An Expert’s Guide to Travel Medical Insurance in 2025

Traveling abroad is exciting and rewarding, but it also has risks – especially when it comes to your health.

Having travel medical insurance ensures you are covered in case of any medical emergencies while you're overseas. In some cases, it’s even mandatory for traveling (depending on where you’re going).

Whether you're traveling for a vacation, work, or studying, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about international travel medical insurance.

What is travel medical insurance?

Travel medical insurance is a specialized insurance plan designed to cover emergency medical expenses while you are outside your home country.

This coverage is essential because your domestic health insurance may not work abroad, leaving you financially vulnerable if you experience an injury or illness while overseas. With travel medical insurance, you can receive emergency medical care and avoid hefty medical bills that could ruin your trip.

Travel medical insurance can cover a range of services, such as:

• Emergency medical costs
• Hospital stays
• Medical evacuations
• Repatriation

On the other hand, there are a few things that travel medical insurance does not cover, such as:

• Preventative care (annual exams, physicals, etc.)
• Routine care (teeth cleanings, eye exams, etc.)
• Daily/weekly/monthly treatments (dialysis, etc.)
• Pre-existing conditions
• Any regular/expected treatments

Why do you need travel medical insurance?

When traveling abroad, accidents and illnesses can happen when you least expect them.

Without foreign travel medical insurance, you might find yourself in a situation where you cannot afford medical care. Healthcare systems vary significantly from country to country, which means costs also vary. The price you’d pay in your home country might be vastly different than the price you’ll be expected to cover in another.

Moreover, some countries, including those in the Schengen area in Europe, require proof of travel medical insurance as part of the visa process. This ensures that visitors have the means to cover emergencies during their stay.

Travel medical insurance is mandatory for travelers applying for a Schengen visa.

Key details to understand about travel medical insurance policies

• Coverage limits: Different policies offer varying levels of coverage. You can choose plans that provide higher coverage limits if you're worried about high emergency medical costs or medical evacuations.
• Comprehensive coverage: The least comprehensive travel insurance policies cover emergency medical costs, but it’s possible to get policies with additional coverage too. Other types of coverage can be lost/delayed bags, loss of papers (such as your passport), legal assistance, COVID-19 coverage, and more – all depending on the policy.
• Emergency medical evacuation: In cases where local healthcare services cannot adequately treat your condition, some policies offer evacuation services to the nearest suitable hospital or even back home if necessary. As a note, coverage for emergency medical evacuation is a requirement when purchasing medical travel insurance for Schengen visa applications.
• Repatriation of remains: While a scenario that nobody likes to think about, In the unfortunate event of death, many policies cover the cost of transporting remains back to your home country. This coverage, for example, is a requirement when applying for a Schengen visa.
• Pre-existing conditions: Pre-existing conditions are not covered, so it’s important to understand what qualifies as a pre-existing condition and what doesn’t.
• Trip duration: It’s important to secure coverage for the entire duration of your entire trip overseas so you’re protected from start to finish. In some cases, such as when applying for a Schengen visa, this is a requirement.
• Validity: Travel insurance starts when you leave your home country. It is not valid unless you are abroad.

Types of travel medical insurance

1. Single-trip Insurance

Single-trip insurance offers coverage for the specific duration of your trip. Each time you plan a new trip, you’ll need to take out a new single-trip insurance policy.

This is a great option for infrequent travelers as you can pick and choose a new policy for each trip, should you like.

2. Multi-trip Insurance

If you're a frequent traveler, a multi-trip plan might be a better option. This type of travel medical insurance covers you for multiple trips within a specific period (noted by your policy).

Multi-trip insurance ensures you’re covered for the entire period of validity, no matter when or where you go (as long as it’s in the countries covered by your specific policy. Keep in mind that your policy may have a maximum duration per trip).

3. Schengen visa insurance

If you're traveling to the Schengen area (a group of 29 European countries) and need to apply for a visa, you’ll need Schengen visa travel medical insurance. This insurance must meet specific requirements, such as coverage of at least €30,000 for medical expenses, including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. It must also be valid in every country in the Schengen area and for the entire duration of your stay.

