International travel health insurance covers medical emergencies, hospital stays, evacuations, and treatment costs when you travel abroad. Plans range from $40 to $300 per trip, depending on age, destination, and coverage limits. Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions unless you buy within 14 days of your first trip deposit.
Getting sick or injured abroad can drain your savings faster than you imagine. A broken leg in Switzerland might cost $25,000. A heart attack in Japan could cost $100,000. Your domestic health insurance won’t cover you overseas, and foreign hospitals often demand payment upfront.
You need protection that travels with you. This guide shows you exactly what international travel health insurance covers, how much it costs, and how to choose the right plan for your trip.
What International Travel Health Insurance Covers
Travel medical insurance pays for emergency care when you’re outside your home country. Your regular health plan stops working the moment you cross the border.
Core coverage includes:
- Emergency medical treatment (illness or injury)
- Hospital stays and surgeries
- Emergency medical evacuation to proper facilities
- Repatriation of remains if you die abroad
- Emergency dental treatment (usually capped at $500)
- Prescription medications are needed during treatment
Most plans cover trips between 5 days and 12 months. According to a 2024 study by the International Travel & Health Insurance Journal, 73% of travelers who faced medical emergencies abroad exceeded $10,000 in costs.
Dr. Sarah Mitchell, director of travel medicine at Johns Hopkins, states: “We see patients return from overseas trips with medical bills that bankrupt them. A $200 insurance policy could have prevented a $50,000 debt.”
The insurance won’t cover routine checkups, elective procedures, or conditions you knew about before buying the policy. Most companies exclude coverage if you travel to countries under the State Department travel warnings.
How Much International Travel Medical Insurance Costs
Price depends on your age, trip length, destination, and coverage amount.
Typical pricing ranges:
- Ages 18-35: $40-$80 per week
- Ages 36-55: $75-$150 per week
- Ages 56-70: $125-$250 per week
- Ages 71+: $200-$400 per week
A 30-year-old traveling to Europe for two weeks might pay $65 for $100,000 coverage. A 65-year-old taking the same trip could pay $180.
Coverage limits matter. A $50,000 policy costs less but might not cover serious emergencies. Data from Squaremouth shows the average international medical claim in 2023 was $27,400. Choose at least $100,000 coverage for trips to countries with expensive healthcare.
Pre-existing condition waivers add 15-30% to your premium but become valuable if you have diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic conditions. You must buy within 14 days of making your first trip payment to qualify.
Top International Travel Health Insurance Providers
Five companies dominate the market with strong coverage and reliable claims processing.
IMG Global offers comprehensive medical plans with coverage up to $1 million. Their Patriot Travel Medical Insurance covers ages 5 days to 99 years. The claims approval rate sits at 94% according to 2023 company data.
UnitedHealthcare Global provides international coverage through its travel medical insurance plans. They maintain a network of 1.3 million providers worldwide, making direct billing easier. You avoid paying upfront for in-network facilities.
Seven Corners specializes in international medical plans with 24/7 emergency assistance. Their Inbound USA plan protects visitors to America, while their Wander Frequent Traveler plan covers multiple trips per year.
Allianz Global Assistance combines travel medical coverage with trip protection. Their AllTrips Premier plan works for unlimited trips under 45 days throughout the year. Good choice if you travel frequently for work.
GeoBlue focuses exclusively on international coverage. They operate the largest global provider network and offer telemedicine consultations in 40 languages. Their Trekker plan covers adventure activities most insurers exclude.
Compare at least three quotes before buying. Each company defines “pre-existing condition” differently, and exclusions vary by underwriter.
Medical Evacuation Coverage Explained
Emergency evacuation might become your most valuable benefit. When local hospitals lack proper equipment or expertise, insurers arrange transport to adequate facilities.
A medical evacuation from a cruise ship can cost $50,000. An air ambulance from rural Asia to Singapore might cost $150,000. According to International SOS, they conducted 12,500 medical evacuations in 2023, with an average cost of $87,000 per event.
Standard travel health plans include evacuation coverage between $250,000 and $1 million. The insurance company decides when evacuation is medically necessary. You can’t request transport simply because you prefer treatment at home.
Repatriation coverage brings your body home if you die abroad. International transport of remains costs $10,000 to $25,000, depending on distance and local regulations.
