- While many European countries have universal healthcare, your medical care as a tourist is not free.
- Author Ben Gran fainted in Prague and incurred a $750 medical bill, which was covered by travel insurance.
- Travel insurance in Europe is not required for Americans, but it can save you from high medical bills.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, don’t assume that healthcare is free. As an American, having travel insurance in Europe can save you big money and help you have a surprisingly convenient time getting medical treatment when you need it most.
During a vacation in Europe in April 2024, I visited friends in one of my favorite cities: Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Prague is packed with gorgeous architecture, rich in culture and history, and has a world-class restaurant scene. Prague enchants; it inspires.
Even though the April weekend was a perfect springtime setting, I was feeling under the weather. The day before my arrival in Prague I had started sneezing and coughing. By the time I got to my Prague hotel, I was hacking and wheezing, my eyes watering through what I assumed was springtime allergies. “Maybe Europe has different pollen than I’m used to," I insisted to myself.
I was wrong. It wasn’t just allergies; I was ill. I coughed and tossed and turned all night, getting near-zero sleep. I felt awful all day, cooped up in my hotel room while my friends went on boat rides on the Charles River and chatted in beer gardens. That evening, my friends persuaded me to come out for dinner at a Japanese fusion restaurant, and the menu was too tempting to resist. I walked to the restaurant and gobbled down some dumplings, edamame, and kimchi.
I hoped the nourishment would make me feel better, but I started to feel even worse. I felt an onrush of dizziness, a sense of being lightheaded and overheated. The walls of the restaurant closed in. “I don’t feel good,” was the last thing I said before the room went dark. I woke up on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. My friends and some friendly Czech passersby called an ambulance, and I was transported to a local hospital.
The hospital did an EKG, a chest X-ray, and bloodwork. Fortunately, there was nothing seriously wrong with me. I was just overtired and dehydrated. While my medical worries were assuaged, I now faced the hospital bill. My ambulance ride and hospital bill added up to a total of about $750.
The good news is that prior to my trip, I purchased travel insurance with Allianz. While I paid out of pocket for the hospital bills initially, I was able to get my full bill reimbursed. I filed two separate claims online, which were resolved and paid out within a matter of days.
This was one of the best experiences with health insurance I have ever had! Although losing consciousness at a restaurant and having to go to the ER is not an ideal way to do medical tourism, I’m glad I had travel insurance in Europe.
Let’s look at a few more reasons why an international traveler might want travel insurance in Europe — and how to get the right policy to suit your travel needs.
Why You Need Travel Insurance for Europe
You might have heard that many European countries have “free” universal healthcare. It’s true that European countries tend to have a strong social safety net for their residents, but American tourists and other international visitors typically need to pay for their healthcare expenses.
Additionally, your American health insurance plan generally doesn't cover costs incurred in other countries, and Medicare and Medicaid do not offer coverage outside the U.S.
“When away from home, things can go wrong in ways that you can't even begin to imagine - from medical emergencies to lost luggage,” said Lauren Gumport, VP of Communications & Brand at Faye Travel Insurance. “If you find yourself in that unfortunate position, you don't want to return home with debt to pay off as well. Travel insurance can cover these bumps in the road as well as common travel snafus like flight delays and cancellations, and much more.”
Is Travel Insurance Required for Europe?
Not every visitor to Europe is required to have travel insurance. If you’re an American tourist with a U.S. passport, you have the right to visit Europe for up to 90 days at a time, visa-free – and travel insurance is not required for those short visits.
But if you want to stay in Europe for longer than 90 days, as part of the process of applying for a visa, most European countries will require you to have travel insurance.
Benefits of Travel Insurance When Traveling Abroad
Travel insurance in Europe can help you save money, but it also gives you priceless peace of mind. You don’t have to worry about racking up big bills or owing money to hospitals or clinics in other countries where you might not speak the language or understand how to navigate the healthcare system.
My travel insurance quickly and seamlessly reimbursed me for my Prague hospital bill and ambulance ride. I could’ve paid for that $750 of medical bills myself, but it felt so much better to have it covered by insurance. In case something even more serious or life-threatening ever happens to me while I’m traveling in Europe – whether it’s getting in a car crash or breaking my ankle while hiking and needing to be airlifted from a mountain in the Bavarian Alps – travel insurance will be my emergency backup plan.
