11 Common Travel Insurance Questions
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I’ve written about buying backpackers insurance and what I think are the best travel insurance companies out there, but now I want to aggregate all the common travel insurance questions and misperceptions I learned along the way.
🙈 My Confession: I’m one of those people who has NOT always had travel insurance. I always thought I was covered by my travel credit card or my work insurance on international trips, or I randomly assumed my dad had me on some sort of family policy (wtf, in what delusional world do I live in?).
Now, I go with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance – it’s straightforward, comprehensive, and, depending on the policy, one of the more affordable travel insurance options out there.
The thing is, when you’re young and dumb, the risk is not something you think about intimately.
But it should be because when you’re the type of person who likes to go paragliding in Turkey, climbing tall mountains in the Dolomites, and surfing off remote beaches in Portugal, the out-of-pocket cost of getting injured and rescued is enormous. Not to mention, a real buzz kill.
I think there is a general ignorance about the importance of travel insurance and what it actually buys you.
I also think there are a lot of companies out there to sort through, and it can be intimidating.
For me, this was an illuminating journey of what I think is a pretty ‘read the fine print‘ type of topic. In all honesty, my basic ass had a lot of AHA moments studying travel insurance, and I’d like to share some of them with you.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
1. Why Should I Get Travel Insurance?
Why is travel insurance important? It’s a financial safety net while you’re out and about exploring the world.
These are the most compelling reasons for me:
- Peace of mind while traveling for not a lot of money.
- If you get hurt, you won’t go broke trying to get the care you need.
- Medical evacuation (for more extreme sports or remote and high-altitude places)
- Ability & help to get medical care abroad if you need it
I get it, though – when you’re solo traveling on a budget, it’s easy to fall into the trap of – well, nothing has happened so far, so what are the chances anything will happen in the future? Fake news, just because something hasn’t happened yet, does not mean it won’t.
As for what’s in it for you? In my opinion, it’s cost savings.
Getting robbed, sick, injured, or delayed while traveling happens – it just does.
This is where your travel and medical insurance will hook it up with reimbursements.
Your US medical insurance won’t cover you outside of the States, and paying out of pocket for things in Europe, where healthcare is cheaper, adds up fast.
As an example, I paid $70 for basic blood work and lab tests in Romania, an otherwise budget-friendly Eastern European country.
Compare that with SafetyWing (my favorite travel insurance company), which covers pretty much everything that happens on the road. Plans vary, but I was paying about $56 a month for the basic option.
Their plans include:
- $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
- $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
- $100,000 USD for medical evacuation (most expensive thing ever, don’t get caught paying for this out of pocket!!!)
- $10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval
- $5,000 USD for a trip interruption
- $200 USD for a travel delay
- $12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment
In general, travel insurance helps cover your ass when you go into the unknown and have an oopsy!
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
2. Is Travel Insurance the Same As Health Insurance?
No, travel insurance is more than just health insurance. Travel insurance covers all sorts of emergencies.
Here are a few examples:
- Medical emergencies (obvi, like when you get sick or your tooth starts hurting)
- Trip cancellation
- Lost/Damaged/Stolen possessions
- Emergency evacuation (this is the big one, and it’s super expensive out of pocket!)
- Expatriation should there be a natural disaster
- Trip interruption or delay
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
3. My Credit Card Offers Travel Insurance. Do I need extra to travel to Europe?
Don’t rely on credit card coverage, especially for medical emergency expenses while traveling abroad.
I have both the Capital One Venture and Chase Saphire Preferred credit cards, and while they do offer some basic insurance, the service is not comprehensive. These cards are good for travel rewards like booking flights with points or using basic car rental insurance, but they are not good enough to cover travel insurance and medical needs.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve (which has a ~$500 annual fee) will have more comprehensive coverage, coming close to what travel insurance covers:
- Canceled nonrefundable expenses like tours & hotels due to things like you getting sick or severe weather (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip)
- Up to $3,000 for checked or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost
- Up to $500 for delayed flights over 6 hours (for things like lodging and meals). I
- Medical emergency and evacuation, you’re covered up to $100,000.
Plus, these premium travel cards are only available in the USA, and not everyone has them. And the rest of the cards I know don’t pay for shit when it comes to travel issues.
