Do I need medical insurance to travel to Europe?

We all look forward to our holidays. It feels good to know that after a long time working, you will have some time to relax, with no stress or worries, just doing whatever you want.

Many people use their holidays to get their affairs in order or just stay at home with a good book. However, most people use this valuable time to go and explore the world, visiting historical towns and learning about other cultures.

Of course, this type of trip needs thorough planning so that everything goes the way we want it to. However, when planning your perfect holiday, have ever you stopped to seriously consider the importance of contracting travel insurance to cover you during your trip?

Every time the subject of travel insurance comes up, there is always one person who says that they have travelled on countless occasions and have never needed medical insurance, so it is not important. The reality is that our situation can change in the blink of an eye and, experiencing an accident or becoming ill while abroad, whether we are on holiday or not, can be an expensive matter if we have no travel insurance or do not have adequate cover.

Moreover, you should bear in mind that on going through immigration in any European country, the officials have the right to request proof that a traveller holds medical insurance to cover their stay and, if not, they can be denied entry to the country.

Medical insurance according to visa type

The first thing you need to check out is whether or not you need to provide proof that you have medical insurance that is valid in Europe in order to process the type of visa that you require.

For example, if you live in a country that means you require a Schengen visa to travel to one of the countries included in this European space, before applying you must have acquired international travel insurance that covers your full stay.

Although there are many Latin American countries whose residents do not need a visa to enter the old continent, this does not mean that you don’t need to worry about insurance because, I repeat, you will not be exempt from presenting proof of adequate insurance on entering the country you are visiting.

In any case, I recommend that you don’t risk travelling without insurance. One piece of advice is to inform yourself on the website of the relevant country’s embassy of exactly what you need, in order to dispel any doubts you may have.

Medical insurance requirements for travelling to Europe

What is more, although no-one likes to think about the reasons justifying international medical insurance, on many occasions it is better to be prepared rather than to suffer the consequences of not having any insurance or having inadequate insurance.

For this reason, you need to be well informed. For example, the insurance you acquire must be international and valid in Europe. The insurance must cover all the expenses that may arise, including repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical care, urgent hospital care or death during your stay. Your insurance should cover at least 30,000 euros and, of course, should clearly state your personal details and the dates of your trip.

If you are going to travel on a Schengen visa, the insurance you choose must cover you in all of the Schengen area for the whole length of your trip.

Which medical insurance to choose:

This is a very personal choice and varies depending on your needs. There are countless medical insurances on the market, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs. Many even offer very interesting discounts.

However, it is extremely important that you don’t only base your decision on price. Concentrate on looking at the services offered, for which you need be covered and what you should be contracting. Also, investigate whether the company has a good customer service record and how they respond in emergencies.

You should also check whether they will refund you if you contract the insurance in order to present your visa application, in the case that your application is denied.

In summary, it is quite a tedious process, especially since we are trying to disconnect from planning and paperwork. However, it is not something that should be taken lightly and it is always better to be safe than sorry.