Travel insurance: most travellers think they don’t need it — until the day they do. Flight cancellation, illness abroad, lost luggage, medical evacuation: a single incident can cost more than all your trips that year. This guide explains what’s worth buying.
What Travel Insurance Covers (and Doesn’t)
| Coverage | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistance abroad | €30,000 | €150,000 | €500,000+ |
| Trip cancellation | ❌ | €3,000 | €8,000+ |
| Baggage delay/loss | €500 | €1,500 | €3,000+ |
| Medical evacuation | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Adventure sports | ❌ | ❌ | Extra option |
When Travel Insurance is Mandatory
- Schengen Area (non-EU): minimum €30,000 medical coverage required for visa
- Cuba: requires health insurance with €25,000 coverage at the airport
- United States: not legally required but absolutely essential — hospitals charge €2,000–5,000/day
- Remote destinations (Antarctica, open sea): medical evacuation can cost €50,000+
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
| Trip | Basic Insurance | Comprehensive Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Europe, 1 week (1 person) | €8–15 | €25–45 |
| USA, 2 weeks (1 person) | €30–50 | €80–130 |
| Thailand, 3 weeks (1 person) | €20–35 | €60–100 |
| Annual multi-trip (family) | €150–250 | €350–600 |
5 Most Common Travel Insurance Mistakes
- Relying on your credit card — many cards have minimal coverage full of exclusions. Always check the terms before assuming you’re covered.
- Not declaring pre-existing conditions — if you have diabetes, hypertension or another chronic condition and don’t declare it, the insurer can refuse to pay.
- Buying after an illness has started — if you’re already ill when you buy the policy, that condition is excluded.
- Ignoring activity exclusions — skiing, scuba diving, motorbikes: many basic policies don’t cover adventure sports.
- Not keeping receipts — prescriptions, medical bills, police report for theft: without documentation there’s no reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the European Health Insurance Card replace travel insurance?
No. The EHIC covers only public healthcare in EU/EEA countries and Switzerland — at the same level as a local citizen. It doesn’t cover repatriation, cancellations, baggage, sports, or treatment in private clinics. For travel outside the EU or for any coverage beyond basic medical emergencies, you need supplementary insurance.
Is credit card insurance sufficient?
Depends on the card. Visa Infinite and Mastercard World Elite cards generally have decent coverage. Standard cards have minimal coverage. Check the terms: medical coverage limits, whether it includes cancellation, and whether you need to pay for the trip with the card to activate the insurance.
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Annual vs per-trip insurance — which is better value?
If you take more than 2 trips per year, an annual multi-trip policy almost always wins. A comprehensive annual policy costs €200–400 for a couple and covers all trips throughout the year (with a per-trip duration limit, usually 45–90 days).
For more, see compare the best travel insurance options for 2026.
Sobre o autor — Rui Carreiro
Born in the Azores — literally in the middle of the Atlantic — Rui Carreiro spent 11 years working in the travel industry before turning that experience into a mission: making extraordinary travel accessible for everyone. He has visited 50+ countries, personally tested hundreds of deals, and researched 500+ destinations. Every guide, comparison and recommendation on this site is written, tested and signed by him. We earn affiliate commissions when you book through our links — at no extra cost to you.---Nascido nos Açores, Rui Carreiro acumulou 11 anos de experiência na indústria de viagens antes de criar o Traveler Whisper. Já visitou 50+ países e testou centenas de deals. Todos os guias e recomendações são escritos, testados e assinados por ele. Ganhamos comissões de afiliado quando reservas pelos nossos links — sem custo adicional para ti.