Travel Insurance Guide 2026
Travel insurance is the least exciting part of a trip — and the most important. One hospital visit abroad can cost thousands of dollars. A cancelled flight can waste your whole holiday budget. Good travel insurance protects you from all of that for the price of a few coffees a day. This guide explains what travel insurance covers, how much it costs, and how to choose the right policy — in simple English.
Travel insurance — protect your trip before you fly.
TL;DR — The Short Version
What it is: a policy that pays for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost bags, and flight delays while you travel.
Cost: usually around 4–8% of your trip cost — a one-week policy often costs from $20–$60.
Mandatory for: Schengen visa (at least €30,000 medical cover) and several other countries.
Buy: as soon as you book your trip, not the day before you fly.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
A good policy covers four main things.
Medical emergencies: hospital treatment, doctor visits, and medicine if you get sick or hurt abroad — this is the most important cover.
Emergency transport: bringing you home by air ambulance if you are seriously ill.
Trip cancellation: your money back if you must cancel for a covered reason, like illness or a family emergency.
Lost or delayed bags: money for essentials if your luggage is lost or late. Many policies also cover flight delays, missed connections, and stolen belongings. Read the policy: cheap policies often leave out the things you need most.
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
Travel insurance usually costs around 4–8% of your total trip cost. A one-week policy for a healthy adult travelling to Europe or Asia often costs from $20–$60. A longer trip, an older traveller, or a trip to the USA (where hospitals are very expensive) costs more.
Annual policies — one policy for all your trips in a year — are good value if you travel three or more times a year. The price is small compared with a hospital bill, which can reach thousands of dollars a day.
How to Choose the Right Policy
- Medical cover: at least $100,000 is a good minimum; for the USA, choose $250,000 or more. For a Schengen visa, at least €30,000 is mandatory.
- Check the activities: skiing, scuba diving, and adventure sports usually need extra cover — a normal policy does not include them.
- Check pre-existing conditions: tell the insurer about any health condition. Hiding it can mean a refused claim.
- Check the excess: the amount you pay yourself before the insurer pays. A lower excess means a higher price, but a fairer claim.
- Check COVID and cancellation rules: make sure the policy covers the reasons you might actually cancel.
- Buy early: buy insurance as soon as you book your trip. If you buy it the day before you fly, cancellation cover may not apply.
Travel Insurance and Visas
Some countries require travel insurance before they give you a visa. The Schengen area requires at least
€30,000 of medical cover, valid in all Schengen countries for your whole trip. The UAE and several other countries also ask for insurance. Always buy the insurance before your visa appointment, and print the certificate to include with your documents.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying the cheapest policy: the cheapest policy often has low medical cover and many exclusions. Read the cover limits, not just the price.
- Not declaring health conditions: if you hide a condition and then claim for it, the insurer can refuse to pay.
- Forgetting adventure cover: skiing, diving, and motorbikes usually need extra cover.
- No proof: keep your policy number and the insurer's 24-hour emergency number on your phone and on paper.
- Waiting until the last day: buy insurance when you book the trip, so cancellation cover starts immediately.
What to Do If Something Happens
If you get sick or hurt, call the insurer's emergency number first — it is printed on your policy and works 24 hours a day. They will tell you which hospital to go to and may pay the hospital directly. Keep every receipt, medical report, and police report. Take photos of damaged or stolen items.
Report a theft to the local police within 24 hours — insurers usually require a police report. File your claim as soon as you get home, with all documents attached.
Travel Insurance for Families, Seniors and Long Trips
Some travellers need more than a basic policy. Here is what to know.
Families: family policies cover two adults and children on one policy, and they are usually cheaper than separate policies. Children are often free or very cheap on a family policy. Check the age limit for children — it is usually 18, sometimes 21 if they are students.
Long trips: most single-trip policies cover up to 30, 60, or 90 days. For longer trips, you need a long-stay or backpacker policy, which covers 6–12 months. These cost more, but they are much cheaper than buying several short policies.
Older travellers: travellers over 65 usually pay more, and some cheap policies stop covering at 70 or 75. Always check the age limit before you buy, and declare all health conditions — insurers for older travellers often ask more questions, but honest answers mean your claims will actually be paid.
People with health conditions: many insurers offer cover for conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart problems, sometimes for an extra fee. Specialist insurers exist for almost every condition. Never hide a condition: if you claim for something related to it, the insurer can refuse the whole claim.
Frequent travellers: if you travel three or more times a year, an annual multi-trip policy is usually the best value — one price, every trip covered, often including winter sports cover as an option.
Business travellers: check that your policy covers laptops and business equipment — the single-item limit on a normal policy is often too low for a good laptop. Whatever your situation, read the policy document before you pay. The summary page shows the price; the policy document shows what you actually get.
Travel Insurance for Adventure Activities
Normal travel insurance does not cover adventure activities. If you plan to ski, snowboard, scuba dive, surf, ride a motorbike, or go hiking at high altitude, you need extra cover.
Most insurers sell an adventure or winter-sports add-on for a small extra fee — buy it before you travel, because you cannot add it after an accident.
Check the details: scuba cover often stops at 18 or 30 metres, ski cover may not include off-piste skiing, and motorbike cover often requires a valid licence and a helmet.
If you rent a scooter in Thailand or Bali, know that many policies do not cover scooter accidents at all — this is the most common refused claim in Southeast Asia. Read the activity list in your policy document before you go, and if your activity is not listed, ask the insurer in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need travel insurance?
Yes. One hospital visit abroad can cost thousands of dollars. Insurance costs a few dollars a day and protects you from that.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Usually around 4–8% of your trip cost. A one-week policy often costs from $20–$60 for a healthy adult.
What is the minimum medical cover I need?
At least $100,000 is a good minimum. For a Schengen visa, at least €30,000 is mandatory. For the USA, choose $250,000 or more.
Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation?
A good policy does, for covered reasons like illness or a family emergency. Read the policy to see which reasons count.
Does travel insurance cover my phone or camera?
Many policies cover stolen belongings up to a limit, but expensive items may need extra cover. Check the single-item limit.
Can I buy travel insurance after I leave home?
Some companies allow it, but cover is weaker and cancellation cover usually does not apply. Buy before you travel.
Does travel insurance cover adventure sports?
Usually not in a basic policy. Skiing, scuba diving, and similar activities need extra cover.
How do I make a claim?
Call the insurer's emergency number during the trip, keep all receipts and reports, and file the claim online when you get home.
Related Guides
Schengen Visa Guide · How to Find Cheap Flights · Dubai Travel Guide · Paris Travel Guide
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