Buying Insurance For Europe Travel? Here’s What You Need To Know

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You’ve purchased your tickets, booked that dream hotel near the water in Barcelona or on the island of Cyprus, but there’s one thing you haven’t crossed off your travel to-do list — buying insurance for Europe travel.

I have to admit I used to always fall into this category.

“To buy or not to buy travel insurance“, that is the question! Because honestly, who wants to dish out extra money on top of buying an expensive trip.

Hear me out, well I’m all about budget travel and living on the edge, health should always be your number one priority (period). Whether you’re 19 or 75 years young, travel insurance is for everyone because health and safety is for everyone.

If you’re deciding whether or not you should purchase travel insurance… it’s 100% worth it. Below, I’ll explain why. But if you don’t have time to read through this post and are ready to buy travel insurance, I got you covered.

Travel Insurance Master is my go-to brand for:

• the website is user friendly
• have a side by side comparison chart
• cancel for any reason, medical, or work coverage

If you’re wanting a detailed review — read this interview with Chelsea Capwell, the Marketing and Affiliate Manager at Travel Insurance Master.

Safetywing is my go-to brand for:

• remote working
• long-term traveling
• digital nomads

Don’t forget to add these items to your Europe travel checklist too!

Why do you need insurance for Europe travel?

Travel insurance should always be at the top of your travel checklist. It’s important for a number of reasons too. First off, depending where you’re travel, your medical insurance may not work, especially abroad — that’s where travel insurance comes in.

Believe it or not, you’ll never know when you’ll need it. While many trips may be smooth sailing, there could be that one trip when everything goes south. For instance, during our trip to Malta, Evan fell pretty hard during one of our adventures, sliced open his eyebrows, and lost a tooth. He needed immediate medical attention. Luckily we had travel insurance (thanks Travel Insurance Master!), so we never paid a dime for the incident.

On top of protecting health, travel insurance may also cover missed flights, lost luggage, canceled hotels or Airbnbs, stolen items, and more. This coverage will depend on what type of insurance you buy.

In addition to purchasing insurance for travel to Europe, it’s also important to have for cruising, visiting other non-European destinations (i.e. Africa, Asia, Antarctica, etc.) and for domestic travel.

Ultimately, travel insurance is necessary for any type of trip and any destination.

Will my current U.S. health insurance cover me abroad in Europe?

Unfortunately, probably not. Most U.S. health insurance policies do not cover any travel to Europe or any other country. In fact, many U.S. health insurances only cover emergency visits out of state, except for Hawaii (source). Check ups, non-emergency visits, etc. most likely aren’t covered outside of your home state (it’s best to confirm with your insurance).

If you’re looking for an option that covers both domestic and international travels… meet travel insurance, the shining superhero of travel and healthcare.

What countries does insurance for Europe travel cover?

This will completely depend on the Europe travel insurance you select. Europe is split into the Schengen area, non-Schengen area, and the United Kingdom. Inside the Schengen area you’ll find countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, etc. While outside the Schengen area, there’s Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, etc.

Some insurances may only cover the Schengen area. Therefore if you’re flying into London to see Big Ben, then making a stop in Paris for crepes, followed by a visit to the gorgeous island of Cyprus — you’ll want to double check your travel insurance covers all three areas.

Will I need to apply for a Schengen visa too?

If you’re a U.S. citizen with a U.S. passport you won’t need to “technically” apply for a Schengen visa. These visas last 90 days and as soon as you enter into the Europe Schengen zone, the visa will take effect for U.S. passport holders. However, if you’re not a U.S. passport holder, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa.

Keep in mind, if you’re visiting countries outside this zone, there may be different visa requirements. And, there may be different travel insurance requirements as well. Therefore, it’s always best to double check entry requirements before visiting.

Here’s a list of the Schengen Member States.

When is the best time to buy travel insurance?

While anytime before you travel is the best time to buy travel insurance, the absolute best time to buy it is right after you book your flight or make a deposit for your vacation. That way you get to use extended coverage perks like:

• Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)
• Cancel for Medical
• Cancel for Work Reasons

Additionally you’ll find coverage for weather such as hurricanes, employment layoff, and much more! When you buy it early, you don’t have to worry about itinerary changes that are outside of your control. In some cases, you may be completely covered based on the insurance plan you buy.

That’s one of the reasons I’m a huge fan of Travel Insurance Master, because you’re able to compare the best travel insurance providers side-by-side without having several screens open. You can read all the coverage perks, and choose which is the best for you or your family.

Is travel insurance expensive?

It doesn’t have to be. Similar to health insurance, you get to choose what type of coverage you want for both your health and travel. The more coverage you want, the more expensive it is — simple as that.

It’s based on factors like: overall trip cost, individual details, number of travelers (which is great for booking travel insurance with a loved one or you can do it per person if you’re traveling solo), and extended coverage plans like Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR).