4. Annual travel insurance

Another excellent option for frequent travelers is annual travel insurance. Annual travel insurance comes at a yearly price and covers you for the entire year (just make sure to check whether or not your policy has maximum trip durations, as well as which countries are covered). You will also have the choice to have your policy renew automatically each year (until you choose to terminate it).

This option works well for frequent travelers who plan to travel continuously for the next year or two or more. It gives you the convenience of choosing a policy once where you can simply set it and forget it.

Travel medical insurance for popular travel destinations

1. Travel medical insurance for the USA

While the quality of care is superb, the healthcare system in the United States is the most expensive in the world. As a foreign traveler, if you get sick or injured without proper travel medical insurance, you could face overwhelming medical bills in the States.

Therefore, travel medical insurance for the USA is highly recommended for anyone visiting the country. Many plans offer high coverage limits to ensure you are adequately protected in case of an emergency.

2. Travel medical insurance for Europe

Europe offers a range of healthcare services depending on which country you’re visiting, but the cost and accessibility of these services can vary greatly. Many travelers to Europe, especially those visiting the Schengen area, are required to have travel medical insurance for Europe. This ensures that in case of severe illness or accident, you have the necessary coverage to receive medical attention without the stress of unexpected costs.

It’s always best to check the relevant embassy for any travel notices and requirements during the planning process of your trip.

3. Travel medical insurance for Schengen visas

If you require a visa to visit any of the Schengen countries (like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), you must provide proof of Schengen visa travel medical insurance when applying for your visa. The policy must cover a minimum of €30,000 for medical expenses and must include hospitalization and repatriation in case of severe illness or death. It also has to be valid for the entire length of your stay in the zone and for every Schengen country, whether you're traveling throughout the zone or not. This requirement is non-negotiable for obtaining a Schengen visa, making it crucial for travelers headed to Europe.

How to buy Schengen travel medical insurance

Purchasing travel medical insurance for international trips can be done easily and entirely online.

With Insurte, you can compare prices and coverage online to find a policy that fits your needs in a matter of minutes.

It’s as easy as a few steps:

• Fill out a form with a few details about your trip.
• Receive a quote instantly and compare policies.
• Purchase the policy that’s best for you.
• Receive your digital insurance certificate by email immediately!

With Insurte, in the event of visa rejection, you can request a full refund.

Travel medical insurance costs

The cost of travel medical insurance depends on several factors, including:

• The length of the trip
• Your destination
• Coverage limits
• Deductibles or no-deductibles (also known as excess or no-excess)
• How many travelers need coverage (is it just you or a spouse too?)
• How many days you need to be covered

Typically, the cost can range from a few dollars per day for basic coverage to higher premiums for comprehensive policies covering a wider range of potential travel risks.

Final Thoughts: The peace of mind of travel medical insurance

Travel medical insurance is not something to skip when planning your next international adventure.

The right policy can save you from financial heartache in case of a medical emergency and provide you with peace of mind while traveling. Whether you're visiting the US, the Schengen area, or any other part of the world, having the appropriate coverage before you leave home is essential.

Key takeaways for travel medical insurance

• Travel medical insurance is essential to cover unexpected medical emergency costs abroad.
• Different types of policies cater to various travel needs, such as single-trip, multi-trip, annual, and Schengen visa insurance.
• Some countries, like those in the Schengen area, require travel medical insurance for visa approval.
• Make sure your insurance covers emergency medical evacuations, and repatriation, and offers adequate coverage for your destination's healthcare costs.
• Always check for exclusions in the policy, such as extreme sports or pre-existing conditions.
• Purchasing travel medical insurance online is easy with Insurte. You’ll receive your digital certificate immediately upon payment.
• The cost of travel medical insurance varies depending on trip length, destination, how many travelers need coverage, how comprehensive you want your coverage to be, and whether or not you want deductibles (excess), etc.