Is travel insurance mandatory?

Not usually for tourism, but it is required for some visas and permits — a Schengen visa, for example, requires medical cover of at least €30,000 including repatriation. Check the rules for the specific visa you are applying for.

Does my credit card cover already do this?

Card cover exists but is typically narrower: lower medical limits, shorter trip lengths, and often only if you paid for the trip with that card. Read the certificate rather than assuming.

When should I buy a policy?

At the time you book. Cancellation cover applies from the purchase date, so buying early protects the whole window between booking and departure.

What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Declare it. Most conditions can be covered, sometimes for a higher premium. An undeclared condition is the most common reason a large medical claim is refused.

What should I do if something happens abroad?

Call the insurer's assistance line before you commit to treatment where you safely can, so they can authorise it and arrange direct billing. Keep every report, receipt and medical document.

Can EntryNest track my policy?

Yes. Add the policy expiry date as a document and EntryNest reminds you before it lapses, which matters most for annual multi-trip policies you forget you own.

Travel insurance guide: coverage and requirements

Travel insurance is easy to buy and hard to compare. Two policies at the same price can differ by hundreds of thousands in medical cover, and the exclusions matter more than the headline. This guide explains what each section of a policy actually does, so you can read one properly before you buy.

Travel documents, a passport and a policy summary laid out before a trip

Emergency medical cover is the part that matters most

Everything else in a travel policy is inconvenience. Medical cover is the part that protects you from a bill you could never pay. Hospital treatment abroad, ambulance transport, emergency dental care and — the expensive one — medical repatriation if you need to be flown home under supervision.

Look at the limit, not the price. A policy with a low medical ceiling is cheap because it will not pay for the scenario you bought it for. Check that repatriation and emergency evacuation are included rather than optional, and check the excess you pay per claim.

Cancellation, interruption and delay

Cancellation cover reimburses prepaid, non-refundable costs when a listed reason stops you travelling — illness, injury, bereavement, jury service, sometimes a visa refusal. Interruption cover does the same for a trip you have to cut short.

Delay cover pays a fixed amount after a set number of hours, and missed-departure cover helps when you fail to reach a connection. Both have strict conditions and both need documentation from the airline, so keep every notification you receive.

Cancellation limit should at least match your non-refundable spend
Check which reasons are listed — not every disruption qualifies
Note the delay threshold in hours before anything is payable
Keep boarding passes, delay confirmations and receipts

Baggage, belongings and 24-hour assistance

Baggage cover has per-item and overall limits, and valuables such as laptops, cameras and jewellery are usually capped low unless declared separately. Cash limits are small. Most policies require a police report within 24 hours for theft.

The assistance line is the part people underuse. A good insurer runs a 24-hour multilingual service that can find a hospital that accepts direct billing, so you are not paying up front and claiming later.

Exclusions and pre-existing conditions

Every policy excludes something. Common exclusions are alcohol-related incidents, undeclared pre-existing conditions, extreme or motorised sports, travel against government advice, and losses you cannot document.

Pre-existing conditions are the most consequential. Declaring a condition may raise the premium, but not declaring it can void a claim entirely — including a claim unrelated to that condition, if the insurer decides the non-disclosure was material. Declare everything and keep the confirmation.

Destination requirements and when to buy

Some destinations require proof of insurance for entry or for a visa. Schengen visa applications require medical cover of at least €30,000 valid across the Schengen area including repatriation, and several countries require insurance for specific permit types. Requirements change, so confirm with the consulate handling your application.

Buy as soon as you book. Cancellation cover only protects money that is already at risk, so a policy bought the week before departure has done nothing for the months in between.

What to compare, side by side

Reduce every quote to the same handful of numbers and you can compare policies in a few minutes.

Emergency medical limit and whether repatriation is included
Cancellation limit against your actual prepaid costs
Excess per claim, and whether a zero-excess option exists
Baggage limits, single-item caps and valuables rules
Pre-existing condition terms and the declaration process
Trip length limits, age limits and any activity exclusions
Whether the insurer bills hospitals directly or reimburses you

Travel insurance FAQ

Is travel insurance mandatory?: Not usually for tourism, but it is required for some visas and permits — a Schengen visa, for example, requires medical cover of at least €30,000 including repatriation. Check the rules for the specific visa you are applying for.
Does my credit card cover already do this?: Card cover exists but is typically narrower: lower medical limits, shorter trip lengths, and often only if you paid for the trip with that card. Read the certificate rather than assuming.
When should I buy a policy?: At the time you book. Cancellation cover applies from the purchase date, so buying early protects the whole window between booking and departure.
What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?: Declare it. Most conditions can be covered, sometimes for a higher premium. An undeclared condition is the most common reason a large medical claim is refused.
What should I do if something happens abroad?: Call the insurer's assistance line before you commit to treatment where you safely can, so they can authorise it and arrange direct billing. Keep every report, receipt and medical document.
Can EntryNest track my policy?: Yes. Add the policy expiry date as a document and EntryNest reminds you before it lapses, which matters most for annual multi-trip policies you forget you own.