Foreign health insurance for travellers: what you actually need

How health cover works when you travel abroad

A domestic health system rarely pays for treatment once you leave the country. Exceptions exist through reciprocal agreements, but they cover state care on local terms only. Anything else, from a private clinic bill to an air ambulance home, falls on the traveller or an insurer.

The right mix depends on destination, length of stay and health. A weekend in Spain, a month backpacking in Southeast Asia and a business trip to the United States carry very different medical cost risks, and policies are priced accordingly.

GHIC and EHIC: what the cards cover

The UK Global Health Insurance Card, launched in January 2021, lets eligible UK residents receive medically necessary state healthcare in EU countries on the same basis as local residents. EU citizens use the European Health Insurance Card in a similar way across the EEA and Switzerland.

What the cards do not cover

Neither card pays for private treatment, mountain rescue, repatriation or the patient contribution charged to locals in some countries. They are also useless outside the countries covered, which is why public health services themselves advise taking travel insurance in addition.

Who needs private travel medical insurance

Practically everyone travelling outside their home system. It is essential for destinations with high private medical costs, such as the United States, for adventure activities, for travellers with existing conditions and for anyone whose visa requires proof of insurance.

Policy types, costs and conditions

Single-trip travel insurance suits one holiday; annual multi-trip cover suits frequent travellers but limits each trip's length. Long-stay backpacker policies cover months away. Expats living abroad need international private medical insurance, a different product discussed on a separate page.

Premiums rise with age, destination, trip length and declared conditions. Policies covering North America cost noticeably more. Excess amounts, sport exclusions and alcohol clauses vary widely, so comparing the policy wording matters more than the headline price on a comparison site.

Visa insurance requirements

Applicants for a Schengen short-stay visa must show travel medical insurance with at least 30,000 euros of cover valid across the Schengen area for the whole stay. Some other countries, including several in the Middle East and Asia, set their own mandatory cover for visitors.

Steps to choose foreign health insurance

Choosing cover is easier when you start from the trip, not the policy. Listing destinations, activities and medical history first makes it simple to spot exclusions that would make a cheap policy worthless at the moment you actually need it.

1. Apply for a free GHIC or EHIC if you are eligible and travelling in Europe.
2. List countries, dates and planned activities such as skiing or diving.
3. Declare all pre-existing medical conditions honestly during the quote.
4. Check the medical limit, repatriation cover and excess for each policy.
5. Confirm the insurer is authorised by the regulator in its country.
6. Save the emergency assistance number and policy number on your phone.

When illness strikes abroad

Call the insurer's assistance line before non-urgent treatment; many policies require pre-authorisation for hospital admission. Keep every receipt and medical report. In a genuine emergency, get treatment first and contact the insurer as soon as practical.

Mistakes and frauds in travel health cover

Health-cover problems usually surface in a hospital, when the traveller is least able to argue. The points below are drawn from complaints handled by consumer services and from warnings about websites that sell what is free.

• Paying an unofficial website to "process" a GHIC or EHIC application, when the official card is free.
• Failing to declare a heart, diabetes or pregnancy-related condition, which can void a claim.
• Buying the cheapest policy without checking the medical limit for the United States.
• Assuming credit-card travel cover includes medical repatriation.
• Taking part in excluded activities, such as motorbike riding without a licence.
• Buying visa insurance from an unknown seller that the consulate later rejects.

Is the GHIC enough for a trip to Spain or France?

It covers state treatment on local terms, which is valuable, but not repatriation, private clinics or extra costs if a trip is disrupted. Health services in the UK recommend pairing the card with travel insurance, and many insurers reduce the excess when a GHIC is used.

Does travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

It can, if conditions are declared and accepted, sometimes at an extra premium. Undeclared conditions are a leading reason for rejected claims. Specialist insurers exist for travellers with serious or recent conditions that mainstream policies decline.

How long can a travel policy last?

Standard single-trip policies often run up to a few months, while long-stay policies can last a year or more. Annual multi-trip cover limits each trip to a set number of days. For stays longer than a year, international private medical insurance is usually more appropriate.

What if my insurer refuses to pay?

Ask for the refusal in writing with the policy clause relied on, then use the insurer's internal complaints process. If that fails, the financial ombudsman or equivalent dispute scheme in the insurer's country can review the case, usually without a fee for consumers.

Do I need health insurance for a short trip to the United States?

Strongly advisable. There is no reciprocal agreement for visitors, and emergency hospital care is billed at private rates that can reach tens of thousands of dollars for a few days. Check that the policy medical limit is high enough for North America.

Remember that cover must be in place before departure. Some insurers refuse to start a policy once the traveller is already abroad, or impose a waiting period, so buying at the time of booking also protects against cancellation costs if illness strikes beforehand.

By Nabil Frik · Updated 13 October 2026