Common Risks Covered by Travel Insurance
Travel insurance plans have a few different types of coverage, but some of the best travel insurance plans will cover you for any and all of these common risks:
- Pay for trip cancellation and interruption: If your trip gets canceled or interrupted by certain covered reasons like illness or a death in the family, travel insurance can help recoup your costs.
- Cover emergency medical expenses: If you need to go to the emergency room via ambulance like I did, travel insurance in Europe can cover the bills.
- See a dentist when you need it most: Some travel insurance plans also cover emergency dental care, in case you chip a tooth or experience a dental injury while traveling in Europe.
- Pay for catastrophic healthcare costs: The biggest medical bills can be financially ruinous. The best travel insurance plans offer emergency medical evacuation coverage of $100,000 or more.
Types of Travel Insurance Plans for Europe
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage
Also called “trip protection insurance,” this type of travel insurance plan can help cover the costs of canceling non-refundable travel expenses like flights, hotels, or cruise bookings. Even if you have already paid for part or all of your trip, if your departure date is still coming up, it’s often not too late to buy travel insurance with trip cancellation and interruption coverage.
The exact covered reasons to help you get benefits from trip cancellation or interruption coverage will depend on your insurance provider and plan. They might include:
- Illness of a covered traveler
- Death or serious illness of a close family member
- Change in plans of your travel companion
- Change in travel plans due to natural disaster or severe weather
- Job loss, new job, or job relocation
- Car accident involving you or a travel companion on your trip departure date
- You or a travel companion legally separates from or divorces a spouse
You can also look into "cancel for any reason" travel insurance, which allows you to cancel your trip without a covered reason. However, most CFAR plans only reimburse 75% of your expenses.
There’s a wide range of situations that might cause you to need travel insurance in Europe. Georgia Fowkes, Travel Advisor with Altezza Travel, says, “It’s the least expected situations that usually get you.” Georgia is a frequent international traveler, but she encountered a one-of-a-kind travel delay while flying out of Italy in 2023.
“Back in 2023, our flight from Catania, Sicily, got canceled due to volcanic ash on the runways,” Georgia said. “The airline refused to offer any assistance. But fortunately, our travel insurance covered our accommodation, meals, and the transport to the nearest operating airport in Palermo. This saved us enough money to book another trip!”
Emergency Medical and Evacuation Insurance
Travel medical insurance covers the cost of emergency medical expenses while you're abroad. They don't provide coverage for medical tourism and often have a sub-limit for dental expenses. Not all travel insurance plans offer medical insurance. On the other hand, there are some medical-only travel insurance plans, which are generally cheaper than the trip cancellation plans.
When looking for travel medical insurance, be sure to see how a company covers preexisting medical conditions. Most travel insurance companies offer a preexisting condition waiver, which allows you to get coverage for those conditions, as long as you purchase your policy within a certain time.
Evacuation insurance is also important. In case of severe illness or injury, this coverage helps pay for medevac helicopter flights and emergency transportation back to your home country. Benefits are on the high side, anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million.
Coverage for COVID-19 and Other Illnesses
Before you buy travel insurance, read the fine print to make sure it covers COVID-19 and any other illnesses that you might be worried about catching while traveling abroad. Some countries are at higher risk for certain illnesses, such as tropical diseases; some countries require vaccinations to enter. Many travel insurance plans cover COVID-19 and other common illnesses, though double check in the "Exclusions" section to be sure.
Lost Luggage and Travel Delay Insurance
Some travel insurance plans will also cover inconveniences while you travel. Your policy may offer coverage for lost or delayed baggage. Lost luggage benefits cover the cost of replacing your possessions if they're lost. If you're bringing expensive equipment, like cameras or electronics, you may want extra coverage or specific coverage for these items. Delayed baggage coverage covers the cost of items you purchase while waiting for your bags to arrive, like clothes and toiletries.
Similar to baggage delay coverage, travel delay benefits cover the cost of accommodations and food if your flight is delayed over a certain period of time.
