Travel Health Insurance

Your Complete Guide to Global Protection

Embarking on an international journey, whether for business, leisure, or a new chapter in life, is an exhilarating experience. But this excitement can quickly turn to anxiety when faced with a medical emergency in a foreign country. That's where a robust travel health insurance plan becomes your most essential travel document. It's the key to navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems with confidence, ensuring that a sudden illness or injury doesn't result in a financial catastrophe.

For the globally minded traveler, securing the right international travel health insurance isn't just an option; it's a fundamental part of smart travel planning. It provides a vital safety net, offering you peace of mind so you can focus on your exploration or business goals.

Buy Travel Health Insurance Online

Do you already know what you’re looking for? Choose from some of our most popular travel health insurance plans below or get instant quotes!

Why You Need Health Insurance for Travel

Many travelers incorrectly assume their domestic health insurance will cover them abroad. In reality, most domestic policies, including Medicare, offer little to no coverage outside your home country. Even if your plan offers "emergency" coverage, you may be required to pay astronomical costs upfront and fight for reimbursement later.

Without dedicated health insurance for travel, you are personally exposed to the high cost of foreign medical care. A simple doctor visit can be costly, and a serious medical event requiring hospitalization or an emergency evacuation could lead to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills.

A proper foreign travel health insurance plan is designed to address these specific risks, protecting both your health and your financial well-being.

What Does Health Travel Insurance Cover?

While specific benefits vary by plan, the best travel health insurance policies are built around a core of essential protections designed for international travelers.

• Emergency Medical Expenses: This is the primary function of health insurance travel plans. It covers the costs of new and unexpected illnesses or injuries, including doctor's visits, hospital stays, prescription medications, and emergency room care.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: If you suffer a serious medical emergency and the local facilities are inadequate to treat you, this benefit covers the cost of transporting you to the nearest capable hospital.
• Repatriation of Remains: In the unfortunate event of a death, this benefit covers the costs associated with returning mortal remains to your home country.
• 24/7 Multilingual Assistance: This is a critical feature. Top-tier plans provide 24/7 access to an emergency assistance team that can help you locate qualified doctors, arrange for direct billing, and navigate language barriers in a medical crisis.
• Ancillary Benefits: Many plans also include other valuable coverage, such as for lost checked luggage, trip interruption, or accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D).

How to Find the Best Travel Health Insurance

Finding the "best" plan means matching the coverage to your specific needs. Here’s what to look for:

1. High Coverage Limits: For international travel, especially to destinations with high healthcare costs like Europe, a minimum of $100,000 in medical benefits is recommended, with limits of $1,000,000 or more offering superior protection.
2. Comprehensive Coverage: Look beyond just the medical limits. Ensure the plan includes robust coverage for emergency evacuation and 24/7 assistance.
3. Direct Billing: Whenever possible, choose a provider with a large international network that offers "direct billing." This means the insurance company pays the hospital directly, so you aren't forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket.
4. Clear Exclusions: Understand what isn't covered. Many plans exclude pre-existing conditions (or have specific rules for them) and high-risk adventure sports unless you add an optional rider.

How to Get Travel Health Insurance

Securing your policy is simple and can be done online in minutes using our convenient marketplace.

1. Gather Your Trip Details: You'll need your travel dates, destination(s), and the ages of all travelers.
2. Compare Quotes: Use our online marketplace to enter your information once and receive instant, side-by-side quotes from multiple top-rated providers.
3. Review and Purchase: Carefully review the policy details of the plans that fit your needs. Once you've selected the best travel health insurance for your trip, you can complete the purchase online.
4. Receive Your Documents: Your policy documents, including your insurance ID card and visa letter (if needed), will be emailed to you instantly. Print a copy and save a digital version to your phone.

Don't wait until the last minute. The best time to purchase your health travel insurance is right after booking your flights or accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What’s travel/health insurance?

Travel health insurance, also known as international travel health insurance, is a short-term plan that covers emergency medical expenses, injuries, and illnesses that occur while you are outside your home country. Unlike domestic health plans, it is specifically designed to handle the risks of international travel, such as emergency medical evacuation, and provides 24/7 global assistance.

How much is travel health insurance?

The cost of travel health insurance varies based on several factors: the traveler's age, the length of the trip, the policy maximum (coverage limit), and the deductible amount you choose. A short trip for a younger traveler can cost very little, while a longer trip for an older traveler with a high coverage limit will cost more.

Does my health insurance cover international travel?

Most likely, no. The vast majority of domestic health insurance plans in the U.S. (including Medicare and many private employer-based plans) provide little to no coverage for medical care received outside the country. You should always assume your domestic plan is not accepted abroad and secure a dedicated health insurance travel policy.

Do I need travel health insurance?

Yes. You need travel health insurance for any trip abroad to a location outside the USA. International healthcare systems can be astronomically expensive, and your domestic plan likely won't cover you. Without it, you are financially responsible for 100% of your medical bills if you get sick or injured abroad. It's an essential protection for your health and your finances.