Question 1

What is Travel Medical Insurance?

Accepted Answer

Travel medical insurance is a type of insurance designed to cover emergency medical expenses and other healthcare-related costs incurred while traveling outside of one’s home country. It provides coverage for unforeseen medical emergencies such as illness or injury that may occur during your trip.

Question 2

What Benefits Does the Best Travel Medical Insurance Include?

Accepted Answer

When planning any type of getaway, there’s always the risk that you may need medical attention while traveling. This is the second most common traveler concern, only trailing Trip Cancellation.

Given that most health insurance providers don’t offer international coverage, a travel medical plan is often needed to help pay for overseas hospital bills, ambulance rides, and other treatment-related expenses.

When looking for a well-rounded travel medical insurance policy, it’s important to consider the following benefits:

Emergency Medical: With medical coverage, travelers may be reimbursed for costs related to treatment overseas, such as hospital bills, x-rays, ambulance services, and lab costs. We recommend having at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage for most international trips, but more coverage may be necessary depending on your destination and itinerary.
Medical Evacuation: In the event of a true medical emergency, a doctor may order a traveler to be transported to another medical facility or return home to receive treatment. Emergency Medical Evacuation insurance can cover these transportation costs, which can easily rise to tens of thousands of dollars. For most international destinations, we recommend travelers carry $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage, and up to $250,000 for cruisers or travelers going to a remote destination
Pre-Existing Condition Coverage: Pre-Existing Condition coverage can cover illnesses or other medical conditions that were diagnosed or treated before a trip, as long as they are stable at the time of purchase. While this coverage is not needed for most travelers, it is a helpful benefit to have for those that want coverage from an existing issue. Policies with this coverage will include a look back period, generally between 60 and 180 days, which outlines how far an insurance provider will “look back” to determine if a claim is related to a pre-existing condition.
Medical Coverage for Covid-19: While Covid-19 restrictions have decreased in recent times, there is still the possibility that you may contract the coronavirus during your trip. Having a policy that covers Covid-19 treatment can save thousands of dollars in the event you require medical assistance or need to be quarantined. While many policies currently extend their medical coverage to accommodate Covid-19 infections, not every policy will offer protection. Further information can be found in a policy’s details.

Question 3

Is Travel Medical Health Insurance Ever Required?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in certain situations, travel medical health insurance may be required or strongly recommended. For example, some countries or tour operators may require you to obtain travel medical insurance prior to your trip. While this is not very common, we advice to research the entry requirements of your destination before you depart.

Even if it’s not explicitly required, having travel medical insurance is highly recommended for all international travelers to protect against unexpected medical expenses and emergencies that may arise during the trip.

Question 4

How Much Travel Medical Insurance Do I Need?

Accepted Answer

The amount of travel health insurance you need depends heavily on the type of trip you are taking. It’s important to consider your travel itinerary when comparing plans, and that you take into account the various activities you might be doing while traveling.

For most travelers taking international trips, Squaremouth recommends a travel medical insurance policy with at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. Plans that meet this criteria should offer enough coverage for most medical bills you face during a trip.

However, for cruisers or travelers with more adventurous itineraries that include potentially dangerous activities or that take you to remote regions, far from hospitals and treatment facilities, you’ll likely want a travel insurance plan that offers more protection. For such trips, we recommend a plan that features $100,000 in Emergency Medical and $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage at the very least.

Question 5

How Much Does Travel Medical Insurance Cost?

Accepted Answer

The average travel medical insurance policy costs $89. However, this cost can vary based on several factors, including your trip length, age, destination, and the level of coverage you choose.

Travelers who want fully comprehensive coverage, including cancellation benefits in addition to medical coverage and other travel benefits, can expect their policies to be considerably more expensive. The average comprehensive policy costs travelers roughly $330.

Question 6

What is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Travel Health Insurance?

Accepted Answer

When comparing travel health insurance policies, you will notice that providers label their Emergency Medical benefit as either “Primary” or “Secondary.” This refers to the order in which a medical claim is paid. For Primary travel health insurance plans, the travel insurance provider will be the first in line to reimburse the claim. On the other hand, Secondary coverage will pay a claim after a traveler has filed with their primary health insurance provider.

It’s important to note that primary travel medical insurance doesn’t necessarily mean better coverage. While primary claims typically settle faster, travelers who opt for secondary Emergency Medical coverage are usually just as satisfied with the level of service and protection. To learn more, read our detailed explanation of the differences between primary and secondary travel insurance.

Question 7

What Is Excluded From Travel Health Insurance?

Accepted Answer

Travel medical policies are designed to provide financial coverage to travelers impacted by an unforeseen medical emergency. However, this does not mean that all injuries and illnesses sustained while traveling will be covered by your insurance provider. Common exclusions include:

Pre-Existing Conditions:: The majority of travel insurance policies will not cover medical bills relating to illnesses or injuries sustained before the trips departure date. However, if a traveler is concerned about a pre-existing medical condition impact their trip, they may be able to purchase the Pre-Existing Condition policy upgrade which would remove this exclusion from their policy.
Pregnancies: While pregnancy complications may be covered under some travel health insurance plans, most policies will exclude coverage for normal pregnancy activity. This includes childbirth and routine checkups.
Elective Surgeries: Travelers that plan on undergoing an elective surgery at any point during their trip will likely not be covered by their travel medical insurance plan.
Sport Related Injuries: Unless otherwise stated, most standard travel health insurance policies won’t cover travelers if they get hurt participating in organized sports or hazardous activities. With that said, some providers have policies specifically designed for travelers with more adventurous or active itineraries.

Best Travel Medical Insurance in 2024

Best Travel Medical Insurance Providers in 2024