Travel Insurance Requirements by Country
France Travel Insurance
France is part of the Schengen area of Europe, which means it only requires travel insurance for visitors who require a Schengen visa or who are staying longer than 90 days. If you’re an American visitor to France on a short visit of less than 90 days, you are not required to have travel insurance in France.
If you are a traveler who is required to have a Schengen visa, France (and other Schengen area countries) require you to have travel insurance. This legally required travel insurance has a minimum of 30,000 euros of insurance coverage, including emergency, hospital, and medical repatriation costs.
Italy Travel Insurance
Italy, like France, is part of the Schengen area. So that means short-term American visitors aren’t required to get travel insurance for Italy. If you want to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days, or if you are from a country that needs to apply for a Schengen visa, Italy requires you to have at least 30,000 euros of travel insurance coverage.
Spain Travel Insurance
Spain is another Schengen country, so travel insurance is not mandatory there if you’re an American passport holder on a short-term visit (less than 90 days). Spain does have one unique travel requirement: when checking in at your accommodations, you must share certain personal information like your home and email addresses, and any family relationships between people in your travel group.
Germany Travel Insurance
If you’re a U.S. tourist in Germany on a short visit (less than 90 days), you don’t have to buy travel insurance. Just like other countries on this list, having travel insurance in Germany is a good idea even if you’re not required to do it.
United Kingdom Travel Insurance
The United Kingdom is known for its government-operated healthcare system called the National Health Service. However, international visitors to England who receive NHS hospital care may have to pay a fee of 150% of the usual NHS rate. However, some forms of NHS healthcare, including A&E (accident & emergency) care that does not result in hospitalization, are exempt from this fee.
This actually happened to my family in 2017 when we were visiting friends in London: my son injured his hand while playing soccer, and he got treatment for free at a local hospital A&E (“emergency room”). NHS coverage for tourists has limits, so it’s still a good idea to get travel insurance for the United Kingdom.
Greece Travel Insurance
Greece is also part of the Schengen area of Europe, so Americans on short visits to Greece are not required to buy travel insurance. However, with all the activities you can take part in Greece and its islands, like swimming and hiking, travel insurance and specifically emergency evacuation coverage may be a good idea.
Switzerland Travel Insurance
Switzerland is another Schengen area country, so the same rules apply: travel insurance is not required for Americans or other visa-free travelers on short trips.
Travel insurance when traveling in Switzerland may be recommended, especially if you're participating in any activities on the Swiss Alps. Travel insurance can provide you with emergency medical evacuation in case of injury on the slopes. However, some travel insurance plans don't cover high-risk sports and extreme activities, such as skiing outside of marked trails or high-altitude mountain climbing.
How Much Does Travel Insurance for Europe Cost?
Average Premiums Based on Trip Length and Age
Based on Business Insider’s research, average travel insurance costs typically range from 4% to 8% of the total cost of the trip that you want to insure. Travel insurance for Europe is a bit more expensive than that range.
For example, here are a few recent average price ranges for travel insurance for Europe, according to SquareMouth travel insurance:
| Country | Average trip cost | Average cost of travel insurance | Percentage range |
| Italy | $6,176.03 | $309-$618 | 5%-10% |
| United Kingdom | $5,041.58 | $252-$504 | 5%-10% |
| Spain | $5,279.97 | $264-$528 | 5%-10% |
| France | $5,346.67 | $267-$535 | 5%-10% |
| Portugal | $4,579.68 | $229-$458 | 5%-10% |
Source: SquareMouth
How old you are will also affect the total cost of travel insurance for Europe. Unfortunately as people get older, they’re more likely to experience health events and require medical care. This can make older travelers more expensive to insure.
Here are recent average price ranges for travel insurance costs based on age for a few generations of world travelers:
| Generation | Average cost of trip | Average cost of travel insurance |
| Millennial (born 1981 through 1996) | $1,838.84 | $92-$184 |
| Gen X (born 1965 through 1980) | $2,366.34 | $118-$237 |
| Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) | $3,298.85 | $165-$330 |
Source: SquareMouth
Factors That Affect the Cost
The cost of your travel insurance will be based on a few factors, including:
- Total value of your trip: If you want to insure a bucket list dream vacation with non-refundable first class plane tickets, hotels, cruise bookings, prime season resort packages, and other high-end travel amenities, that’s going to make your travel insurance more expensive.