My favorite travel insurance company, SafetyWing is way more comprehensive with what they cover, and their monthly plans are way more affordable than the travel credit card membership fees. Here’s the gist:
- $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
- $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
- $100,000 USD for medical evacuation
- $10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval
- $5,000 USD for a trip interruption
- $200 USD for a travel delay
- $12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
4. How Does Travel Medical Insurance Work?
Travel medical insurance covers emergency care while you’re traveling, except for stupid things like if you get drunk or high and hurt yourself (it does not cover negligence).
PRO TIP: When you buy travel insurance, save the phone number they give you in your phone, along with the policy ID number. This way, you have it handy in case of emergency 24/7 when you travel.
So, how does it work, and how do you use it? Usually, your travel insurance will have a number you can call if shit goes down. One of their representatives will answer, you will explain your situation, and they will guide you.
More than likely, you will pay for the medical help out of pocket, and then you will file a claim with the insurance company after. Make sure you keep all receipts and documentation – this is your proof.
Depending on your policy, the claim can reimburse you if your luggage is lost, if you slip and break something hiking, if you get food poisoning and miss a reservation, or if you need to go home early due to a death in the family.
It does not work like your health insurance back home. This means you can’t go to a doctor abroad at any time or for a regular checkup (it has to be an emergency), and it does not cover you if you’re injured while drunk or high.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
5. What Does Travel Insurance Cost?
It really depends on your age, the duration and cost of your trip, and which company you use.
For one week of basic coverage, here are some common travel insurance company comparisons:
- SafetyWing: ~$56 (what I use)
- World Nomads: ~$90
- Allianz: ~$150
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
6. Can I Get Treated for an Illness I Already Have?
Most travel insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses, so you’re out of luck if you need it to help you get medication abroad.
What I do when I travel for long periods of time is stock up at home.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
7. Can I See A Doctor Whenever I Want?
Travel insurance is not like health insurance in the sense that you can see a doctor whenever you want while traveling.
If it’s a medical emergency, you should call your travel insurance company, and they will help guide you to a doctor.
Travel insurance does not cover you if you want a regular physical or a preventative care type thing. That’s what your health insurance back home is for.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
8. I Got Drunk and Hurt Myself. Does Travel Insurance Cover Me?
Lol, no. You being a negligent dumbass is not covered. Be better.
Jokes aside, if you get hurt while drunk or on drugs at a rave in Albania, you’re on your own for the payment – straight out of pocket.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
9. I’m a Senior. What Are My Options?
In my research, I have not found any real insurance options for seniors, likely because seniors (like those over 65 or 70 years old) are considered high-risk.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
10. Will Travel Insurance Send Me Home If I Get Sick or Injured?
Getting sent back to your home country is called ‘repatriation,’ and that only happens if there’s a life-threatening issue and you need specialized intensive care. Most of the time (think 98% of the time), you stay where you are and get treated.
So, if you tear an ACL hiking in the Alps, your insurance will send you the nearest acceptable facility to patch you up. They don’t send you home.
The travel insurance will pay for your treatment and the stuff you had to cancel because of the emergency, but you still have to get yourself home.
This means that you either pay out of pocket to get home early or cool your jets and wait for your original flight to go home. Travel insurance won’t pay for the convenience of changing your flight back home to an earlier date, for example.
Travel Insurance Questions Answered
11. Does My Travel Insurance Cover Me In My Home Country?
Normally, no, your travel insurance does not cover you in your home country. This is where your home insurance kicks in.
Your travel insurance will cover you in the designated countries and dates you choose when you sign up for your policy. I usually select the dates based on my flights, including the dates I’m flying.
Final Thoughts: Favorite Travel Insurance Company
There are a ton more nuances to cover, but this is the gist when it comes to travel insurance questions and misperceptions.
There are a few good travel insurance companies out there, but my favorite is SafetyWing, and it’s the one I use.
Their standard coverage costs about $56 for four weeks of travel outside the United States (for travelers aged 10-39). That’s the lowest price I know for reliable and comprehensive travel insurance.
Here’s a quick overview of what SafetyWing offers as a basic package so you know:
- Best for digital nomads and budget travelers
- Super affordable plans (with a $250 deductible for US residents)
- Can purchase and renew plans while abroad
- Claims can be filed online
- $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
- Friendly and responsive customer service
- After being abroad for 90 days, you keep your medical coverage for 30 days in your home country (15 days for US residents)
I hope this post has been illuminating and educational in the travel insurance space. If there are any more questions, just email me.