Some policies only evacuate you to the nearest adequate facility, not back to your home country. Read the policy wording carefully. “Evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility” differs significantly from “evacuation to your home country.”
When Your Regular Insurance Won’t Protect You
Medicare stops at U.S. borders except for limited emergency coverage in Canada and Mexico. The Medicare website clearly states: “Medicare doesn’t cover health care or supplies you get outside the U.S.”
Employer health plans rarely cover international care. Most include small emergency allowances ($10,000-$25,000) but require you to pay upfront and file for reimbursement. Foreign hospitals often refuse to wait for U.S. insurance companies to process claims.
Credit card travel insurance sounds convenient, but it provides weak medical coverage. Most cards offer $2,500 to $25,000 in emergency medical benefits. A serious illness or injury exhausts these limits in days.
The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs reports that medical evacuations account for the majority of emergency assistance cases. They warn travelers: “Your U.S. health insurance may not cover you abroad. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide coverage for medical costs outside the United States.”
Don’t assume your domestic coverage extends overseas. Call your insurance company and ask specifically about international medical coverage, evacuation benefits, and the claims process for foreign providers.
Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements
European countries in the Schengen Area mandate travel health insurance for visa applicants. You can’t get your visa without proof of coverage.
Schengen insurance must meet these requirements:
- Minimum coverage of €30,000 ($32,600)
- Valid in all 27 Schengen countries
- Cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation
- Include medical evacuation to your home country
- Remain valid for your entire stay
If you need international travel health insurance services or specific Schengen zone coverage, you can reach out for assistance at +92 306 1619142 for personalized guidance on meeting visa requirements.
Embassy officials check your insurance certificate during the visa interview. The policy must show coverage dates that match or exceed your travel dates. Short coverage periods result in visa denial.
Several providers offer Schengen-specific plans. These cost slightly more than standard international policies because they guarantee coverage across all member states and meet the €30,000 minimum.
Buy your insurance before applying for the visa. You’ll need the policy certificate as part of your application package. Some travelers try to cancel after getting the visa, but this violates Schengen requirements and could affect future visa applications.
How to Choose the Right Coverage Limits
Match your coverage limits to your destination’s healthcare costs. Japan, Switzerland, and the United States charge the highest medical fees globally.
Minimum recommended coverage by region:
- Europe: $100,000
- Asia (excluding Japan): $75,000
- Japan: $150,000
- United States: $250,000
- Central/South America: $75,000
- Africa: $100,000
- Middle East: $100,000
The cost difference between $50,000 and $100,000 coverage averages only $15-$25 per week. The extra protection becomes worthwhile if you face a serious medical event.
Consider your health status. Travelers over 60 or those with chronic conditions should choose higher limits. A 2023 analysis by Forbes Health showed that 68% of travel medical claims for seniors exceeded $50,000.
Activity coverage matters for adventure travelers. Standard policies exclude skiing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, and motorcycle riding. You need a specialized adventure travel policy or an add-on rider.
Pre-Existing Conditions and Coverage Waivers
Most travel health insurance excludes pre-existing medical conditions. Insurers define these as any condition you received treatment for, took medication for, or had symptoms of during the lookback period (usually 60-180 days before buying coverage).
You can cover pre-existing conditions with a waiver. Requirements vary by company, but typically include:
- Buy within 14-21 days of your first trip payment
- Ensure the full trip cost
- Be medically able to travel when you purchase
- Be a resident of your home country
The waiver lets insurers cover conditions you already have. Without it, if your diabetes causes complications in France, the insurance pays nothing.
Some companies offer “no medical questions” plans that automatically cover stable pre-existing conditions. These cost 25-40% more but eliminate the qualifying requirements. Good option if you miss the purchase deadline.
Travel insurance expert Kasara Barto explains: “Pre-existing condition waivers cause more confusion than any other aspect of travel insurance. Read the definition in your policy. What you think is covered might not be.”
Filing Claims and Getting Reimbursed
Foreign hospitals usually demand payment before providing non-emergency treatment. You’ll need to pay with credit cards, then file for reimbursement.
Claims process steps:
- Save all medical receipts and documentation
- Get an itemized bill showing diagnosis codes
- Request medical records from the treating facility
- Complete the insurance company’s claim form
- Submit everything within the required timeframe (usually 90 days)
- Follow up every 7-10 days until payment arrives
Keep copies of everything you submit. Claims can take 30-60 days to process. Some companies pay faster if you submit complete documentation the first time.