- Length of trip: The longer you're traveling, the higher the risk of injury, which raises premiums.
- Number of travelers: Travel insurance for a family of four will be more expensive than for a solo traveler. If you’re traveling with younger children, their travel insurance costs are often lower or even free. This benefit is known child-inclusive pricing.
- Age of the travelers: More senior travelers are statistically more likely to need medical care. As a result, their travel insurance costs more.
- Type of insurance: The type of trip insurance, whether you buy basic coverage or something more comprehensive, will have a huge impact on the price you end up paying.
How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Europe
Comparing Top Insurance Providers
The best way to compare top insurance providers is to acquire quotes from each company for your trip. You can use travel insurance aggregators like SquareMouth or InsureMyTrip to pull quotes for multiple companies at once and compare them side-by-side.
What to Look for in the Fine Print
You'll want to pay particular attention to the exclusions of your policy, like the covered reasons for trip cancellation. For example, many policies only cover trip cancellation due to work reasons only if you've been at the your current company for at least a year.
Your travel medical coverage will also have exclusions, excluding injuries as a result of certain actions and activities. Policies may also exclude incidents that arise as a result of a preexisting condition. You may be able to get around this with a preexisting condition waiver.
How to Buy Travel Insurance for a European Trip
When Should You Purchase Coverage?
You can buy travel insurance on the same day when you book your trip, but you don’t have to buy it at once. It’s almost never too late to buy travel insurance coverage. You can even buy travel insurance on the day before your trip. Just be aware that if you buy travel insurance within a certain time frame before your trip starts, you won’t be able to cancel your insurance.
It's worth noting that purchasing coverage early can qualify you for additional coverage options like preexisting condition waivers and cancel for any reason coverage.
Adding Travel Insurance to Your Flight or Tour Booking
Another easy way to buy travel insurance is to add it to your flight purchase or tour booking. Many travel websites will offer to sell travel insurance to you as an add-on purchase at checkout, right before you finalize your booking. Before you purchase, be sure the policy they offer has the benefits you need. You may be better off purchasing a separate plan.
From my experience traveling in Europe with travel insurance, I’ve found a few of these lessons to be valuable:
- Get more medical coverage and less baggage coverage: If I can save a few dollars by cutting my baggage delay insurance, I’ll do it. I can go without luggage for a few days, but I want coverage for the high-dollar, catastrophic medical expenses.
- When traveling with family, someone is usually going to need medical care: I’ve taken myself or my wife and kids to doctors and hospitals in Germany, London, and Japan. Travel insurance is a must-have! Don’t assume that healthcare in other countries is free or cheap; and even if it is, I wouldn’t want to be a burden on another country’s hospitals.
- Customer service matters: I had a great experience filing two separate claims with my Allianz travel insurance. My hospital bill and my ambulance invoice got paid fast, with no issues or glitches. The customer service people were easy to chat with and they processed my claims in days, not weeks. However, I wish my “real life” health insurance in America could be this easy!
Get Travel Insurance for Europe
FAQs
Do I need travel insurance for Europe from the U.S.?
You don't need travel insurance to travel to Europe from the U.S., but purchasing some coverage could be a smart idea in case you get injured.
What's the best travel insurance for Europe?
The best travel insurance for Europe depends on your total trip costs, age, health considerations, and other factors. It can be surprisingly affordable, around 4% to 8% of the total trip cost.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19 in Europe?
Most travel insurance plans cover COVID-19, but read the fine print to make sure COVID is covered. Some plans might list it as an "exclusion."
Is my U.S. health insurance valid in Europe?
No, generally your U.S. health insurance is not valid in Europe and won't cover any medical expenses abroad.
How much travel insurance should I get for Europe?
You should buy enough travel insurance coverage for your nonrefundable costs and possessions. If you're prone to illnesses, it may be smart to get more travel medical coverage.
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