Travel insurance is often treated as a formality, ticked at the last minute to satisfy a consulate. It deserves a few minutes’ attention all the same, because it is what steps in on the day something goes wrong far from home. These are the notions you need to read a policy without getting lost.
First, distinguish assistance from cancellation. Assistance covers what happens during the trip: medical costs, hospital stays, repatriation, and sometimes lost luggage. Cancellation reimburses all or part of the trip if you cannot travel, for a reason listed in the policy. Many policies include only the first.
The ceiling on medical costs is the most important figure. Hospital care can be very expensive abroad, and a low ceiling leaves the rest to the traveller. For a Schengen visa application, a minimum level of cover is in fact required, and the consulate checks that the policy meets it.
Read the exclusions carefully. Pre-existing conditions, pregnancy beyond a certain stage, high-risk sports or certain countries may be excluded or subject to conditions. Better to know this before leaving than to discover it in hospital.
Repatriation deserves a line of its own. It means the organised return of an ill or injured traveller to their home country when a doctor judges it necessary, and it may include a companion. It is often the most expensive guarantee to face without a policy.
In practice, carry the assistance number and the policy number with you, and call the insurer before incurring costs whenever possible. Keep invoices and medical reports for the claim, which is rarely settled without them.
We offer insurance with each of our trips and set out clearly what it does and does not cover. If you are already insured through a bank card or a personal policy, we can help you check that it meets the requirements of the consulate for your destination.
Visa, health and entry rules change without notice: check them with the consulate or the official portal before you travel.
