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Travel health insurance will cover the costs of getting medical attention in case of an emergency abroad. Plans also include medical evacuation, repatriation, trip interruption, and more. This type of coverage is necessary when you’re going outside your country for periods of up to a year or more. Even if you have a domestic medical plan, there is no guarantee that it will be accepted abroad.
Learn more about travel medical policies in this article and get to know which plans for traveling abroad fit your needs.
Travel health insurance will cover the costs of getting medical attention in case of an emergency abroad. Plans also include medical evacuation, repatriation, trip interruption, and more. This type of coverage is necessary when you’re going outside your country for periods of up to a year or more. Even if you have a domestic medical plan, there is no guarantee that it will be accepted abroad.
Learn more about travel medical policies in this article and get to know which plans for traveling abroad fit your needs.
What is International Travel Health Insurance?
When you are traveling outside your home country, it is vital to buy medical insurance as part of your international travel plan to cover yourself against accidents or illnesses. Even if you have private medical insurance issued in your home country, it will most likely not cover you on your trip abroad. And even if it does, there is a chance that the coverage will be insufficient to provide the care you might need during your trip.
What Does Travelers' Medical Insurance Cover?
Depending on the plan you choose, your travel insurance policy can offer:
- Freedom to seek treatment with a hospital or doctor of your choice
- Maximum limits from $50,000 to up to $8,000,000
- 24/7 access to an emergency assistance medical hotline to speak with medical experts
- Deductible options from $0 to up to $25,000
- Renewable for up to 36 months
- Other benefits like travel delay/cancellation, baggage loss/delay
- Universal Rx pharmacy discount savings
- Repatriation and emergency evacuation
Is Travel Health Insurance Worth It?
The best travel medical insurance plans combine the benefits of travel insurance plans with additional health and medical coverage. Whenever you travel to another country, it is a necessity to have the right international plan that will cover you in case the unexpected happens.
How Much Travel Medical Insurance Do I Need?
It depends on where you’re going, what your home coverage is like, and what you plan to get up to!
We offer some great options to cover you and your family during travel abroad. The Atlas plan is an affordable policy for travelers from most countries. GeoBlue's Voyager plan is a comprehensive plan tailored to US citizens. The Seven Corners Travel Medical Plus plan is a little more expensive, but includes some specialized coverage.
Pro Tip: Visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find which type of plan is best for your situation.
Recommended Plan for US Citizens Traveling Abroad
GeoBlue Voyager Plan
- For U.S. citizens up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
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Option for International Travelers
Safe Travels International
- Desinged for non-U.S. citizens traveling outside their home country (excluding the U.S.)
- Coverage for an unexpected recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition
- Coverage from 5 days to 364 days - extensions are available
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Recommended Plan for International Visitors to the US
Safe Travels USA from Trawick is also the best plan option for international citizens visiting the United States.
Affordable Plans with Great Coverage and Benefits
Our suggested plan based on affordability, benefits, and service is the Atlas Travel Insurance Plan.
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
Plan Details | View Brochure | Apply Online
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Or See for Yourself: Compare Travel Medical Insurance Plans
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Travel Health Insurance Cost?
You can see in the table below that plans can cost from as low as $0.80 per day to as high as $5 a day, sometimes more. Monthly rates, ranging from $40 to $60, are also available, sometimes providing better value. How much an international travel health insurance plan costs will depend on the length of the trip, your age, medical limits, complications, and the deductible you choose by the time you purchase the plan.
Emergency medical plans for travelers are surprisingly affordable. The average cost of an international travel medical insurance plan is $2 per day. It is very affordable compared to the high cost of medical care should something go wrong on your trip.
Plans are often of a sort duration, within the travel period you have indicated, so the risks are less for insurers. As a result, medical insurance costs for traveling abroad are also significantly lower. Travel health policies also do not cover trip cancellations, so their premiums are lower than usual.
