What Does Long Stay Travel Insurance Cover in 2025?

If you're planning a long-term trip abroad and are getting travel insurance, you're likely wondering what will be covered and what won't so you can know what to expect.

This is a very common question, and understanding what is covered is just as important as understanding what explicitly isn't. Without this knowledge, how can you properly prepare?

We are here to help. In this guide, we will take a look at what long-stay travel insurance covers, as well as what it doesn't, so that you can make the best decision regarding your health.

What does long-stay travel insurance cover?

It depends on the policy. "Travel insurance" is a very broad term, and thousands of different policies exist on the market. What is covered depends on which one you choose, though all travel insurance covers emergency medical costs to some extent.

Other than that "base" coverage, you can be covered for other travel-related risks depending on your plan, which we will cover below.

Long stay emergency medical coverage

At the minimum, travel insurance covers emergency medical costs. When we speak about emergency medical in travel insurance, we are talking about the costs associated with unexpected medical emergencies. Examples of this can be an accident where you break your arm or a sudden illness or infection.

Travel insurance policies can have varying maximums as far as how much coverage they provide (as far as the dollar amount), but this is really the core of travel insurance, whether it's for shorter stays or longer ones.

While emergency medical is covered, routine care is not. Expected treatments also aren't covered. If you get regular treatments such as dialysis, your travel insurance won't provide coverage for this.

The same is true with routine health care, such as a visit to the eye doctor, a dental cleaning, or an annual appointment.

Repatriation/medical evacuation

Along with emergency medical costs, at Insurte, medical evacuation/repatriation (including in the unfortunate event of a death abroad) is included.

Some places you travel to may not have the necessary facilities to treat your ailment, so evacuation to another hospital could be required - this is covered. It's also possible you will need to go back to your home country earlier than intended if you fall seriously ill, which is also part of this coverage.

You can rest easy knowing that the travel insurance company will manage the entire process, tapping into their trusted network to get you the care you need when you need it.

This can also include assistance with pets and assistance with bringing a companion/loved one to be with you during your time of need. It is important to understand that while this is a possibility, it isn't your choice or your loved one's choice as to whether or not a companion is brought over. The decision is up to the insurer and is dependent on the unique situation.

Covid-19 coverage for long-term travel

Most policies offer Covid-19 coverage as part of their package. This is helpful if you have a Covid-19-related emergency in another country.

While Covid-19 is generally covered, that doesn't mean all epidemics are... but they can be, including associated quarantine costs. Mutuaide, for example, covers Covid-19 and all epidemics.

With the ever-changing landscape, it's not a bad idea to make sure the policy you choose guarantees this, especially depending on how long your trip is and where you'll be going.

Keep in mind that while Covid-19 is often covered, it isn't necessarily automatically covered in long-stay travel insurance. The same is true with epidemics, so always read the terms and conditions of your policy carefully, as well as the exclusions, before making your final decision.

Legal assistance abroad

Some long stay travel insurance policies offer legal coverage abroad, including legal fees and advance of bail up to a certain amount. In some cases, legal assistance is also a part of the policy.

Search and rescue abroad

Particularly interesting to anyone planning a ski trip or a long hike overseas, some policies offer coverage for search and rescue costs while abroad.

Keep in mind that travel insurance doesn't cover professional athletes or events. The coverage is designed for the average outdoor enthusiast (though we know that you're so much more than average!).

Assistance for lost or stolen passports

Losing your passport while abroad, or worse, having it stolen, is a big risk that travelers face. Luckily, many travel insurance policies for long-term trips can assist you if this happens.

24/7 expert assistance and guidance

One of the most underrated parts of travel insurance, especially for long-term trips, is 24/7 expert assistance and guidance. All travel insurance policies through Insurte have a guaranteed, 24/7 "lifeline" for travel-related questions while abroad.

Any time, day or night, you can receive accurate and helpful information quickly, the moment you need it.

What doesn't long-stay travel insurance cover?

There's nothing worse than misunderstanding your coverage, especially at the moment you were hoping to use it. That's why it's equally as important to understand what isn't covered.

What isn't covered also depends on the policy. However, some things generally are not covered across the board.

Regardless, always read the terms and conditions so you are fully aware of any and all exclusions.

Does travel insurance cover routine healthcare?

No, travel insurance is specifically for emergency medical costs while overseas.

Can I use travel insurance in my home country?

Not always, though there can be some cases where you are. You'll need to check the terms and conditions of the policy that you select.

How much travel insurance coverage do I need?

The amount of coverage you need for a long trip abroad depends on a few different things.

When you start your research, think about where you are going and what you would like to be covered. For example, if you're going to be skiing or hiking, search and rescue coverage could be a huge asset for you.

This is also true for countries. While it's possible to get worldwide coverage, many policies only cover specific countries or regions.

Regardless of what guarantees you'd like to have and which countries you're planning to travel to, it's important to make sure your travel insurance covers you for the entire duration of your time abroad.

Last, but certainly not least, if you're taking out a long-stay travel insurance policy due to a requirement (such as for a visa, university, or job), make sure that the plan you choose meets all of the minimum requirements provided to you. In this case, there may be minimum coverage amounts you need to make sure you have.

FAQs: Long stay travel insurance coverage