Question 1

Do I need to buy health insurance for traveling abroad?

Accepted Answer

It depends. Some countries require travel health insurance, while many do not. However, it is advisable to purchase at least a basic emergency travel medical plan — your health plan at home might not cover you, and embassies and consulates typically do not provide medical assistance.

Question 2

What is the cheapest travel medical insurance plan?

Accepted Answer

We offer a variety of medical plans for traveling abroad at a range of different price points.

If you’re looking for the best value travel insurance plan, a basic emergency medical plan might be right for you. Keep in mind that inexpensive plans sometimes offer basic coverage, and paying a bit more up-front can pay off in the event of a costly medical emergency.

We’ve filtered the best insurance providers that offer affordable plans with good coverage and excellent service. For the most affordable and reliable plans, we recommend:

- Atlas Travel Insurance
- Trawick Travel Insurance

Question 3

What are the different levels of health insurance for traveling abroad?

Accepted Answer

There are various levels of international travel health insurance plans available, ranging from basic emergency health coverage to comprehensive health care and coverage for high-risk activities.

The most basic level of travel health insurance covers emergency medical needs while you’re away from home. If you fall ill or get injured while traveling, this type of policy will usually cover your treatment.
Depending on where you’re going, what you’re doing and how long you’ll be away, you might opt for a plan with a higher maximum. This means that you’ll have more extensive financial protection in the event of a medical event.
You can add specific benefits to your policy like prescription plans, repatriation, emergency evacuation and coverage for pre-existing conditions. Depending on the plan, some of these might already be covered.
You can also add riders for “extreme sports,” which cover activities like paragliding, mountain climbing and ziplining.
Some travel plans include both health coverage and coverage for non-medical expenses, such as trip cancellation, rental car coverage, trip interruption, personal liability, and lost, stolen or delayed baggage.

Question 4

How do I choose a plan?

Accepted Answer

Choosing a plan can be daunting, which is why we’re committed to helping you choose the plan that’s right for you. Here are a few insurance options we recommend:

Among our most popular plans for US citizens is the GeoBlue Voyager Plan, which allows travelers to customize their coverage with different medical maximums and deductibles.
Atlas Travel Insurance is a comprehensive travel medical policy that includes hospitalization and doctor coverage. It also includes coverage for lost luggage. You can customize the policy to include optional coverage for extreme sports.
The Patriot Platinum Insurance provides optional coverage for extra riders, including personal belongings and extreme sports. This is perhaps the best medical policy for traveling abroad because it provides world-class coverage and access to the best service and assistance for traveling outside your home country.

Review our list of the Best Travel Insurance Companies to get a better idea of which provider to choose.

For long-term travelers, expats, or individuals moving abroad for a year or longer, an international medical insurance plan might be a better option. These plans provide more comprehensive medical benefits but lack some of the coverage offered in travel health plans, such as trip interruption.

Question 5

How do I purchase an international travel medical policy?

Accepted Answer

Applying for a travel health plan is easy. Just answer a few questions about yourself and your trip to get an initial quote. You can then adjust the plan by selecting different benefits, coverage amounts, deductibles and optional add-on features to see the total cost of the policy.

Use our Plan Picker to get started!

When you’re satisfied with the quote, you can proceed with the online application and pay using your credit card. You’ll get a confirmation email with your policy documentation and relevant contact details should you need emergency medical assistance on your trip.

Question 6

Do these plans cover my visa requirements?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, they do. The short-term medical insurance plans we offer are designed to meet or exceed the visa requirements of most countries, including the Schengen Zone.

Read More: Insurance for Your Travel Visa

Question 7

Can I buy just travel health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes, definitely. An international travel medical insurance plan will cover emergency medical expenses should you get sick or injured while traveling abroad. However, coverage is often limited to medical costs related to your trip. This option may be worth considering if you bought trip protection through your airline and are not planning to rent accommodation during your trip.

If you feel you may need more extensive travel coverage, you might consider a comprehensive policy that includes both health and trip insurance, or buy a separate trip cancellation plan.

Not sure where to start? Use our Pick a Plan tool.

Question 8

How does international travel medical insurance compare to trip insurance?

Accepted Answer

Travel insurance is a somewhat vague term that encompasses any insurance plan purchased for travel. This can include trip insurance and travel health insurance.

Trip insurance is a short-term solution that covers non-medical costs related to your trip. This could be the cost of your tickets, accommodation, and other travel expenses. This type of policy is usually available only for up to 62 days.
Travel health insurance covers medical costs incurred during a short-term trip (typically up to 1 year). This typically includes doctor visits, hospital stays, medical evacuation, repatriation, and other health-related costs.
Some plans include trip insurance and travel health insurance, meaning both your trip and your medical needs are protected.

If you’re considering longer-term coverage or more comprehensive medical benefits, read these guides to help you see the available options:

Question 9

Which countries require travel medical insurance to enter?

Accepted Answer

You can find this list of countries that still require travel medical insurance as of December 2023.

Notably, most countries that were requiring medical travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage at the height of the pandemic are no longer requiring it. However, it is still highly recommended. (Read our guide for more specific details on the latest travel insurance requirements.)

It is important to double-check all requirements before booking your travel policy.