Top Travel Medical Insurance Plans
We have highlighted these policies as some of the strongest options for emergency medical coverage thanks to their high emergency medical treatment and medical evacuation limits, and coverage of pre-existing conditions. For policies backed by health insurers, check out our newly-added travel medical insurance plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare.
See a full breakdown of these plans and more in our full list of the Best Travel Medical Insurance Companies in 2026.
What is Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical insurance, also known as travel health insurance, is a type of travel insurance that provides access to quality healthcare while traveling abroad and financially protects you from unexpected medical expenses if you become sick or injured. These insurance plans are designed to reimburse the costs of hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription medicines, emergency medical transportation, and repatriation services, as well as help you access quality English-speaking medical facilities abroad. Travel medical insurance is offered as a standalone policy or can come included as part of a comprehensive plan with trip cancellation coverage and other benefits.
Both the CDC and the State Department recommend U.S. travelers secure travel health insurance for trips abroad, citing that emergency medical evacuations to the USA can cost between $20,000 to $200,000, depending on your location and the severity of your condition.
Our online quote tool helps you easily compare plans from multiple providers to find the right coverage for your needs at an affordable price.
- Do I Need Travel Medical Insurance?
- How Much Is Travel Health Insurance?
- Can You Buy Just Medical Travel Insurance?
- What Does Travel Health Insurance Cover?
- How Much Travel Medical Insurance Do I Need?
- How Does International Medical Coverage Apply While Traveling?
- Is Travel Medical Insurance Worth It?
- How to Find the Right Plan
- FAQs: Medical Travel Insurance
- Related Articles
Do I Need Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical coverage is the most basic form of travel insurance, and ideally, all travelers should have this to protect themselves from unexpected medical emergencies, especially when traveling overseas.
The U.S. Department of State strongly advises all travelers to have travel health insurance, citing that most U.S. healthcare plans, Medicare, and Medicaid are not accepted abroad, and medical evacuations can be extremely costly.
Medical claims are very common in travel insurance. Squaremouth internal data shows that more than 27% of travel insurance claims are related to a medical emergency, with travelers receiving an average payout of $1,816 per medical claim. While this number represents the average payout, having a policy could save you thousands more in medical expenses should you need it.
That said, before purchasing a travel health insurance policy, we recommend contacting your standard health insurance provider for clarification on where and how you may be covered around the world.
When and Where Is It Needed?
- Domestic Trips (Within the U.S.): If you have U.S. health insurance, travel medical coverage may not be necessary when traveling within the United States. However, travel medical coverage often comes included in comprehensive plans that domestic travelers frequently choose to cover trip cancellations, delays, and baggage mishaps. This comprehensive coverage can fill in any coverage gaps with your existing health insurance and is a great option if you don’t have health insurance or have a plan with a high deductible.
- International Vacations: Travel health insurance is the baseline coverage you should consider having for trips abroad. Since standard health insurance is rarely accepted overseas, travel medical insurance coverage offers important emergency protection via access to high-quality care and reimbursement of medical expenses if needed. Some countries may also require proof of travel insurance coverage for entry.
- Cruises: Travel medical coverage is especially recommended for cruises, as receiving medical attention or needing evacuation services while on a cruise ship can be extremely expensive. Medical cruise insurance can coordinate evacuation services at sea and provide access to quality medical care and a nearby facility.
- High-Risk Travel: If you have pre-existing conditions, are pregnant, or plan on participating in adventure activities, the CDC recommends opting for strong travel medical coverage built to cover specialized, urgent care in the event of an emergency.
How Much Is Travel Health Insurance?
Standalone travel medical insurance is the most affordable type of trip protection policy you can buy, with our most recent internal sales data showing it costs around $5 per day on average.
This figure is based on internal sales data from travelers who purchased medical-only coverage through Squaremouth over the past 12 months. Squaremouth users spend an average of $103 per policy on travel health insurance with an average trip length of 20 days.
That said, it's possible to find medical insurance for overseas travel for as little as $1/day by comparing options from several providers.
