Travel Health Insurance: Complete Guide to Staying Covered Abroad
Back to CategoryTravel Health Insurance: Complete Guide to Staying Covered Abroad
Medical Care Abroad: The Financial Reality
A hospitalization in Thailand for a serious infection: $800–2,000. The same hospitalization in Germany: $5,000–15,000. Emergency medevac from a remote African location to a medical facility: $50,000–200,000. Without travel insurance, these costs come directly from your pocket. With a $100–200/trip policy, they are fully covered.
What Your Domestic Health Insurance Does (and Does Not) Cover Abroad
US health insurance plans (both employer-sponsored and marketplace plans) provide extremely limited international coverage:
- Medicare: No international coverage whatsoever, with limited exceptions for travel through Canada
- Most employer plans and ACA marketplace plans: Emergency treatment abroad is technically covered in many plans, but in practice, you must pay upfront and submit claims for reimbursement — and many foreign hospitals will not treat you without payment guarantee or upfront payment, regardless of your US insurance card
- HMO plans: Generally zero international coverage — any care outside the network (which is, by definition, all foreign care) is not covered
The practical conclusion: your US health insurance provides minimal to no protection for most international travel situations. Travel insurance is not supplemental — it is primary international coverage.
Types of Travel Insurance and What Each Covers
Comprehensive Single-Trip Travel Insurance
Covers medical + evacuation + trip cancellation/interruption + baggage. Best for 1–2 annual international trips. Purchased per trip. Cost: $50–200 depending on trip duration, destination, and your age.
Annual/Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Covers unlimited trips within a policy year, up to a maximum trip length (typically 30, 60, or 90 days per trip). Best for travelers taking 3+ international trips annually. Cost: $200–600/year. The math usually favors annual policies for frequent travelers.
Long-Term International Health Insurance
Designed for expats and long-term travelers who need continuous coverage rather than trip-based coverage. Cigna Global, Allianz Care, AXA International, Integra Global, and SafetyWing are the primary providers. These are health insurance policies, not travel insurance — they cover ongoing healthcare needs, not just emergencies.
The Providers Worth Knowing
| Provider | Best For | Medical Limit | Evacuation | Adventure Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz Travel | General travel, families | $50,000–$500,000 | $500,000 | Add-on available |
| World Nomads | Adventure travelers | $100,000–$200,000 | $300,000 | Included standard |
| Seven Corners | International students, expats | $250,000 | $500,000 | Add-on available |
| SafetyWing | Digital nomads, long-term travelers | $250,000 | $100,000 | Varies by plan |
| Cigna Global | Long-term expats | Unlimited | Included | Varies by plan |
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