Europe Travel Insurance: Plans & Prices
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Reviewed By Last updated: 01/14/2026
Key Takeaways
- U.S. health insurance is not accepted in Europe, but you can purchase travel medical insurance to cover unexpected medical expenses while away from home
- Europe is full of tourist-friendly destinations; however, medical emergencies, theft, delays, and other travel disruptions can occur without a moment’s notice
- A travel medical insurance policy for Europe vacations costs just $5 per day on average
- Try our online travel insurance comparison tool to get quotes from multiple providers at once. For personal assistance, call our award-winning agents at 1-800-240-0369
Our Top Recommended Europe Travel Insurance Plans
- Tin Leg – Gold because it offers among the strongest medical and evacuation coverage of any comprehensive plan on Squaremouth.
- Travel Insured International – FlexiPAX because it provides well-rounded trip protection and provides multiple ways for customers to enhance and customize their coverage.
- IMG – iTravelInsured Choice because it offers generous pre-existing condition coverage.
Do I Need Travel Insurance for Europe?
Travel insurance is not an entry requirement for Americans visiting Europe. However, the U.S. Department of State and European government agencies strongly recommend that travelers purchase trip protection before their departure date.
Since U.S. health insurance is not accepted in Europe, you may face substantial medical costs if you get sick or injured while overseas. The right policy can save you from costly hospital bills, doctor visits, and evacuation expenses.
Europe is a diverse continent that poses a wide range of unique challenges and risks. This includes petty theft and pickpocketing in popular tourist cities like Rome, to raging wildfires in Greece. We recommend purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance plan that protects you financially if your trip takes an unexpected turn for the worse.
Schengen Visa Requirements for European Travel
A Schengen visa is an official travel document that allows non-Europeans to visit the Schengen Area, a group of European nations that have agreed to abolish border controls between one another.
Among the 29 countries that make up the Schengen Area are notable travel destinations like Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for tourists who need to obtain a Schengen visa, and your policy must meet specific criteria to ensure you’re adequately protected during your stay in the Schengen Area.
- Minimum Coverage: The travel insurance plan must provide a minimum of €30,000 (approximately $32,000) in medical coverage.
- Covered Scenarios: It should cover emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, emergency evacuations, and repatriation (returning you to your home country) for medical reasons or death.
- Coverage Period: The policy’s coverage period should last for the duration of your stay in the Schengen Zone.
- Validity: The insurance must be valid in all Schengen countries, regardless of your specific travel destination(s).
Reasons You May Need Travel Insurance for Europe
High Travel Costs
European travel is becoming increasingly more expensive. For example, Squaremouth data indicates that the average traveler visiting Italy is spending 20% more on their trips compared to just five years ago. If an unexpected event forces you to cancel your trip, you may lose all of your prepaid travel expenses, like flights, hotels, rental cars, and excursions.
✅ Trip Cancellation insurance can reimburse up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you’re forced to cancel your trip for a covered reason, such as an illness, injury, family emergency, or natural disaster.
Expensive Medical Costs
European nations like Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands have among the best healthcare facilities in the world. However, private hospitals can be expensive and sometimes require upfront payment to provide care.
✅ Travel medical insurance is designed to cover you in the event you get sick or injured during your trip, covering essential hospital bills, doctor visits, prescription medications, and evacuation services.
Pickpocketing & Theft
If you’re visiting major tourist cities like Rome, Paris, Barcelona, or London, it’s important to be aware of pickpockets, theft, and scams. Petty criminals throughout Europe will often target tourists’ wallets, phones, purses, passports, and backpacks.
✅ Baggage Loss protection is included in most travel insurance plans and can reimburse you for personal belongings that are lost, damaged, or stolen during your trip. All providers on Squaremouth offer 24/7 Emergency Assistance that can also help you replace important travel documents.
Natural Disasters & Extreme Weather
Europe experiences a variety of natural disasters throughout the year, including floods, storms, extreme temperatures, wildfires, droughts, and earthquakes. These extreme weather events can lead to cancellations, delays, or mandatory evacuations.
✅ Comprehensive travel insurance covers cancellations and trip interruptions relating to natural disasters. Some policies also include non-medical evacuation coverage to get you to a point of safety if a natural disaster occurs at your destination.
Flight Delays & Missed Connections
According to Generali, 7 of the 10 worst airports in the world for flight delays are found in Europe. If your journey involves multiple legs or you are traveling on a strict timeline, even a short delay can likely have significant consequences.
✅ Travel Delay coverage is designed to reimburse you for meal and accommodation expenses if your flight is significantly delayed. Missed Connection is another popular benefit that can cover the cost to make new travel arrangements if a delay forces you to miss your connecting flight.
Adventure Sports & Activities
Whether you’re skiing in the Swiss Alps or sailing the Greek Islands, there’s no end to the adventures waiting for you across Europe. However, participating in adventurous activities while traveling significantly increases the risk of injuring yourself away from home.
✅ Many coverage periodtravel insurance providers offer policies specifically designed to cover medical emergencies that occur while participating in select high-risk activities, as well as coverage for any sports equipment you choose to bring on your trip.
More Details on the Best Travel Insurance for Europe
Recommended Plan: Gold
Emergency Medical: $500,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Covers more than 250 unique adventure sports & activities
Recommended Plan: FlexiPAX
Emergency Medical: $100,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Allows travelers to customize coverage with add-ons like CFAR, Rental Car Damage Protection, and policy upgrades
Recommended Plan: iTravelInsured Choice
Emergency Medical: $100,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Includes $100,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage, which is among the highest offered on Squaremouth
How Much Does Europe Travel Insurance Cost?
Americans visiting Europe typically spend $21 per day on travel insurance.