Ultimately, the price you pay will vary based on your unique trip parameters, including:
- Your age
- Trip length
- Number of travelers on your policy
- Policy coverage limits
- Destination
What Does Travel Health Insurance Cover?
Policies typically include several types of travel medical insurance coverage to protect you in case of health emergencies abroad. Here is a look at the most common types.
Emergency medical coverage can pay for unexpected medical expenses, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and treatments while you're away.
For example, if you get food poisoning while in Europe, your international travel medical policy could provide access to urgent medical care and cover the costs of doctor visits and prescription medications.
Medical evacuation coverage can pay for ambulance or air transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility, even if that means returning you to the U.S. for treatment.
For example, if you break your leg while hiking in Southeast Asia, a policy could cover the cost of airlifting you to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
If necessary, medical repatriation coverage is able to pay to medically escort you back to the United States in an air ambulance to receive adequate medical treatment.
For example, if you develop a serious illness while backpacking in a developing nation and need round-the-clock specialty care, your policy could cover the cost of medically escorting you back to the USA for specialized treatment.
Some policies offer coverage for pre-existing medical issues that would normally be excluded from coverage.
For example, if you have diabetes and suddenly need to be temporarily hospitalized as a result of a severe insulin deficiency. Some policies can cover the hospital bills even though the cause was related to a condition that existed before the trip.
This coverage is not available on every policy, so if it's important to you, we recommend seeking it out using our quote filters.
Although cancellation benefits are usually found as part of comprehensive travel insurance policies, some medical-only travel insurance policies can reimburse your full trip cost if you need to cancel your trip for medical reasons.
For example, if you develop a severe case of the flu and your doctor advises against traveling, your policy could reimburse you for up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs as a result of the cancellation. COVID-19 is also now covered as part of this benefit.
Many travel health insurance plans also provide coverage for accidental death and dismemberment, also known as AD&D. While health-related, this coverage more closely resembles life insurance. AD&D coverage can pay out if you are severely dismembered or accidentally die while traveling.
All plans listed on Squaremouth offer round-the-clock emergency support for finding care, arranging medical evacuations, logistics, and translation services.
For example, if you need medical attention in a foreign country, but don't speak the language or know where to go, your provider's 24/7 emergency assistance hotline can refer you to a top-rated medical facility that accepts your travel insurance.
Can You Buy Just Medical Travel Insurance?
Yes, you can buy medical-only travel insurance plans.
In fact, medical-only travel insurance is one of the most affordable types of policies on the market. These plans offer an easy way to save money on your policy premium by forgoing comprehensive benefits.
That said, some medical-only travel coverage won't protect you for important travel concerns like delays and disruptions, cancellations and interruptions, baggage issues, etc. For this reason, we recommend opting for comprehensive travel insurance, when possible, which also includes medical coverage.
How Much Travel Medical Insurance Do I Need?
The amount of travel health insurance you need depends heavily on the type of trip you are taking, as well as your age, destination, medical history, and travel time.
It’s also important to consider your travel itinerary when comparing plans, and to take into account the various activities you might be doing while traveling.
Emergency Medical Coverage Recommendations:Medical coverage isn't always necessary for domestic trips, since most U.S. health insurance plans already provide coverage nationwide. However, if you don't have existing insurance or want added peace of mind, consider travel insurance policies with at least $50,000 in primary Emergency Medical coverage. These policies pay claims directly, without requiring you to first file with your U.S. health insurance, which can be especially beneficial if your health plan has high deductibles or co-pays.
Consider opting for at least $50,000 of Emergency Medical coverage and $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage for international trips near the United States. Plans that meet this criteria are widely available and offer sufficient protection against common medical expenses. Higher Medevac limits may be necessary for cruises, adventure travel, and far-off destinations.
Due to the expensive nature of receiving medical treatment at sea, the best cruise travel insurance plans offer at least $100,000 of Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 of Medical Evacuation protection for your cruise vacation.
If you are participating in hazardous activities or traveling to regions far from medical facilities, look for adventure travel insurance policies that offer at least $100,000 of Emergency Medical coverage and $500,000 of evacuation coverage.
How Does International Medical Coverage Apply While Traveling?