Costs and Benefits of a Travel Medical Insurance Plan
The cost of your plan will cover several benefits, all under one policy. For the low price listed here, you get emergency medical coverage abroad, trip interruption benefits, repatriation, medical evacuation, 24/7 travel assistance, and coverage for lost or stolen items. Some plans include personal liability coverage, natural disasters, political evacuation, and more.
How Optional Coverage Adds to the Cost of Your Policy
Many plans offer additional optional benefits for an additional cost. For example, you can add coverage for adventure trips, mountaineering, or Accidental Death and Disability (AD&D). Each additional benefit will increase the price of your plan. In general, the increase in premiums is affordable and worth the added expense if you feel you need that additional coverage.
What Are the Different Levels of Health Insurance for Traveling Abroad?
Here at International Citizens Insurance, we provide a wide range of travel health insurance plans from some of today’s leading insurers. Among our most popular plans is Seven Corners Travel Insurance, which allows travelers to customize their coverage with different medical maximums and deductibles.
Atlas Travel Insurance is a comprehensive travel medical policy that includes hospitalization and doctor coverage. It also includes coverage for lost luggage. You can customize the policy to include optional coverage for extreme sports.
With Patriot Platinum Insurance, you get the same coverage for extra riders and extreme sports. This is perhaps the best medical policy for traveling abroad because it provides world-class coverage and access to the best service and assistance for traveling outside your home country.
You can review the list we made of the Best Travel Insurance Companies to get a better idea of which provider to choose.
For long-term travelers, expats, or individuals moving abroad for a year or longer, an international medical insurance plan might be a better option. These plans provide more comprehensive medical benefits but lack some of the coverage offered in travel health plans, such as trip interruption.
What Is the Cheapest Travel Medical Insurance Plan?
We offer a variety of medical plans for traveling abroad, and they come at a range of different price points.
When it comes to medical coverage, the best value travel insurance plan is one that covers specific benefits you need at a price you can afford. Some inexpensive plans do not cover the most important benefits or cover them with limited value. Other low-cost policies provide considerable travelers' medical insurance coverage, but their service is not as good, so it will be frustrating to use it in emergencies.
International Citizens Insurance has filtered the best insurance providers that offer affordable plans with good coverage and excellent service. For the most affordable and reliable plans, we recommend the following options:
- Atlas Travel Insurance
- Seven Corners Travel Insurance
How Do I Purchase an International Travel Medical Policy?
Applying for a travel health plan is easy. Just answer a few questions about yourself and the planned trip to get the initial quote. From there, you can refine the plan and see how much the travelers' medical insurance will cost by selecting and deselecting different benefits and their maximum coverage amounts. You can also tweak the deductibles, optional add-on features, and other portions of the policy, if possible.
Use our Plan Picker to get started!
When you are satisfied with the quote after adjusting the cost and benefits of the plan, you can proceed with the online application and pay for the plan using your credit card. A confirmation email will be sent along with policy documentation and relevant contact details should you need emergency medical assistance on your next trip.
We have listed some of the best medical insurance for international travel. Just follow the links on each one to learn more about the plan.
Do These Plans Cover My Visa Requirements?
In most cases, they do. The short term medical insurance plans we offer are designed to meet, and even exceed, most visa requirements of most countries. We also have plans that can meet Schengen Visa Insurance requirements.
Before traveling to a country, check the visa requirements to ensure you purchase the maximum benefit and deductible amounts required. Most countries require at least $50,000 of coverage in medical benefits, along with a specific deductible amount.
Check the visa requirements for the country you are traveling to, and then when purchasing your policy, you can select the level and benefits that meet those requirements.
Read More: Insurance for Your Travel Visa
Can You Buy Just Travel Medical Insurance?
Yes, definitely.
International travel medical insurance plans are designed to cover emergency medical expenses should you get sick or injured while traveling abroad. Suppose you are in an accident and need medical care. In that case, these plans are designed to help you find a doctor, get you treated in the best facilities available, cover necessary medical prescriptions, and provide continuous care.
Note: These plans will typically not cover any pre-existing conditions you might have. Before you sign up for a policy, check the part pertaining to pre-existing conditions to clarify any questions or concerns regarding that portion.
