Travel Health Insurance 2026: When You Need It

An appendectomy in the United States costs $30,000 to $60,000. A broken leg from a ski accident in Australia: $10,000 to $20,000. A hospital stay in Thailand: $1,000 to $5,000 depending on severity.

Your public health insurance covers none of this. That’s not a small gap. It’s a financial catastrophe when it happens.

When does public health insurance cover you abroad?

European public health insurance has agreements with specific countries. Within the EU and a few additional countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and others) there is mutual recognition.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is the key. You find it on the back of your health insurance card. With the EHIC, public doctors and hospitals in EU countries treat you under the same conditions as local residents.

That sounds good. But it’s not always enough. The EHIC only covers public doctors and hospitals. Many tourist destinations primarily have private clinics. Emergency medical repatriation is not covered. And in many countries, public healthcare quality is well below what you’re used to.

For every other destination: no EHIC agreement, no public health coverage. USA, Canada, Mexico, Asia, Australia, Africa, South America: you pay everything yourself.

What does travel health insurance cover?

Travel health insurance covers medically necessary treatment abroad that goes beyond your regular public health coverage.

Standard benefits:

Outpatient and inpatient treatment for illness and accidents
Emergency surgery
Medication
Medical repatriation to your home country (often the most expensive item)
Emergency dental treatment (often capped at a basic amount)

Not covered in standard policies:

Pre-existing conditions (check the specific policy terms)
Planned treatments (not for medical tourism)
Pregnancy after week 28
Extreme sports without an add-on (climbing, diving, motorcycling)

The Association of British Insurers publishes guidance on travel insurance standards and what to look for in a policy.

What does travel health insurance cost?

Annual cover (worldwide, up to 42 to 56 days per trip depending on provider): €30 to €60 per person. Family cover: €50 to €90.

Single trip cover: €5 to €20 depending on duration and destination.

USA/Canada/Australia: Sometimes more expensive. Some providers exclude these countries from basic cover or charge an additional premium. Read the fine print.

Reliable providers to consider:

Allianz Travel
ERV (European Travel Insurance)
Staysure
AXA Travel Insurance
HanseMerkur

Independent consumer organisations like the UK’s Which? or Germany’s Stiftung Warentest regularly compare travel health insurance. Worth checking before you buy.

When do you absolutely need travel health insurance?

Always when you travel outside the EU and EHIC partner countries. That’s the absolute baseline rule.

Especially critical for:

USA, Canada, Australia, Japan: very high treatment costs
Countries without a developed public health system: Egypt, Southeast Asia, parts of Latin America
Active holidays and sport: higher accident risk

Also worthwhile within the EU if you:

Want access to private clinics
Want repatriation cover
Travel in countries with weaker healthcare systems

More in our guide travel insurance: what’s actually worth it and the USA national parks guide (where US medical costs are particularly relevant).

Zercy builds live flight prices into every travel plan. Enter your destination and get instant comparison links. Save your shortlist in your Zercy Logbook so you have all options handy when booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the EHIC card enough for travel?

The EHIC works for straightforward trips within the EU and EHIC partner countries, if you’re comfortable using the public health system and don’t do high-risk activities. For long trips, sports, or countries with poor public healthcare, it’s not enough. Repatriation is never covered by the EHIC.

What does a hospital emergency cost in the USA without insurance?

An emergency room visit (even without surgery) in the US costs between $2,000 and $10,000. An appendectomy: $30,000 to $60,000. A heart attack with intensive care: easily $100,000 or more. These numbers are not exaggerated. Without insurance you pay out of pocket.

How far in advance do you need to buy travel health insurance?

Most policies can be purchased the day before departure. Some require you to buy before the trip booking date (for combination policies that include trip cancellation). For pure medical cover, buying shortly before departure is fine. But don’t wait until you’re at the airport.

What happens with pre-existing conditions?

Pre-existing conditions are the most critical point. Most policies cover acute emergencies abroad even with a pre-existing condition. Planned treatments and chronic conditions that flare up are generally not covered. When in doubt: ask the insurer before purchasing and get written confirmation.

Travel Health Insurance: When You Need It and What It Costs