Why do you need travel insurance?
Many travellers assume the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or its replacement, the GHIC, is sufficient for travelling in Europe. In reality, these cards only cover public healthcare in EU/EEA countries under the same conditions as local residents meaning long waits, public facilities (not always of the highest quality), and no coverage for many critical situations.
The EHIC/GHIC does not cover:
- Medical repatriation an air ambulance can cost €10,000€50,000 depending on the destination
- Trip cancellation non-refundable flights, hotels, and excursions you've already paid for
- Lost or stolen luggage airline compensation is often inadequate
- Personal liability if you accidentally cause damage or injury to others
- Sports and adventure activities skiing, diving, mountain trekking
- Private healthcare facilities in many countries, the only decent option
- Travel outside the EU the EHIC is not valid outside Europe
The traveller's paradox
An average European trip costs between €500 and €2,000 per person. A comprehensive travel insurance policy costs between €20 and €60. Yet a single uninsured incident can cost thousands:
| Incident | Cost without insurance |
|---|---|
| Hospital admission (USA) | €5,000 €50,000/day |
| Air ambulance repatriation | €10,000 €50,000 |
| Last-minute trip cancellation | €500 €5,000 |
| Lost luggage contents | €500 €2,000 |
| Skiing fracture (treatment + rescue) | €3,000 €15,000 |
| Emergency dental work abroad | €500 €3,000 |
The math is clear: €30 of prevention versus potentially tens of thousands in uninsured costs.
What does travel insurance cover?
Essential coverage
Every good travel insurance policy includes at least these fundamental protections:
| Coverage | What it includes | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Hospitalisation, consultations, medication, emergency surgery | €100,000 €1,000,000 |
| Medical repatriation | Emergency air transport back to your home country | Included / unlimited |
| Trip cancellation | Reimbursement of prepaid travel costs if you must cancel | €1,000 €10,000 |
| Luggage | Compensation for loss, theft, or damage | €500 €3,000 |
| Personal liability | Coverage for accidental damage or injury to third parties | €50,000 €500,000 |
Optional coverage
Depending on the policy and premium:
- ** Extreme sports and adventure**: skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving, skydiving, rafting, bungee jumping, rock climbing. Always verify the specific activity is explicitly listed in the policy
- ** Electronics**: coverage for smartphone, laptop, tablet, camera particularly valuable for digital nomads and photography enthusiasts
- ** Flight delay**: reimbursement of extra expenses for delays over 6-12 hours (meals, hotel, essential purchases)
- ** Trip interruption**: coverage if you need to return home early due to family emergency, illness, or serious event
- ** Legal protection**: legal assistance and coverage for legal expenses during travel
- ** Rental car**: coverage for rental vehicle damage (excess reduction)
- ** Pregnancy**: some policies cover complications up to a certain gestational week
How to choose the best travel insurance
1. Consider your destination
Your destination is the single most important factor:
Europe (EU/EEA)
The EHIC covers basic public healthcare, but insurance is still strongly recommended for repatriation, cancellation, and luggage. Medical coverage of €100,000€300,000 is typically sufficient for Europe.
United States and Canada
Medical costs in the USA are among the highest in the world. A simple fracture can cost ,000,000. An emergency room visit alone starts at ,000,000 just for admission. For the USA, choose at least €500,000 in medical coverage, ideally €1,000,000. Also verify that ER visits and ambulance transport are included these are often the most expensive elements.
Asia, Africa, South America
Verify that the policy includes:
- Coverage for tropical diseases (dengue, malaria, typhoid)
- Medical evacuation to adequate facilities (in some regions, local hospitals may be insufficient)
- Long-distance repatriation
- Coverage in remote areas where helicopter evacuation may be needed
Adventure destinations
For active trips (trekking in Nepal, diving in the Maldives, safari in Tanzania), ensure the specific activities are covered and that the policy includes helicopter rescue and altitude sickness if relevant.
2. Trip duration
- Single trip (1-30 days): the most economical choice for occasional holidays. Typical cost: €20€60
- Annual multi-trip: better value if you travel more than 2-3 times per year. Covers all trips within a calendar year, usually with a per-trip duration limit (30-90 days). Typical cost: €80€200/year
- Long-stay (30+ days): for work abroad, study, or digital nomadism. Monthly subscription policies like SafetyWing are ideal. Typical cost: €35€50/month
3. Activities planned
If you'll be doing sports or adventure activities, it's critical to verify they're explicitly covered. Many basic policies exclude:
- Skiing and snowboarding (especially off-piste)
- Scuba diving beyond a certain depth (usually 30m)
- Rock climbing and mountaineering
- Skydiving and aerial sports
- Motorcross and quad biking
- Surfing in certain conditions
Warning: if you engage in an uncovered activity and get injured, the insurance will not pay medical expenses, even if you have an active policy. Always read the exclusions carefully.