Emergency assistance services help coordinate care and can sometimes arrange direct billing to the insurance company. Call the emergency number on your insurance card before seeking treatment if possible.
Watch for claim denials. Common reasons include treatment for excluded conditions, missing documentation, or care that doesn’t meet the policy definition of “emergency.” You can appeal denials, but success rates vary.
Annual Plans vs. Single-Trip Coverage
Frequent travelers save money with annual multi-trip plans. These cover unlimited trips (usually up to 30-45 days each) within a year.
A single two-week trip might cost $75 to insure. If you travel internationally four times per year, you’d pay $300 total. An annual plan covering the same trips costs $200-$400, depending on age and coverage limits.
Annual plans work best for business travelers, digital nomads, or anyone taking three or more international trips yearly. They eliminate the hassle of buying new coverage before each journey.
Single-trip plans offer higher coverage limits and more flexibility. You can adjust coverage based on specific trip risks. A two-week beach vacation needs less coverage than a three-month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.
The coverage per trip limits on annual plans typically max out at 30-45 days. Longer trips require single-trip policies. Some annual plans let you purchase trip extensions for longer journeys.
What Travel Health Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Every policy includes exclusions. Know what won’t be covered before you travel.
Common exclusions:
- Routine medical care and checkups
- Elective procedures and cosmetic surgery
- Mental health treatment (except emergency stabilization)
- Pregnancy-related care after the first trimester
- Injuries from extreme sports without a rider
- Treatment in your home country
- Acts of war or terrorism in some policies
- Injuries from illegal activities
- The treatment you traveled specifically to receive
Alcohol and drug-related injuries face scrutiny. If you’re intoxicated when injured, the insurer might deny your claim. Documentation from the treating hospital matters here.
High-risk destinations appear on exclusion lists. Companies won’t cover travel to war zones or countries under State Department Level 4 travel advisories. Check the list before booking trips to potentially dangerous regions.
Some policies exclude pandemic-related coverage. After COVID-19, many insurers added specific pandemic exclusions or limitations. Read the current policy wording, not old versions you find online.
Emergency Assistance Services
The best travel health insurance includes 24/7 emergency assistance. These services become your lifeline during medical crises abroad.
Assistance teams help you find English-speaking doctors, locate nearby hospitals, arrange emergency evacuations, and communicate with medical providers. They can also coordinate payment guarantees so hospitals accept you without requiring full payment upfront.
Companies like International SOS and FrontierMEDEX specialize in emergency assistance. Some insurers partner with these firms instead of operating their own assistance centers.
Save the emergency assistance phone number in your phone before you travel. Add it to your contacts and write it on a card in your wallet. During an emergency, you won’t want to search through policy documents for contact information.
Assistance services can’t override policy exclusions. They’ll help coordinate care, but can’t approve coverage for excluded conditions or treatments. The policy terms determine what gets paid, not the assistance team.
FAQs
Do I need travel health insurance if I have regular health insurance?
Yes. Domestic health plans, including Medicare, provide little to no coverage outside your home country. Even plans that offer limited international coverage require you to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. Travel health insurance pays providers directly and includes evacuation benefits your regular plan lacks.
What happens if I get sick in a country with free healthcare?
Free healthcare often applies only to citizens and residents. Tourists usually pay for treatment. Even in countries with public healthcare systems, you might face long waits for non-emergency care. Private facilities offer faster service but charge full rates to foreign visitors.
Can I buy travel health insurance after I’ve already left home?
Some companies let you purchase coverage after departure, but you’ll face waiting periods (usually 2-5 days) before coverage starts. Conditions you had symptoms of before buying remain excluded. Buy before you leave to get full coverage from day one.
Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation?
Not travel health insurance. You need comprehensive travel insurance for cancellation coverage. Travel health insurance focuses solely on medical expenses. Some companies offer combined policies that include both medical coverage and trip protection benefits.
How long does coverage last?
Single-trip plans cover specific trip dates you select, typically from 5 days to 365 days. Annual plans cover multiple trips throughout the year, with each trip limited to 30-45 days. Extended travel requires long-term international health insurance designed for expats and long-term travelers.
