When visiting Europe, travellers should be able to handle and financially cover medical services in case of an accident, injury or any other sudden event.
To take care of the unexpected expenses that arise during the trip, having travel insurance has been proven to help travelers with financial support and comfort to continue their trip without worry.
schengen visa insurance requirements
medical insurance for a schengen visa must meet the following criteria:
- a minimum coverage of medical expenses: at least 30,000 euros (equivalent to 29,500 usd as of October 2022).
- must cover all member states of the schengen area.
- cover expenses that may arise from repatriation for medical reasons, urgent health care and/or emergency hospital treatment or death.
- health emergencies related to covid-19, including medical treatment, medication and hospitalization.
- test pcr (sometimes).
- medical emergency (accident or illness) in the schengen area
- emergency evacuation
- repatriation of remains
- return of a minor
- trip cancellation
- trip interruption
- accidental death, injury or disability benefit
- funeral expenses abroad
- lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal effects or travel documents
- delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
- Missed flight connection due to airline schedule failure
- travel delays due to weather
- kidnapping
- Insurers generally cover pregnancy-related expenses if the trip occurs during the first trimester. after that, insurance coverage varies from insurer to insurer.
- pre-existing conditions (eg asthma, diabetes)
- sports with an element of risk (eg skiing, diving)
- travel to high-risk countries (for example, due to war, natural disasters, or acts of terrorism)
- Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions: means a sudden and unexpected onset of pre-existing medical conditions without prior notice from a healthcare professional. If you have pre-existing conditions, be sure to get this coverage to protect yourself against any emergency situation that arises due to pre-existing conditions despite taking care of yourself.
- all of these companies are leaders in the travel insurance industry
- comply with all schengen visa requirements
- ideal for
- visitors or guests (visitor visa)
- business travelers (business visa)
- tourists (tourist visa)
- group visitors (visitor visa for travel groups)
- immediately download your certificate/insurance letter
- refund in case of visa refusal (free of charge, subject to proof that a visa has been refused)
- As mentioned above, there are travel insurance companies that do not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions internationally. in case you have a condition before your departure to europe, have consulted a doctor and are already undergoing treatment, and have decided to travel outside the country, in this case, you are not prone to any medical cost relief through your insurance carrier. however, if you are declared fit to travel with your condition under control, travel insurance will most often cover an unexpected emergency related to your condition when traveling internationally, an acute onset of your pre-existing condition.
- Sports: Participation in high-risk activities, such as extreme sports, eg scuba diving, skydiving, etc. may be excluded.
- War: Policies may exclude coverage for injuries caused by war when traveling to an endangered war zone.
- duration: Many policies specify a time limit for coverage (for example, 60 days) and costs differ accordingly.
- suicide in a national or international setting is excluded from any insurance policy, as well as self-inflicted injuries.
- In the case of any substance, drug or alcohol abuse, national or international, medical expenses will not be covered by your insurance policy.
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obtaining your travel visa insurance from europ assistance or mondialcare will allow you to fully enjoy your trip to the schengen area and to europe with peace of mind.
Which citizens are required to buy travel insurance for a schengen visa?
Citizens and passport holders of any of the following countries must purchase travel insurance in order to apply for a schengen visa.
Buy now the travel medical insurance protection required for your schengen visa at a very low cost from europ assistance or mondialcare.
what is travel medical insurance?
The concept of travel medical insurance relates to covering your medical expenses in the event of an unexpected injury or illness that arises during your trip. In case you are wondering if you need health insurance when traveling to a foreign country, it depends on the desired destination and the ability to personally cover any health care needs during your stay in a certain foreign country.
However, travel insurance is a must for most people, especially the elderly, people who have predetermined medical conditions and are subject to constant therapy, or more importantly, if the traveler’s destination it is an underdeveloped region.
Apart from medical expenses, travel insurance is intended to cover different losses suffered during the trip, both in the country itself and internationally. Unexpected occurrences like lost luggage, last minute cancellation of your flight, bankruptcy of travel agency or accommodation will definitely ruin your trip. therefore, a travel insurance policy is designed to also provide cancellation insurance through full or partial reimbursement.