4. Family travel
Many policies offer family plans covering 2 adults + minor children at a lower price than individual policies. Compare the family plan cost with the sum of individual policies to see which is better value.
Also check:
- Maximum age of covered children (usually up to 18 or 25)
- Whether infants are included automatically or need separate coverage
- Whether children's activities (adventure parks, ski lessons) are covered
5. Pre-existing conditions
Most policies exclude pre-existing medical conditions unless you specifically declare them and pay a supplement. If you have chronic conditions (diabetes, asthma, heart problems, epilepsy), look for policies that offer pre-existing condition cover it's worth the extra premium.
What to check before buying
Excess (deductible)
Some policies include an excess (typically €50€200) on each claim. This means the first expenses come out of your pocket. Policies with zero excess cost more but provide complete coverage from the first euro.
Coverage limits
Not all limits are equal:
- Per event: maximum per single incident
- Per trip: maximum for the entire trip
- Per year: annual maximum (for multi-trip policies)
Exclusions
Always read the exclusions section carefully. The most common:
- Activities under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Undeclared extreme sports
- War zones and acts of terrorism
- Pandemics (check if COVID-19 is covered)
- Pregnancy beyond a certain week
- Travel against government advisory (FCO/FCDO warnings)
- Self-inflicted injuries
- Claims arising from illegal activities
24/7 assistance
Verify the insurer offers a 24-hour operations centre reachable from any country. The best providers offer multilingual assistance. In an emergency at 3 AM in Bangkok, you need someone who answers immediately and speaks your language.
How to make a claim: step-by-step
If something goes wrong during your trip, follow these steps for a smooth claims process:
1. Contact the insurer immediately
Call the operations centre within 24-48 hours of the incident. Many policies require timely notification as a condition for reimbursement. Have your policy number ready.
2. Document everything
Gather all possible evidence:
- Medical expenses: hospital reports, prescriptions, pharmacy receipts, doctor's notes
- Theft or lost luggage: local police report (essential!), a list of missing items with estimated values, airline loss report (PIR Property Irregularity Report)
- Trip cancellation: medical certificate (if health-related), flight cancellation confirmation, documentation of the event that caused the cancellation
3. Fill in the claim form
Each insurer has its own form. The best providers (like Heymondo) allow you to do everything via their app much faster than paper forms.
4. Submit documentation
Send everything via email, the insurer's online portal, or their app. Keep copies of everything you submit.
5. Wait for assessment
Timeframes vary:
- Minor medical expenses: 1-2 weeks
- Complex claims: 2-4 weeks
- Trip cancellation: 2-6 weeks
6. Appeal if rejected
If your claim is rejected, you have the right to appeal. Request a detailed explanation of the rejection and provide any additional evidence. If the insurer remains unreasonable, you can escalate to the financial ombudsman in the insurer's home country.
Best travel insurance 2026
For a complete ranking with prices, pros, and cons of each policy, read our dedicated guide to the best travel insurance 2026.
You can also compare options in real time with our insurance comparator to find the ideal coverage at the right price.
FAQ
Is travel insurance mandatory?
In most European countries, no. However, some countries require proof of health insurance for visa applications (e.g., Schengen visa, Russia, Cuba, many Asian countries). Even without a legal requirement, it's strongly recommended.
Does travel insurance cover multiple countries in one trip?
Yes. All major policies cover travel in worldwide destinations (with some limitations for high-risk countries). If you visit multiple countries on a single trip, you're covered throughout.
Can I buy travel insurance after booking my trip?
Yes, most policies can be purchased at any time before departure. However, for cancellation coverage, many policies require purchase within a few days of booking your trip. Medical and other coverage can typically be bought right up to departure day.
What happens if I get ill after returning home?
Most policies cover the medical consequences of an incident that occurred during travel for a limited period after return (usually 30-90 days). If you contracted an infection abroad that manifests after returning home, you may still be covered.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?
It depends on the policy. Post-pandemic, many insurers added specific COVID-19 coverage, but not all. Always verify in the policy terms. Look for coverage of: medical treatment, quarantine accommodation, and trip cancellation/interruption due to COVID.
Conclusion
Travel insurance is a small investment relative to the risks it covers. For a European trip, a good policy costs less than a restaurant dinner but can save you from catastrophic expenses in case of an unexpected event.
Don't travel unprotected. Compare options with our insurance comparator and choose the policy that best fits your needs and budget.