Your policy may not cover treatment for accidents or illnesses that occur while participating in certain dangerous activities. Some plans offer adventure sports coverage as an optional add-on. If you plan to partake in hazardous activities or sports events that pose a high risk of getting injured, it is best to get this add-on on top of your base-level coverage.
Some policies, known as trip cancellation plans, also cover the cost of your trip if you have to cancel, and are typically more expensive. If you only want coverage for medical emergencies, a travel medical plan is right for you.
Not sure where to start? Use our Pick a Plan tool.
How Does International Travel Medical Insurance Compare to Trip Insurance?
With the wide variety in names and coverage of travel, trip, and medical plans, it can be confusing to select which one is the most appropriate for your needs. Different service providers offer several levels of coverage, so a travel insurance plan provided by one insurer could be completely different from those offered by competitors.
Trip insurance is a short-term solution that covers trip cancellation, protection, and limited emergency medical coverage. This type of policy is usually available only for up to 62 days.
A travel health insurance plan is more comprehensive. It provides increased medical coverage from what a regular trip or travel insurance policy does. This type of policy is best for travel periods lasting from 5 days up to a year.
If you are considering longer-term coverage or more comprehensive medical benefits, read these guides to help you see the available options:
- Expatriate Insurance or Travel Insurance: What is the Difference?
- Overseas Health Insurance Coverage
Do I Need to Buy Health Insurance for Traveling Abroad?
Travel health insurance is a short-term solution for those who are traveling outside their home country anywhere between 5 days and a year. Whether it is for business or pleasure purposes, getting adequate coverage is an essential part of ensuring safe travels.
Having a health plan at home will not guarantee you coverage when you travel to other countries. And usually, if it does provide coverage, it will be limited and will not cover the most important areas that need to be addressed.
The plans we offer can work for a broad range of traveling individuals, including international vacationers, immigrants, relatives visiting from overseas, and foreign au pairs and nannies.
The best part about global travel health insurance policies is that they are available to all nationalities traveling abroad.
Which Countries Require Travel Medical Insurance to Enter?
Most countries that were requiring medical travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage at the height of the pandemic are no longer requiring it. However, it is still highly recommended. (Read our guide for more specific details on the latest travel insurance requirements.) Double-check all requirements before booking your travel policy. Below is a list of countries that still require travel medical insurance as of December 2023.
- Cuba
- Israel
- Saudi Arabia
- Schengen zone countries (for those who require a visa):
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- the Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- the Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
Recommended Travel Medical Plan Options for US Citizens
The following rate tables below show the cost per day for U.S. citizens traveling outside of the U.S.
GeoBlue Voyager Choice
| Maximum Limit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $500,000 | $1 Million | |
| 0-18 | $0.92 | $1.02 | $1.19 | $1.22 |
| 19-29 | $1.26 | $1.40 | $1.64 | $1.67 |
| 30-39 | $1.62 | $1.80 | $2.08 | $2.13 |
| 40-49 | $2.30 | $2.55 | $2.99 | $3.05 |
| 50-59 | $3.11 | $3.45 | $4.02 | $4.12 |
| 60-64 | $4.62 | $5.10 | $5.96 | $6.09 |
| 65-69 | $5.76 | $6.38 | $7.46 | $7.61 |
| 70-74 | $9.23 | $10.21 | $11.93 | $12.18 |
| 75-84 | $16.15 | $17.86 | $20.87 | $21.30 |
| 85-95 | $20.13 | $22.32 | $26.09 | $26.63 |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