Whether you travel once or several times during a short period of time, the travel insurance policy will match and cover the exact number of days you spend in the international territory, in this case, the schengen territory, with the price which varies accordingly.
what are the common restrictions and limitations?
Is travel medical insurance mandatory for visa-free third country citizens entering the schengen area?
Travel medical insurance is not compulsory for visa-free third-country nationals. however, it is highly recommended to get one if you travel to the schengen countries.
You can buy travel medical insurance protection for Europe at a very low cost from Europ Assistance or Mondalcare.
how do i book schengen travel visa insurance from usa uu. or the UK?
if you are applying for a schengen visa in the usa. uu. or the united kingdom, you can book travel insurance online directly from europ assistance or mondialcare.
Once you purchase your European visa insurance policy, you will be able to download the insurance policy letter that must be submitted with the schengen visa application.
For more information on European visa requirements and the application process for US residents of the UK, Canada and Australia, please read the following articles:
should we choose a travel insurance with a 0 eur excess?
it is not a strict requirement to obtain a schengen travel visa insurance with 0 eur deductible; however, we strongly suggest that you get one without a deductible, just to be 100% sure that your schengen visa application will not be rejected due to the travel insurance policy.
more travel insurance guides in europe
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the travel insurance company europ assistance provides the compulsory insurance certificate required when applying for a schengen visa.
Although travel health insurance is worth having for all travelers to Europe, not everyone is required to have it. a travel insurance policy is a mandatory requirement only for travelers applying for a schengen visa. This group of travelers should always have the necessary coverage for the entire period of their stay in Europe, regardless of whether they are going there for business, tourism, study, vacation or other reasons.
foreign travelers visiting europe and enjoying a visa-free trip to the schengen zone can obtain their preferred travel insurance policy if they wish, and while it is highly recommended, they are not required to do so.
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the schengen travel insurance plan “schengen plus by europ assistance“ provides the compulsory insurance certificate necessary for a schengen visa and offers extended coverage wherever you travel in the schengen area or in the eu . Countries covered include the Schengen area, plus the EU countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Cyprus, and Ireland.
travel insurance is mandatory when applying for a schengen visa
excerpt from “regulation (ce) nº 810/2009 of the european parliament and of the council of july 13, 2009”, which entered into force on april 5, 2010:
“…applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries must demonstrate that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover expenses that may arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) in the territory of the member states. the insurance will be valid throughout the territory of the member states of the schengen area and will cover the entire period of stay or planned transit of the person. the minimum coverage will be 30,000 euros” (…)
Who should buy travel medical insurance for Europe?
anyone temporarily traveling to Europe from a country subject to visa requirements, whether they are individual or group visitors, tourists or business travellers.
The health insurance policy for travel in Europe can be purchased online here at a very low cost.
who provides schengen travel insurance?
first, the health insurance policy you may already have through your employment contract may cover international medical emergency expenses; however, there are usually limitations on what is covered. therefore, one should be very aware of what to expect and what not to expect when having a medical problem in the schengen territory.
Travellers typically purchase an individual schengen travel insurance policy for the days they plan to spend in Europe with the relevant insurance provider.
make sure the company you choose is licensed and accepted in the schengen country you plan to travel to.
We recommend purchasing schengen visa insurance from europ assistance or mondialcare. all of these companies are accepted by European embassies and consulates around the world. You can also cancel it free of charge if you provide proof that your visa has been refused.
how much does schengen insurance cost?
Schengen travel insurance can be very affordable, with prices for a week’s insurance policy as low as €18-€20. however, the cost of schengen insurance ultimately depends on several factors: your age, how much coverage you want, the length of your trip, and the specific insurance company.
here are europ assistance travel insurance premiums.
