Is Travel Insurance to Europe Mandatory?

All the information to contract the travel insurance to Europe, if you are thinking of going on vacation to the Old Continent.

Thinking of traveling to Europe? Travel insurance should not be missing from the list. In this article we explain the requirements, the different options you have to take out insurance, insured sums and more.

It is an important issue, and even more so since the coronavirus, since many European countries require it as a requirement for the entry of tourists.

Is travel insurance mandatory to enter Europe?

One of the items to add to the budget for travel to Europe is travel insurance. If you do not have European citizenship, it is a mandatory requirement to take out travel insurance with a minimum amount of € 30,000 to cover unforeseen medical assistance, repatriation and emergencies that may arise.

This requirement is imposed by the countries that form the Schengen treaty, these are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Purchase here the Schengen insurance for travel to Europe with a coverage of € 30,000.

That is to say, when entering as a tourist through any of these countries, the police in charge of border control may require you to show you the travel insurance you have taken out and that it complies with the established conditions (minimum sum of €30,000, covers the entire stay and repatriation if necessary).

🔝 Check out this article on how much it costs to travel to Europe.

Does Schengen travel insurance cover me for travel throughout Europe?

No. It is necessary to distinguish the countries that are part of the Schengen treaty of free movement of people from those that are not, in which you will have border control again.

Countries such as England, Ireland or Bulgaria, for example, are not part of this treaty, so the Schengen travel insurance will not cover you in these countries. If you plan to travel to any of them, it is advisable to take out a general travel insurance with a higher sum insured than € 30,000, so that you are not only covered in the Schengen countries but also outside them.

So, for example, if you enter Europe through Spain, you can move freely to France, Portugal, Italy or Germany, for example, and the Schengen travel insurance will be valid in all cases. If you travel from Germany to England, you will have border control and the Schengen insurance will not help you.

🔝 Check out this article on the must-see cities to visit in Europe if you are traveling for the first time.

Is it advisable to take out more coverage than the Schengen insurance?

The reality is yes, especially if you reality is yes not want to put money out of your pocket for any unforeseen event during your trip that requires hospitalization or surgery. A simple consultation with a doctor in Europe costs a minimum of €50.

However, in the event of a major health event such as a heart attack or stroke, you should complex fracture or emergency operationIf it is not a pre-existing disease, the costs associated with the interventions, hospitalization and stay in the medical center are considerably higher and may reach up to pass the maximum insurance sum of €30,000.

It should also be noted that, as mentioned above, Schengen insurance will not work in some European countries.

That said, there are many insurance options that, with higher sums insured and paying a little more, allow you to be covered for any eventuality and for all European countries.

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🔝 Check out this article on how to travel cheaply in Europe.

Is the travel insurance on the Visa, Mastercard or other credit card sufficient?

The answer is no. The free travel insurance that comes with the credit card has a sum insured that usually does not exceed USD 20,000 (€ 18,000) and does not reach the minimum sum required for travel to Schengen member countries of € 30,000.

Normally, what many people do before traveling to Europe is to call the bank to pay extra and raise the sum insured to the minimum.

What we recommend is to read very carefully the coverage and conditions of the travel insurance provided by the credit card, becauseits coverage usually less than that provided by a traditional travel insurance company.

Thus, for example, many have an excess (a minimum price that you have to pay for any medical consultation or emergency regardless of the sum insured that you take out), or the sums insured for lost or stolen luggage are lower.

It is up to each individual to decide whether to travel with the insurance provided by the credit card or to opt for a higher coverage, thus paying more but with less worries.

How much does a travel insurance for Europe cost?

Schengen travel insurance costs approximately € 54 per month. If you travel within the Schengen countries for 90 days, which is the maximum allowed, the total cost of travel insurance for Europe will be approximately € 100.

In the case of opting for a travel insurance to visit Europe that covers non-Schengen countries such as England or Croatia, for example, insurances start at € 70 per month up to almost € 100, depending on the insured sums of the coverage you take out.

Buy your travel insurance and travel safe!

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