IMG Patriot International
| Policy Maximum | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $8,000,000 | |
| 0-17 | $3.07 | $3.38 | $5.28 |
| 18-29 | $3.08 | $3.89 | $5.37 |
| 30-39 | $4.07 | $5.62 | $6.99 |
| 40-49 | $5.31 | $6.72 | $8.92 |
| 50-59 | $8.57 | $10.95 | $15.25 |
| 60-64 | $10.15 | $13.21 | $19.23 |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
| Policy Maximum | |||
| Age | $20,000 | $100,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 65-69 | N/A | N/A | $11.34 |
| 70-79 | N/A | $16.76 | N/A |
| 80+ | $44.07 | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
WorldTrips Atlas International
| Maximum Limit | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1 Million | $2 Million | |
| 14 days-29 years | 0.85 | 1.03 | 1.22 | 1.41 | 1.48 | 1.54 |
| 30-39 | 1.07 | 1.33 | 1.54 | 1.72 | 1.88 | 1.94 |
| 40-49 | 1.76 | 1.96 | 2.19 | 2.47 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 50-59 | 2.99 | 3.14 | 3.64 | 3.87 | 4.19 | 4.32 |
| 60-64 | 3.70 | 3.77 | 4.31 | 4.75 | 5.04 | 5.19 |
| 65-69 | 4.32 | 4.76 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 70-79 | 6.83 | 7.52 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
| Maximum Limit | ||||||
| Age | $10,000 | |||||
| 80+ | 12.50 | |||||
| Get a Quote | ||||||
Trawick Safe Travels Outbound
| Maximum Limit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | |
| Up to age 21 | $0.83 | $0.84 | $0.87 | $0.89 |
| 22-29 | $1.22 | $1.25 | $1.28 | $1.31 |
| 30-39 | $1.44 | $1.47 | $1.52 | $1.55 |
| 40-49 | $2.49 | $2.55 | $2.62 | $2.68 |
| 50-59 | $4.33 | $4.42 | $4.55 | $4.65 |
| 60-64 | $5.42 | $5.54 | $5.70 | $5.82 |
| 65-69 | $6.34 | $6.48 | $6.66 | $6.80 |
| 70-79 | $9.54 | $9.75 | N/A | N/A |
| 80-99 | $16.70 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
Recommended Travel Medical Plan Options for Visitors to the US
The following rate tables below show the cost per day for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S.
The plans, IMG Patriot America, WorldTrips Atlas America and Seven Corners Travel Medical Plus, provide coverage inside the U.S. and outside the U.S.
Trawick Safe Travels USA only provides coverage inside the U.S.
IMG Patriot America
| Policy Maximum | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $8,000,000 | |
| 0-17 | $3.07 | $3.38 | $5.28 |
| 18-29 | $3.08 | $3.89 | $5.37 |
| 30-39 | $4.07 | $5.62 | $6.99 |
| 40-49 | $5.31 | $6.72 | $8.92 |
| 50-59 | $8.57 | $10.95 | $15.25 |
| 60-64 | $10.15 | $13.21 | $19.23 |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
| Policy Maximum | |||
| Age | $20,000 | $100,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 65-69 | N/A | N/A | $11.34 |
| 70-79 | N/A | $16.76 | N/A |
| 80+ | $44.07 | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
WorldTrips Atlas America
| Maximum Limit | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1 Million | $2 Million | |
| 14 days-29 years | 1.51 | 1.91 | 2.15 | 2.71 | 3.10 | 3.25 |
| 30-39 | 1.84 | 2.51 | 2.99 | 3.21 | 3.53 | 3.72 |
| 40-49 | 2.63 | 3.26 | 3.73 | 4.42 | 5.07 | 5.32 |
| 50-59 | 4.36 | 5.41 | 6.84 | 7.75 | 8.52 | 8.96 |
| 60-64 | 5.55 | 7.15 | 9.71 | 10.57 | 11.61 | 12.20 |
| 65-69 | 6.46 | 8.16 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 70-79 | 10.12 | 12.75 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
| Maximum Limit | ||||||
| Age | $10,000 | |||||
| 80+ | 15.02 | |||||
| Get a Quote | ||||||
Seven Corners Travel Medical Plus
| Maximum Limit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | |
| 14 days-18 years | $2.84 | $3.58 | $4.48 | $4.99 |
| 19-29 | $3.05 | $3.85 | $4.81 | $5.36 |
| 30-39 | $3.27 | $4.12 | $5.15 | $5.78 |
| 40-49 | $3.50 | $4.41 | $5.68 | $6.42 |
| 50-59 | $6.19 | $7.79 | $9.88 | $11.11 |
| 60-64 | $8.89 | $11.33 | $15.50 | $16.58 |
| 65-69 | $10.96 | $13.99 | $19.15 | $20.45 |
| 70-74 | $15.91 | $21.55 | N/A | N/A |
| 75-79 | $24.52 | $33.33 | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
| Maximum Limit | ||||
| Age | $10,000 | |||
| 80+ | $26.25 | |||
| Get a Quote | ||||
Trawick Safe Travels USA
| Maximum Limit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | |
