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If you’re not properly prepared, unexpected events can completely ruin your vacation. Protect yourself with international travel insurance to minimize dealing with expenses relating to cancellation, medical bills, personal liability and a whole lot more.
Everyone’s travel needs are unique. Before buying an international travel insurance policy you may want to consider:
One of the most important areas of coverage for overseas travel insurance is coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuation. Most insurers will provide coverage for:
It’s possible to take out international travel insurance if you have pre-existing medical conditions, but not all pre-existing medical conditions will be covered under your policy. The definition of pre-existing medical conditions includes a range of medical and dental conditions of which you are aware, which have been investigated and/or treated by a health professional, or any condition for which you have had surgery or for which you take prescribed medicine.
The list of conditions excluded from many policies includes things like cancer, chronic or recurring pain, HIV infection and cardiovascular disease. If you end up in a medical emergency as a result of your uncovered pre-existing medical condition, you will have to cover your overseas medical expenses —which can be very expensive in some countries.
But some pre-existing conditions are automatically covered by many international travel insurance policies. These include acne, some allergies, asthma in people under 60 years of age, diabetes (terms and conditions apply), epilepsy and migraines.
If your condition is not automatically covered by the insurer, you have to provide further evidence around the nature of your condition and any current treatment you are undertaking. In some cases the insurer will exclude the condition from coverage or apply a premium loading. It’s always worth contacting your insurer to discuss your condition prior to purchasing coverage.
Depending on your provider, it may also be possible to purchase coverage for other pre-existing medical conditions, so read the fine print and speak to an insurance advisor to determine how each policy applies to you.
One common question people have when looking for international travel insurance is whether or not they can get coverage for pregnancy. You can. Depending on the provider, you can get coverage for up to 26 weeks pregnant.
It’s possible for seniors to get international travel insurance but there’s likely to be a premium loading for travelers over the age of 60. While conditions may vary between providers, most insurers will apply the following terms for older travelers looking to apply:
Age | Able to take out a travel policy? |
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Under 60 | Able to purchase any policy pending pre-existing medical conditions |
Older than 60 years old | Able to purchase any policy though will usually have to pay an additional premium |
Younger than 75 years old | Able to purchase policy with reduced coverage and benefits |
Younger than 80 years old | Able to purchase policy with reduced coverage and benefits |
Older than 80 years old | Will usually be required to submit evidence of their medical history before coverage is granted |
The following events are generally not covered on international travel insurance policies:
Generally, coverage for losses experienced while working overseas is generally excluded. That said, there are a number of policies designed for backpacker travelers that will provide some coverage in the event that you suffer an injury while working casually overseas.
Some tips for those looking to live and work overseas:
Though coverage can vary between providers, most insurance companies will provide coverage for the following countries and regions:
However, it’s important to remember that some policies will not cover you if you visit a destination the US government has issued a warning against traveling. Make sure to be aware of government alerts. The State Department page under U.S. Passports & International Travel is the best resource for checking what countries have warnings.
The amount you pay for international travel insurance will depend on a number of factors including:
If you have a credit card or high end debit card, you may already have travel insurance for international trips. However, make sure you understand the coverage provided and how it works prior to your departure. To work out if you’re getting the best international travel insurance from your credit card you may want to ask yourself:
When you’re going overseas, you may want to consider the following:
Overseas travel insurance typically includes coverage for the following:
Medical expenses | If you require medical assistance overseas, your international travel insurance policy covers costs for situations such as emergency dental treatment, ambulance transport and hospital stays. Repatriation to the US is sometimes covered |
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Additional accommodation and travel expenses | If a medical adviser certifies that you’re unfit to travel due to illness or injury, your international travel insurance may cover any additional accommodation and travel expenses |
Hospital cash allowance | Some overseas travel insurance policies include a hospital cash allowance to help cover out-of-pocket expenses if you or your traveling partner is hospitalized |
Family emergency | Coverage kicks in if your traveling companion or a relative dies unexpectedly, becomes disabled or falls seriously ill |
Changing my trip | If an unexpected event such as illness or job loss forces you to cancel your trip while traveling or before you’ve left home, overseas travel insurance can reimburse you for the non-refundable trip expenses |
Luggage and travel documents | Should your luggage or documents be lost, stolen or damaged during your travels, your policy covers the cost of repairing or replacing them |
Delayed baggage | Airlines seem to misplace luggage on a regular basis, so if the arrival of your luggage is delayed you might be eligible for a cash allowance to help you purchase essential items like clothing and toiletries |
Lost money and credit cards | If you lose your wallet or have money stolen, your policy will help replace your cash. Coverage is also available to help replace lost or stolen credit cards and to prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud |
Coverage for car rental deductibles | Your policy will cover your deductibles if your rental vehicle is stolen, damaged or in an accident |
Delayed travel | If pre-booked transportation on your journey is delayed due to circumstances outside your control, overseas travel insurance policies will pay a benefit to cover any additional accommodation expenses |
Postponing a trip | In the event that you’re forced to go home due to sudden injury, sickness or death of a relative or business partner, your insurance plan will cover the airfare to transport you back overseas so you can resume your journey |
Alternative transportation | If your travel is delayed, making you late to an event like a wedding, funeral or sporting event, your insurance will cover alternative transport arrangements to get you there on time |
Out of work | If you suffer an injury while traveling that prevents you from returning to work, your policy can provide a monthly benefit payment to help cover your loss of income |
Disability | If you suffer an injury on your trip and become permanently disabled, your insurance coverage will offer a benefit payout |
Death | Should tragedy strike and result in your death, a benefit will be paid to your estate to help your family look after their finances while they deal with their loss |
Personal liability | If you are legally liable to pay compensation for damage caused to someone else’s property or the injury or death of someone else, your insurance will cover the cost |
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