Do You Need to Purchase Health Insurance When Traveling Out of the Country?

Medical emergencies can happen anywhere, and your regular health insurance probably won’t cover care in another country. Travel medical insurance can help pay for emergency care if you get sick or injured while traveling abroad. Below, we’ll discuss how travel medical insurance works so you can determine if it’s a good option for you. 

What is travel medical insurance?

Travel medical insurance is a short-term policy that pays for emergency medical care when you’re visiting another country. 

Let’s say you’re on vacation in Portugal and you break your ankle while hiking. Your regular health insurance likely won’t cover an emergency room visit or any other care you need in Portugal. But travel medical insurance can cover those costs, including the ambulance ride, the hospital bill, and any prescription medications you need. Otherwise, you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket. 

How is travel medical insurance different from regular health insurance? 

When you’re in the U.S., your regular health insurance will cover healthcare services like: 

• Routine checkups

• Preventive screenings

• Treatment for chronic conditions

Some plans may offer limited emergency coverage abroad, but regular health insurance isn’t meant to be your main source of coverage while traveling internationally. It typically doesn’t cover overseas hospital stays, medical evacuations, or care from out-of-network healthcare professionals outside the U.S. 

A travel medical insurance policy is usually temporary and only covers you for a certain number of days. It’s meant for unexpected medical emergencies while you’re abroad. Travel medical insurance can’t replace your regular health insurance, but it can help keep you safe when you travel. 

What does travel medical insurance cover?

Most travel insurance plans cover medical emergencies and related costs while you’re abroad. Coverage varies by insurer, but here’s what’s typically included.

Services Typically Covered by Travel Medical Insurance

What’s typically not covered

Travel medical insurance doesn’t cover everything. Common exclusions include:

• Treatment for preexisting conditions: care related to illnesses or injuries you had before buying the policy 

• Routine care: regular checkups, vaccinations, and preventive screenings 

• Nonemergency care: elective procedures that can safely wait until you return home 

• Medical tourism: care received when you travel specifically to get treatment abroad 

• Injuries from high-risk activities: accidents related to extreme sports such as  skydiving, bungee jumping, or rock climbing (unless you add coverage)

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• How to stay protected with Medicare while abroad: A Medigap plan may help cover emergency healthcare costs when you’re traveling outside the U.S.

• Short-term health insurance: Short-term health insurance plans can provide temporary coverage, but they’re not the same as travel medical insurance. Here’s what to know about short-term plans.

• There are a few things to know when traveling with medications. Learn what medications are allowed on planes, how to pack and store them safely, and more.

Traveling to a high-risk area can also be a reason coverage is denied. Care in countries under travel advisories may be excluded.

Read your policy documents carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered before traveling.

What preexisting conditions are not covered by travel medical insurance? 

A preexisting condition is any health issue you have before your travel insurance is active. This could be a condition you’ve been diagnosed with, treated for, or prescribed medication for. For example, if you take daily medication for high blood pressure or use an inhaler for asthma, your insurer would view your condition as preexisting.

Most travel medical insurance plans don’t cover health problems linked to a preexisting condition unless you buy extra coverage. Here are some conditions that may be considered preexisting:

• Heart disease 

• High blood pressure

• Asthma and other lung conditions

• Diabetes

• Arthritis

• Cancer

• Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions

Can you get travel insurance if you have a preexisting condition? 

Yes, you can get travel medical insurance if you have a preexisting condition, but you may have coverage limits or extra requirements. It depends on the insurer and the plan you choose.

For example, some policies offer a preexisting condition waiver, which lets you add coverage for an extra cost. You usually have to buy this when you first purchase your policy, often within a set number of days after booking your trip.

How much does travel medical insurance cost?

A travel medical insurance policy costs an average of  $40 to $80 per trip, or about $5 per travel day, depending on your coverage level and age.

What you pay for travel medical insurance may be higher or lower than average depending on factors, like: 

• Age: Older travelers usually pay more due to higher health risks.

• Trip length: Longer trips may cost more to insure.

• Coverage amount: Higher benefit limits can increase your premium.

• Deductible: The lower your deductible, the higher your premium may be.

• Where you live: Rules about travel insurance vary by state. This can affect what plans are available to you.

• Destination: Remote or high-risk areas often mean higher coverage limits and higher premiums.

• Preexisting conditions: Adding coverage for preexisting conditions increases the cost.

• Activities: Coverage for adventure sports or high-risk activities adds to the cost.

If you want comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical coverage as well as reimbursement for trip cancellation, luggage protection, and other benefits, expect to pay about 4% to 10% of your total trip cost. For example, if your trip costs $3,000, a comprehensive travel insurance plan could range from $120 to $300.

How do you buy travel medical insurance?

You can buy travel medical insurance from insurance companies, travel agencies, or online comparison sites. Here’s six steps to take to get started:

1. Shop early. Buy your policy before your trip. Some benefits, like preexisting condition waivers, are only available if you sign up within a certain time frame after booking travel.

2. Determine how much coverage you need. Think about your destination, trip length, and health needs. A good rule of thumb is to have at least $50,000 of medical coverage for international travel. 

3. Check what you already have. See if your health insurance or credit card offers coverage abroad. This can help you avoid paying for duplicate coverage.

4. Compare plans from different insurers. Don’t just look at premiums. Check what different policies cover and their maximum benefit amounts, deductibles, and exclusions. Use comparison websites or contact insurers directly for quotes.

5. Review exclusions. Understand what’s not covered and what’s required to file a claim.

6. Save your documents. Save your policy details and emergency contact number on your phone and in your bag. Share them with a travel companion if needed.

As you compare your options, consider these questions:

• Are any countries or activities excluded?

• What is the maximum medical benefit?

• What is the deductible, and when do I pay it?

• Are preexisting conditions covered? 

• Does the policy cover emergency medical evacuation? 

• How do I file a claim? 

• Do I pay up front and get reimbursed, or does the insurer pay directly?

• Is there 24/7 assistance if I need help finding a hospital abroad?

• What documentation do I have to have if I need care abroad?

Is it worth it to get travel medical insurance?

Whether travel medical insurance is worth it depends on your health, travel plans, and how much financial risk you’re comfortable taking. If you get sick or injured abroad, you’ll likely have to pay for your medical care yourself. Even in countries with public healthcare systems, free services often aren’t extended to tourists or noncitizens. Having travel medical insurance can help you avoid large medical bills.

Travel medical insurance is especially worth considering if:

• You have a preexisting health condition.

• You’re visiting remote destinations with limited medical facilities.

• You’ll be abroad for several weeks or months.

• You plan to do high-risk activities, like parachuting and bungee jumping.

• You want the peace of mind of knowing help is available if needed.

If you’re taking a short trip close to home, you’re young and healthy, and you have enough savings to handle unexpected medical bills, you might consider skipping travel medical insurance. Still, even in that situation, a basic policy is usually worth the small investment to protect yourself. 

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Written by:

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN, brings health topics to life for readers at any stage of life. With over 25 years in healthcare and a passion for education, she creates content that informs, inspires, and empowers.

Edited by:

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, is a personal finance editor at GoodRx. She has been a certified public accountant for over a decade.

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