It's important to keep your travel insurance plan information at hand in case you have an emergency while traveling and need to use your travel medical coverage. Squaremouth lets you add your plan information to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for quick access in an emergency.
In an emergency, contact local emergency services first, then reach out to your travel insurance company’s 24-hour Emergency Assistance program for help coordinating access to medical services and processing reimbursement.
If you are in a severe emergency situation that requires an emergency medical evacuation, your provider’s Emergency Assistance service must approve and coordinate a medical evacuation to the nearest suitable facility for treatment.
All travel insurance works on a reimbursement model, so it’s important to document all treatment you receive while at the medical facility to ensure a smooth claims and reimbursement process. This is especially important for trips abroad, as it may be difficult to follow up with medical facilities once you have returned home. Ensure you receive a written diagnosis from your doctor and itemized receipts when possible.
For more information, see our frequently asked question below on how to file a travel medical insurance claim.
Is Travel Medical Insurance Worth It?
Yes, buying medical travel insurance is worth the expense, especially if you're planning international travel to a country that doesn't accept U.S. health insurance.
Some travel medical policies can cost as little as $1 per day and could potentially save you thousands of dollars in medical expenses if you get sick or injured while traveling.
The majority of comprehensive travel medical insurance plans also include a wide range of other benefits that financially protect you from losses relating to delays, lost baggage, and other unexpected disruptions.
To give you a few examples, medical travel insurance may be worth it if:- You plan to travel abroad, as U.S. health insurance is rarely accepted overseas
- You are budget-conscious, because travel medical policies are often significantly cheaper than comprehensive travel insurance.
- You have existing trip cancellation coverage through a credit card, which may mean you only need medical coverage.
- You have a pre-existing condition that could potentially flare up while you are away.
How to Find the Right Plan
Finding the right overseas medical coverage is easy with our travel insurance comparison tool. Simply enter basic details about your upcoming trip, such as your destination and travel dates, and we'll show you a list of the top-rated policies from reputable providers that meet your needs.
From there, you can compare plans based on important factors like cost, coverage limits, benefits, and provider reputation.
For most trips, it’s best to look for plans that offer at least the following coverage limits:- Emergency Medical: At Least $50,000
- Medical Evacuation: At Least $100,000
- Primary Medical Coverage
- Pre-Existing Condition Coverage
To explore plans with these coverages, try our quote tool.
Browse Other Policy Types
FAQs: Medical Travel Insurance
Medical travel insurance is not usually mandatory for most countries; however, there are a few destinations that require travel insurance for entry. That said, we always recommend buying travel medical insurance when traveling abroad, as Medicare, Medicaid, and traditional U.S. health insurance are not accepted overseas.
Yes, all plans sold on Squaremouth include medical coverage for COVID-19 and treat it as if it were any other illness.
Usually, travel insurance excludes pre-existing conditions from coverage, but some plans can offer coverage for these health issues if you purchase your plan in time to qualify for a pre-existing conditions waiver. Here is a list of our top recommended plans that cover pre-existing conditions.
Some medical travel insurance plans will include emergency dental coverage, whereas others may exclude it. When getting a quote via Squaremouth, you can select and filter by plans that offer emergency dental coverage to ensure your plan has this coverage.
If you become sick or injured while traveling and incur medical expenses, you'll need to file a claim with your travel insurance provider. This process varies by insurer, but typically includes the following steps:
- Contact Your Provider: Squaremouth doesn't process your claims, so you should contact your insurance provider. They will be able to confirm your coverage and explain the next steps for filing your claim.
- Gather Documentation: You'll need proof to support whatever claim is made against your policy. Collect relevant medical records, itemized bills from healthcare providers, proof of payment, doctor's notes, and any other documents that might be relevant to your claim.
- Complete a Claims Form: This step can often be completed through your provider's website or mobile app. Fill out the form accurately and attach all required documentation.
- Submit Your Claim: Review and submit your claim. Be sure to monitor its progress and look for requests for additional information. Medical claims often take 4-6 weeks to process.
- Appeal (If Necessary): If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. There is no guarantee that an appeal will be successful. Squaremouth can act as a claims advocate and mediator if you need assistance with your appeal.
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