Israel Travel Insurance: Plans & Prices
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Reviewed By Last updated: 10/13/2025
Key Takeaways
- Due to the ongoing conflict, many travel insurance companies do not currently cover trips to Israel
- When coverage is available, our analysis shows that the best travel insurance policies for Israel are offered by Tin Leg, Travel Insured International, and Seven Corners
- U.S. health insurance is not accepted in Israel, so travelers should purchase a policy that includes international travel medical coverage
- Travel insurance plans are relatively affordable for Israel, with medical-only plans costing less than $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 Israel Travel Insurance Plans
- Tin Leg – Gold because it offers strong international medical and cancellation coverage.
- Travel Insured International – FlexiPAX, , as it covers up to $100,000 in travel expenses per traveler, making it ideal for luxury or long trips.
- Seven Corners – Trip Protection Choicebecause it offers the strongest medical coverage of any comprehensive plan on Squaremouth.
Do I Need Travel Insurance for Israel?
Travel insurance is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Israel in 2025. Still, it is highly recommended due to ongoing conflicts, terrorism, and civil unrest in the region that can disrupt your itinerary or require emergency assistance.
U.S. health insurance is not accepted in Israel, leaving you financially responsible for medical expenses if you travel without the proper protection. Due to unique health risks and high medical costs in Israel, travel insurance is a wise investment for anyone traveling to the region.
Reasons You May Need Travel Insurance for Israel
Security Concerns and Regional Instability
Certain areas in Israel, such as regions near the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese border, are subject to travel advisories due to potential security risks. The U.S. Department of State currently issues Level 3 and Level 4 warnings to these regions due to terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict.
✅ Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption insurance can reimburse non-refundable expenses if you’re forced to cancel all or part of your trip due to civil unrest or terrorism at your destination. Some plans also include Non-medical Emergency Evacuation coverage to cover costs to transport you to a place of safety during an emergency.
Medical Emergencies and Upfront Healthcare Costs
While Israel boasts high-quality medical facilities, U.S. health insurance, such as Medicare, is not accepted. Private hospitals can also be expensive, with some requiring upfront payment before administering treatment.
✅ Travel health insurance covers hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance services, and emergency prescriptions, ensuring necessary care without unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. Some travel insurance providers can also arrange upfront payment for medical services on your behalf.
Travel Delays and/or Disruptions
Flights to and from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), Israel’s major airport, can experience significant delays and cancellations due to various factors, including security alerts or regional tensions.
✅ Travel Delay coverage can reimburse you for meals, accommodation, and local transportation expenses incurred due to significant delays and missed connections.
Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism Risks
Many travelers visit Israel for religious pilgrimages, often involving extended visits, organized tours, and lots of planning. Unexpected events, such as illness or political unrest, can disrupt these plans, forcing travelers to cancel their trips.
✅ Comprehensive travel insurance can protect up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, including organized tours and accommodations, if you’re forced to cancel your trip due to a covered reason.
Adventure Activities and Outdoor Excursions
Israel offers various outdoor activities, including hiking in the Negev Desert, rappelling, kayaking, trekking, and exploring famous archaeological sites. These activities carry inherent risks that are not always covered by standard insurance policies.
✅ Purchasing an adventure sports travel insurance policy can ensure coverage for medical expenses and evacuations incurred while participating in high-risk activities.
More Details on the Best Travel Insurance for Israel
Recommended Plan: Gold
Emergency Medical: $500,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Covers a wide range of adventure sports & activities
Recommended Plan: FlexiPAX
Emergency Medical: $100,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Great for add-ons and coverage upgrades
Recommended Plan: Trip Protection Choice
Emergency Medical: $500,000
Medical Evacuation: $1,000,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Includes covers for non-medical evacuations
How Much Does Israel Travel Insurance Cost?
According to Squaremouth data, comprehensive travel insurance for Israel costs $14 per day on average.
This is based on Squaremouth policy sales over the past 12 months, with an average premium of $255 and an average trip length of 18 days.
Travelers not concerned about protecting their travel expenses can opt for a travel medical insurance, a more affordable type of travel insurance that does not provide cancellation coverage. A Medical-only plan costs $4 per day, based on an $84 average premium for a 19-day average trip length.