According to Squaremouth travel insurance sales data from the last 12 months, the average cost of Europe travel insurance is $328, with an average trip length of 16 days.
Comprehensive travel insurance generally costs 4-10% of your insured travel expenses. Other factors like age and trip length also impact travel insurance premiums. Squaremouth customers traveling to Europe spend $30 per day on comprehensive coverage. *
Travel medical insurance is another, more affordable, travel insurance option available to European travelers. This type of coverage is more affordable than comprehensive coverage because it does not cover trip costs. You can expect to pay $5 per day for European travel medical insurance.
What Travel Coverage Do You Need for Europe?
Regardless of whether you’re visiting one European country or multiple, purchasing travel insurance should be a part of your trip planning process. Even a low-cost travel medical insurance plan can provide valuable peace of mind and financial protection while away from home.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Traveling to Europe involves a lot of prepaid expenses like airfare, hotels, rental cars, and tours. Travel insurance can reimburse any non-refundable expenses you lose as a result of an unexpected trip cancellation or interruption.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption are popular benefits included in comprehensive plans that protect your trip costs if your travel plans change for reasons outside of your control. This includes unforeseen illness, injuries, and family emergencies.
Travel Medical Coverage
Since U.S. health insurance is not accepted across Europe, purchasing a travel insurance plan with strong Emergency Medical coverage is crucial. With this protection, you will be reimbursed for unexpected medical costs, ranging from ambulance rides to hospital bills.
While most medical claims work on a reimbursement basis, some providers can pay for medical expenses upfront if required to begin treatment. When traveling to Europe, we recommend plans with at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage.
Baggage Insurance
While Europe is generally safe, pickpocketing and theft are common issues in major tourist hotspots. Travel insurance can reimburse you for lost, stolen, or damaged items such as passports, phones, cameras, and luggage.
Since coverage limits and deductibles vary between policies, be sure to compare plans carefully. Leaving valuable or irreplaceable items at home is always a good precaution when traveling.
Trip Delay Insurance
According to a recent study by KAYAK, flight delays are more likely to impact international travelers than those traveling within the United States. Oftentimes, delays can result in unexpected expenses such as food purchases and overnight accommodations.
Travel insurance can protect against these disruptions through Travel Delay coverage, which reimburses customers who incur unforeseen expenses as a result of a flight delay. Most plans require a minimum delay period of 3-6 hours before you are eligible for coverage.
What Isn’t Covered by Europe Travel Insurance Plans?
Most standard Europe travel insurance policies will not cover:
- Known events: If a major weather event or airline strike is publicly announced before you buy your policy, coverage may not apply.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Unless you purchase a waiver, most policies exclude medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions.
- Adventure sports: Activities like surfing in Portugal or cycling in France require a plan that includes adventure sports coverage.
- Government travel advisories: While unlikely, if the U.S. issues a travel ban at your destination, most standard travel insurance plans will not cover related disruptions.
Tips for Finding the Best Travel Insurance for Europe
Use a Comparison tool
As the nation’s largest travel insurance marketplace, we allow travelers to compare more policies and providers than any other site. Comparing plans side-by-side ensures you find the best coverage for your Europe trip at the lowest price.
Read the fine print and policy exclusions
Coverage varies between travel insurance plans, so always review the details carefully. Look for exclusions that might impact your trip, such as restrictions on adventure sports or pre-existing medical conditions. Reading the Certificate of Insurance will help you understand exactly what’s covered.
Consider your specific travel risks when buying coverage
Europe presents a wide range of travel risks, including medical emergencies, pickpocketing, and transportation strikes. Additionally, your destination may experience occasional extreme weather that could derail your trip or cancel it altogether.
Your age, health, planned activities, and time of travel all influence your risk level. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time will help you choose the right policy for your trip.
Determine how much coverage you need
When purchasing Europe travel insurance, we recommend at least $50,000 in medical coverage and $100,000 in evacuation coverage to avoid out-of-pocket medical expenses while away from home.
Some private hospitals in Europe may require foreign travelers to pay upfront for medical care. Some travel insurance providers offer direct payment to hospitals, preventing high out-of-pocket expenses.
Is Travel Insurance Worth It for Europe?
Yes, even if you’re traveling to a world-famous European destination that’s considered safe, unexpected events can happen. For as little as $5 per day, you can gain valuable peace of mind throughout your trip.
For a relatively small fee, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can protect you against the most common travel disruptions, including cancellations and medical emergencies. To find the best value plan, we recommend comparing policies from multiple providers.
Europe Travel Insurance FAQs
How Do I Get a Europe Travel Insurance Quote?
The best way to get a travel insurance quote for a European vacation is to use a comparison site like Squaremouth. Doing so will allow you to receive quotes from multiple insurers at one time, making it easy to compare coverage, premiums, and reviews. Head to our quote page to easily find coverage for your upcoming adventure.
Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for Europe?
No, travel insurance is not often mandatory to visit Europe. However, entry requirements vary by country and are subject to change at any time. Before departing for your trip, be sure to check the entry requirements of your specific destination.
Will My U.S. Health Insurance Work in Europe?
No, U.S. health insurance, such as Medicare and private health insurance, is not accepted in Europe. Traveling without any type of medical coverage will leave you exposed to sizable out-of-pocket expenses if you get sick or injured while traveling.
Do I Need a Visa or Passport to Travel to Europe?
A passport is required to visit Europe. A visa may be required if you are taking an extended trip, typically more than 90 days. Visit your destination’s embassy or consulate website to determine specific visa requirements before you depart for your trip.
Does Europe Require COVID-19 Insurance?
No, COVID-19 insurance requirements are no longer in effect across Europe. This applies to short and long-term trips.