Do I need additional medical insurance when traveling abroad?
It depends on the type of coverage you have. If your single-trip plan refers to your medical coverage as primary, you don't need another health insurance policy. However, if the coverage provided under your single-trip plan is secondary, then you must have primary health insurance.
Make sure you have a plan to get care overseas, in case you need it. Consider buying additional insurance that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas. Enroll with the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment ProgramExternal Link (STEP).
Understand what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas before traveling. Carry your insurance card and a claim form if your policy covers you outside the United States.
U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas. Private U.S. insurance policies also might not cover any or all expenses. Check with your insurance before traveling to see if it provides coverage overseas. More information is also available on the CDC insurance page.
Either way, if your vacation plans take you outside your home province or territory, your government health insurance plan (GHIP) may not cover all your medical expenses. Travel insurance coverage can help you avoid unexpected fees.
Most people need travel health insurance at a bare minimum when traveling to European destinations like France, Italy or Switzerland, as well as additional countries inside and outside of the Schengen area.
U.S. health insurance plans typically do not cover regular and routine medical care required overseas. This means your health insurance won't pay for care if you need to visit a doctor for a prescription medicine, or if you need treatment for a condition that is not considered an emergency.
Special care if you become ill or injured while traveling
Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a list of local healthcare providers and medical facilities. If your illness is serious, consular officers can help you find medical assistance. If you want, they can inform your family and friends.
Based on our comprehensive review, the companies offering the best travel medical insurance are Faye, IMG, Travelex, AIG Travel Guard and Allianz. Travel medical insurance is a specialized type of coverage that helps pay for medical bills and emergency evacuations if you're hurt or become sick while traveling.
Although hospitals or clinics might look slightly different overseas, they should still mostly resemble a typical health care center like here in the United States. Most professionals from other countries, especially in urbanized areas, will be able to provide you with the necessary medical care.
Does Medicare cover you if you travel abroad?
In most situations, Medicare won't pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S. The term “outside the U.S.” means anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The average cost of a standard travel insurance policy is $221, according to research conducted by the MarketWatch Guides team. However, the destination, number of travelers, trip price and more can affect the exact cost of a policy.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan has you covered worldwide. If you need medical care outside the U.S, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands you can rest assured that the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan offers worldwide coverage.
Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all, so the price and conditions of a plan will vary. However, it may be useful to understand pricing guidelines to plan your travel insurance purchase. In general, you should expect a plan will cost anywhere from 4%-10% of your total pre-paid, nonrefundable trip cost.
What type of travel insurance do I need? There are two main types of travel insurance: trip protection plans and travel medical plans.
It can also be expensive, difficult to file claims, and not always cover the things you thought it would — or should.
Getting Medical Insurance for Europe
Any international should mean a purchase of travel medical insurance. While traveling in Europe, your U.S. health plan (including Medicare) likely does pay for medical expenses like hospital bills, ambulance costs or doctor visits if you require medical attention.
Do I Need Travel Insurance for Europe? Travel insurance is not required for U.S. citizens to enter Europe. Tourists traveling to countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement can enter with a U.S. passport. However, if you plan to stay in certain countries for more than 90 days, you may require a visa.
For stays longer than 90 days, US citizens will need to apply for a visa and will need proof of travel health insurance for Europe from the USA that meets requirements. Other nationalities need international insurance coverage even if they intend to stay fewer days.
If an accident or life-threatening medical problem occurs on the road, get to a hospital. In the European Union, for serious conditions (stroke, heart attack, bad car accident), summon an ambulance by calling 112, the universal emergency number for ambulance, fire department, or police.
Is Allianz good travel insurance?
Allianz is a popular choice among business travelers due to its AllTrips Executive travel insurance policy with coverage for lost, stolen or damaged business equipment and rental car insurance. Earning 4.1 out of 5 stars, our expert reviewers think Allianz is a great choice for international travel insurance.
| BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY | TOP-SCORING PLAN | OUR RATING |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Insured International | Worldwide Trip Protector | 5.0 stars |
| TravelSafe | Classic | 4.5 stars |
| Aegis | Go Ready Choice | 4.5 stars |
| Travelex | Travel Select | 4.0 stars |
Most ObamaCare health plans do not cover foreign emergency care. When traveling abroad and while cruising you'll want to get travel insurance.
Almost all the countries in Europe have a universal healthcare system. There are people who call it a “free healthcare” system but it is actually not free. Each nation has its own variation; however, a common feature is that everyone has to pay for healthcare as a society.
- Advice hotlines. Many insurance providers include access to a 24-hour hotline that you can call for medical advice. ...
- Virtual care. ...
- Walk-in clinics at drugstores. ...
- Urgent care centers.
