How this indicative estimate is calculated

This calculator prices each traveller individually by age band and adds them together, then applies destination, trip-length, cover-level and add-on factors to that total. Destination is the biggest driver: UK trips are cheapest, Europe is the baseline, and worldwide cover — especially anywhere including the USA or Canada — costs substantially more because US healthcare costs are so high. Trip length scales the premium roughly in proportion to time away, using two weeks as a reference point. Each traveller's age band factor reflects that older travellers claim more often and at higher average cost, particularly for medical cover, so a party with older travellers costs more even at the same destination and trip length. Cover level moves the price up or down depending on how comprehensive the policy is, and two common add-ons — declaring pre-existing medical conditions and adding winter sports cover — load the whole policy when selected. Because real insurers also price on the exact countries visited, the specific conditions declared, planned activities and extras like baggage or gadget cover, this estimate is deliberately shown with a wide ±40% range either side of the headline number. Treat it as a starting point for budgeting, not a price you'll actually be offered.