Overall I’ve found travel insurance to be extremely reasonable and cheaper than monthly health insurance payments. It’s well worth it and I’ve found Safetywing to be one of the most affordable travel insurances!

How much travel insurance will I need?

This number is different for everyone and changes trip to trip, and age to age. In the long run, you want to make sure you’re completely covered. This means you’ll want to ensure that your travel insurance covers emergency evacuations and medical expenses starting at $100,000.

With that in mind, you’ll also want to factor in other expenses you’ve paid for during your trip. Did you book excursions? Do you want your luggage covered? What about cancellation coverage? All of these are great questions to ask as you decide how much travel insurance you need.

The comparison chart on Travel Insurance Master makes it easy to compare travel insurance providers. It shares the exact dollar amount, the amount of coverage, and you’re able to filter through other benefits such as rental car coverage, Schengan visa, identity theft, accidental theft, loss or delayed baggage, and more.

Can you cancel your insurance for any reason?

You can cancel just about anything nowadays, but that doesn’t mean you’ll want to. Depending on your insurance provider there may be cost for canceling your insurance, or you may just eat the cost of what you’ve already paid.

Frankly, I wouldn’t recommend canceling. Whether you trip is changing due to unforeseen circumstances, or being canceled — keeping your travel insurance will save you some bucks in the long run. But if you absolutely need to, I get it.

Can I request a quote?

Absolutely! Requesting a travel insurance quote is pretty straightforward on many sites. I’ve used Travel Guard Travel Insurance, Atlas Travel Medical Insurance, Safetywing, and Travel Insurance Master before.

All you do in plug in information regarding the number of travelers, age, date of first payment of the trip, overall trip cost, location, etc., then wallah!

A quote is generate right there on the spot.

What’s unique about Safetywing?

Safetywing Travel Insurance is a newer travel insurance company that’s hands-down the best travel insurance if you’re planning on traveling long term. It’s also great for digital nomads, remote working, and work cations! In fact, the insurance is specifically designed for this type of traveler, which is why I highly recommend this company if that’s your travel style.

The insurance includes medical and travel coverage and has some great perks. Some of these perks include:

• Paying month to month. This is an awesome benefit for digital nomads because it allows you stay covered without having to set an end date on your travels. It also means you won’t have a huge charge upfront like other travel insurance companies. Safetywing also offers automatic renewal.
• Flexibility and affordability. This insurance is budget-friendly and it easy to have continuous coverage if you’re visiting multiple countries during your trip.
• Covers you in your home country. Whether you’re abroad or traveling two states over, Safetywing provides medical travel coverage. So if you’re stopping home between trips, rest assured that you’ll be covered.

In addition, the company also offers global health insurance for remote teams. This is a great option if you run an online business that extends worldwide (i.e. coaching, blogging, etc.) as it allows your employees or contractors to get medical coverage.

How can I book travel insurance with Safetywing?

Booking with Safetywing is super easy! All you have to do in plug in your information below in the box and a quote will be generated for you.

What’s unique about Travel Insurance Master?

While I’ve had a great experience will all the travel insurance providers, Travel Insurance Master wins for being the most easy to navigate. It’s been seen in Forbes and is also a newer travel insurance company, similar to Safetywing.

For instance, purchasing insurance with AIG Travel Guard directly will give you three quotes — deluxe, preferred, and essential — while Travel Insurance Master will give you 20 plans or possibly more (or slightly less) depending where you’re traveling.

This includes plans from AIG Travel Guard, Go Ready, Travel Insured International, and many more. That way you can choose the best travel provider and the best plan with the most bang for your buck.

With that being said, Travel Insurance Master offers three main insurance plans:

• Comprehensive plans (provides the most coverage including trip cancellation)
• Limited plans (medium coverage without trip cancellation)
• Specialty plans (basic coverage without medical expenses, trip cancellation, etc.)

Plus you’re able to get 100% reimbursement if you cancel your trip before it starts. Keep in mind this reimbursement is only good for non-refundable prepaid trip expenses, which is pretty great coverage! Just double check your provider to see what’s covered.

How can I book travel insurance with Travel Insurance Master?

It’s super easy to get setup with Travel Insurance Master. In fact, it only takes three steps!

Step 1: Go to the Travel Insurance Master website.

Step 2: Enter the information about your trip and about you.

Step 3: Search through the insurance providers listed and choose the best option for you! At this step you can also look through the left side panel to filter out different plan types.

Here’s what the results window looks like.

Step 4: Purchase your selected plan and your insurance will be sent to your email.

Happy traveling!

More resources for European travel

• The Best Hot Springs To Visit in Europe Any Time of Year
• The Most Beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe
• Insider Tips for the Best Christmas Market Experience
• How to Plan an Epic Road Trip Through Cyprus