For more information on how to choose the best and cheapest schengen insurance plan for your needs, visit europ assistance or mondialcare.
travel insurance for seniors traveling to europe
If you want to buy senior travel insurance, read our article “senior travel insurance & pensioners traveling to Europe“.
coronavirus & travel insurance restrictions
the world health organization (who), on March 11, 2020, declared covid-19 a pandemic.
do schengen visa insurance plans cover covid-19?
yes, some schengen insurance policies cover illnesses related to covid, as long as when you travel you respect the laws and regulations of your country’s government and the world health organization (who). covid-19 insurance covers the following:
Expenses related to quarantine requirements, such as lodging, are not covered.
the amount of covid insurance coverage depends on the specific policy. for example, axa covers your medical and repatriation expenses if you get sick with covid-19 and “related illnesses”, while mondialcare covers all the medical consequences of contracting covid-19 and a positive (but not negative) pcr test.
on the other hand, some insurance companies do not cover any expenses related to epidemics or pandemics, including covid-19, under any circumstances.
If an insurance company covers covid, it will be indicated in the characteristics and terms and conditions of your policy, so be sure to read the fine print carefully.
what if the embassy asks for a schengen insurance certificate with covid protection?
If your insurance policy includes schengen protection, you must indicate this on the certificate. If your insurance certificate doesn’t explicitly state that you have covid protection, you can ask your insurer to provide you with one that does.
can i extend my european travel medical insurance if i need to extend my trip due to covid-19 travel restrictions?
If your trip in Europe is prolonged due to covid travel bans and your travel insurance is about to expire, you can purchase a new insurance policy or renew your existing one. Of course, you will have to pay an additional fee. check with your travel insurance company about their rules on extending or renewing a policy.
If I need to extend my trip due to airport closures or due to official travel restrictions, can I extend my European travel medical insurance?
Each travel insurance company applies its own rules. contact their customer service/support team for details. it should be possible to get a refund for your current policy or be able to extend your current travel policy.
useful tips on visa insurance for europe
As mentioned above, before purchasing another travel insurance policy for your next trip to Europe, make sure the one you already have does not cover or alleviate any international health emergency costs.
If your policy covers some international medical costs, carefully check the restrictions and limitations of the travel insurance policy.
If you’re traveling by car in the schengen region and can’t afford to pay huge amounts of money in the event of an unpredictable car accident, or just aren’t willing to give all that money away, you should consider buying package travel insurance , including health matters and valuable possessions.
Depending on travel destination, disease risk varies with changes in climate or natural habitat (residents of unknown microbes). It is highly recommended that people with pre-existing conditions such as allergies, for example, bring a medical file from their personal physician describing the condition and medications prescribed to maintain it. In case one has a chronic illness, it is smart to carry the prescribed medications in the amount needed for the days of travel in Europe.
what does a travel health insurance policy normally cover in europe?
A good travel insurance policy for Europe should cover the following costs:
travel medical insurance policies for traveling to europe that meet the schengen visa requirements can be purchased online directly on the europ assistance website.
can i get a schengen visa without travel insurance?
everyone applying for a schengen visa to visit Europe must have a valid travel insurance policy, regardless of the reason for the trip (tourism, leisure, business, study or other).
Should the travel visa insurance policy cover all countries in the schengen area?
yes, a travel medical insurance policy must cover all member states: austria, belgium, 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, and Switzerland.
what is presumably excluded or optional in a common schengen insurance policy?
every travel insurance company is different; however, there are some that offer to cover additional costs if necessary. otherwise, additional insurance must be purchased to cover explicit costs such as:
how to find cheap travel visa insurance for europe?
Finding the right cheap travel visa insurance for Europe requires individual and deeper research. this means having to search online on your own for the right travel insurance policy. It is recommended that you compare products and companies before deciding which company has the best and cheapest schengen visa travel insurance.
One thing not to be confused about is price, as not all low-cost travel insurance policies contain low-quality services and not all expensive insurance plans have high-quality offerings. Therefore, the safest way to choose correctly among the unlimited offers of travel insurance companies is to choose not the cheapest travel insurance, but the policy that covers all the areas required by the schengen visa application requirements.
why do we suggest you choose europ assistance or mondialcare as your travel insurance partner when traveling to europe?
