies such as AXA and MSIG allow WhatsApp support on specific coverage.

FAQ

Is travel insurance mandatory for the UK?

No, it is not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended. Without it, a traveler is personally responsible for all costs if something goes wrong with their trip, including expensive medical bills.

Can I use the UK's NHS with a visitor visa?

No, tourists from Hong Kong do not have free access to the NHS. Visitors are charged for any medical treatment they receive at a rate of 150% of the cost.

Can I buy insurance after arriving in the UK?

Most travel insurance policies from Hong Kong providers are considered invalid if purchased after you have departed from Hong Kong. It is essential to buy the policy before passing through Hong Kong immigration.

Which plans cover skiing or adventure activities?

Look for those explicitly mentioning “winter sports” or “high-risk sports.” Starr and Allianz both provide covers non-professional amateur sports. 

Are COVID-19 quarantine costs still covered in 2025?

Some plans offer infectious disease coverage, especially during peak cold/flu seasons. If you feel unwell during your trip, get treatment at the destination and make sure you receive a signed medical certificate with the diagnosis and retain all prescriptions, medical records, and receipts. These will be used as supporting documents to support your medical claims.

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Kathy Kwok
Written By:Kathy KwokOrganic Marketing Specialist
Kathy有超過2年內容策劃經驗,熱愛閱讀金融書籍及撰寫理財文章,熟悉香港人的理財需要,致力將貸款、投資同保險等複雜個人理財概念化繁為簡,幫大家掌握理財竅門。