What Travel Coverage Do You Need for Israel?
No trip to Israel is risk-free. Whether walking through the ancient streets of Jerusalem, hiking the cliffs of Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, or joining a religious pilgrimage, travel insurance for Israel can protect you from a wide range of unexpected disruptions.
Here’s what to look for when choosing the right plan:
Travel Health Insurance Coverage
From dehydration during summer heat waves to more serious injuries or illnesses, unexpected medical needs can quickly derail your trip. While Israel has excellent hospitals and medical facilities, U.S. health insurance is not accepted.
If you’re visiting Israel, we recommend policies that offer at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage. Frequent travelers, older adults, or those with chronic conditions should consider $250,000 or more.
Medical Evacuation Coverage and Non-Medical Evacuation Coverage
While Israel’s cities are well-equipped, travelers venturing into the Negev Desert, Golan Heights, or near border regions may not have access to immediate care. Medical evacuations may be necessary in a serious emergency.
Due to the expensive nature of emergency transportation services, we recommend at least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. Given the potential dangers of visiting Israel, we also recommend plans that provide reimbursement for non-medical emergency evacuations.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
Pilgrimages, multi-day guided tours, and packaged excursions are often booked and paid for well in advance. However, illness, travel advisory updates, or flight cancellations can cause major itinerary disruptions.
Opt for a policy that provides 100% Trip Cancellation reimbursement and 125%–150% Trip Interruption coverage to recover non-refundable expenses like flights, hotel stays, and prepaid tours. Be sure that the coverage limits for these cancellation benefits are high enough to cover all of your trip costs.
Travel Delay and Missed Connection Coverage
Due to regional security concerns, weather, or airline delays, travelers flying into Israel may experience unexpected schedule changes. Airports like Ben Gurion may enforce enhanced screenings or temporarily suspend flights, which can also impact your flight itinerary.
Most travel insurance policies include travel delay and missed connection coverage. We recommend plans with a low minimum delay period between 3-6 hours, so that you’re more likely to be covered in the event of an itinerary change.
Baggage and Personal Item Protection
Lost or delayed baggage is not uncommon, particularly when flying through major hubs like Frankfurt, Istanbul, or Paris en route to Israel. In addition, personal items can be stolen in crowded places like markets, religious sites, or public transportation.
Look for a plan that includes Baggage Loss and Baggage Delay coverage, and check benefit limits if you’re carrying valuable electronics, medications, or religious items.
What Isn’t Covered by Israel Travel Insurance Plans?
Even the most comprehensive travel insurance plans have limitations. Understanding your policy exclusions can help you when it’s time to file a claim.
Travel insurance exclusions often vary by plan. However, most travel insurance plans do not cover the following events, expenses, or scenarios:
- Travel to High-Risk or Advisory Areas: Some regions of Israel currently have a Level 4 travel advisory. Travel to these regions is often not covered by travel insurance unless stated otherwise.
- Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Without a Waiver: Flare-ups of an existing health issue, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, are often excluded unless your policy includes a pre-existing condition waiver and you meet all the related requirements.
- Adventure or Outdoor Injuries Without Coverage: Injuries that occur while participating in a high-risk activity are typically not covered unless your policy offers specific adventure-related travel insurance benefits.
- Alcohol or Drug-Related Incidents: Disruptions resulting from substance abuse, including alcohol, are typically not covered by insurance.
- Non-Covered Cancellation Reasons: Changing your mind, feeling uneasy about a news headline, or canceling due to personal stress isn’t covered under standard cancellation policies.
Tips for Getting the Best Travel Insurance for Israel
Choosing the right travel insurance plan isn’t just about finding the cheapest policy; it’s about selecting coverage that matches your unique itinerary travel needs.
Here’s how to find a plan that offers the most peace of mind:
Use a Comparison Tool
Comparison sites like Squaremouth allow you to easily compare quotes from multiple travel insurance companies at once, saving you both time and money. Many of these sites make it easy to sort results by price, popularity, and provider reputation. Travelers can also apply filters to find plans that offer specific benefits and coverage limits.