| 0-17 | $1.47 | $1.86 | $2.09 | $2.65 | $2.85 |
| 18-29 | $1.47 | $1.86 | $2.09 | $2.65 | $2.85 |
| 30-39 | $2.00 | $2.75 | $2.88 | $3.50 | $3.64 |
| 40-49 | $2.93 | $3.68 | $4.10 | $5.00 | $5.40 |
| 50-59 | $4.34 | $5.47 | $6.18 | $7.78 | $8.03 |
| 60-64 | $5.06 | $6.62 | $8.19 | $9.84 | $10.11 |
| 65-69 | $5.72 | $7.44 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 70-79 | $8.64 | $10.19 $250 deductible | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 80-89 | $30.42 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | |
| Please note: Rates were calculated with a $0 in-network deductible. | |||||
Pro Tip: Visit our Plan Picker to find the best plan at the right price for your trip.
Different Levels of Plans for Travelers
Here at International Citizens Insurance, we provide a wide range of travel health plans from some of the leading insurers. Among our most popular plans are the Atlas and Patriot Plans with different levels to choose from, each designed to suit the needs of various travelers.
Atlas Travel Insurance is a comprehensive policy that includes hospitalization and doctor coverage. It can also include insurance on lost luggage. You can customize the policy to include optional coverage for extreme sports.
With Patriot Platinum Insurance, you can get coverage for extra riders and extreme sports when you add them. This is one of the best travel medical insurance plans for traveling abroad, providing world-class coverage and access to the best service and assistance for traveling outside your home country.
You can review the list we made of the Best Travel Insurance Companies to get a better idea of which provider to choose.
Annual, Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Plans for Frequent Travelers
International coverage for travel is available as a single-trip plan that covers a specific trip for a specified number of days.
But a multi-trip or annual travel insurance plan can cover all trips outside your home country during the year. This is usually valid for a year and up to a certain number of days per trip. This is a more cost-effective medical insurance for traveling abroad, especially if you are a frequent traveler.
If you are looking for one of the best travel health insurance policies we offer, consider the GeoBlue Trekker annual travel insurance plan. See the link below for more details on the policy and how you can get a quote before your purchase online.
Trekker MultiTrip Travel Insurance
- Up to $500,000 for sickness and accidents
- $500,000 medical evacuation benefit
- Unlimited Trips Outside the U.S. for trips up to 70 days
Plan Details | View Brochure
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Buy One of Our Recommended Travel Medical Plans
Atlas Travel Insurance: Learn More | Free Quote / Apply (Best for All Nationalities Traveling Abroad)
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
Plan Details | View Brochure | Apply Online
Plan Details
Get a Quote
GeoBlue Travel Insurance: Learn More | Free Quote / Apply (Best for US Citizens Abroad)
GeoBlue Voyager Plan
- For U.S. citizens up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Plan Details | View Brochure
Plan Details
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A message from the Center for Disease Control: Severe illness or injury abroad may result in a financial burden on you and your family. Although planning for every possible contingency is impossible, travelers can reduce the cost of a medical emergency by considering the purchase of 3 types of insurance for their trip: trip insurance, travel health insurance, and medical evacuation insurance. These insurance policies can be purchased before a trip to provide coverage in the event of an illness or injury and may be of particular importance to individuals with chronic medical conditions. Basic accident or travel insurance may even be required for travelers to certain destinations.
Author: Joe Cronin, Founder and President of International Citizens Insurance. Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter.