Read the Fine Print
Travel insurance is not all-encompassing. Carefully review a policy’s Certificate of Insurance (COI) to see exclusions related to civil unrest, pre-existing conditions, or travel to high-risk regions like Gaza or the West Bank.
Match Your Plan to Your Itinerary
A walking tour of Jerusalem carries different risks than a desert hike in the Negev or a visit to the Golan Heights. Whether your itinerary includes border areas, remote archaeological sites, or outdoor excursions, you’ll want to make sure your policy provides coverage for all aspects of your adventure.
Consider Add-Ons for Adventure and Pilgrimage Activities
While Israel is not often considered an “adventure” destination, many tours include hiking, long-distance walking, or climbing historic ruins. Injuries from these excursions aren’t always covered unless you add Adventure Sports or Hazardous Activities coverage. Look for plans like IMG iTravelInsured Choice that allow these upgrades for more comprehensive protection.
Plan for Security Alerts and Travel Delays
Flights in and out of Israel may be impacted by sudden security developments or airline schedule changes, and regional instability can cause last-minute itinerary shifts. Choose a plan with strong Trip Interruption and Travel Delay benefits.
Is Travel Insurance for Israel Worth It?
Yes, travel insurance for Israel is highly recommended and worth the price.
While not mandatory for entry, travel insurance protects against unexpected medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen events. Given that U.S. health insurance is generally not accepted in Israel and medical facilities may require upfront payment, having travel insurance ensures peace of mind during your trip.
For less than $5 per day, travel health insurance can provide much-needed peace of mind and financial protection, saving you thousands in the event of an unexpected injury, illness, or other type of travel disruption.
FAQ: Israel Travel Insurance
Is Israel safe to visit?
Israel has historically been a popular destination with rich cultural and historical attractions. However, travelers should stay informed about regional security situations, as conditions can change rapidly.
Currently, the U.S. Department of State has issued a do-not-travel advisory to Gaza and a reconsider travel advisory to Israel and the West Bank.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Israel in 2025?
No, travel insurance is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Israel. However, it’s strongly recommended that they have coverage for medical expenses, evacuations, and other emergencies for the duration of your stay.
Will my U.S. health insurance work in Israel?
Most U.S. health insurance plans, including those in Israel, do not provide coverage abroad. Additionally, Israeli medical facilities often require payment up front. Therefore, having travel insurance with adequate medical coverage is essential.
What documents are required to travel to Israel?
Travelers need a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining. Additionally, starting January 1, 2025, all travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the United States, must obtain an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before departure.
Do I need a visa or passport to travel to Israel?
Yes, a valid passport is required. U.S. citizens do not need a traditional visa for stays up to 90 days, but must obtain an ETA-IL before travel.
Does Israel require COVID insurance?
No, Israel does not mandate COVID-specific insurance for entry. However, it’s advisable to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19-related medical expenses and potential trip disruptions.
Is travel insurance recommended for visits to the West Bank or other Palestinian Territories?
Travel to the West Bank, Gaza, or specific areas of East Jerusalem may not be covered by standard travel insurance policies due to government travel advisories. Check your policy’s exclusion list and refer to travel.state.gov for up-to-date regional advisories. If your itinerary includes these areas, consider policies that offer coverage flexibility or Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR).
Will my travel insurance cover terrorism or political unrest in Israel?
Yes, many comprehensive travel insurance plans will reimburse travelers who need to cancel their travel plans due to terrorism or civil unrest.
With that said, most travel insurance policies exclude known events, particularly if a travel advisory is already in place at the time of purchase. To ensure protection, purchase your plan as early as possible and select one that includes coverage for terrorism-related cancellations or interruptions.
Does travel insurance cover religious pilgrimage or group tours in Israel?
Most comprehensive plans will cover religious tours and pilgrimages. When purchasing coverage, list all your prepaid expenses, such as flights, tours, hotels, and transport, to ensure they’re reimbursable if plans change.
Can I travel to Israel if I have visited other Middle Eastern countries?
Yes, travelers who have visited countries like the UAE, Jordan, or Egypt typically have no issues entering Israel. However, if your passport shows stamps from countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel (such as Lebanon or Syria), you may face additional questioning at the border. Ultimately, entry is at the discretion of Israeli border officials, so be prepared for longer processing times if necessary.