Which travel insurance do I need?

Medical treatment abroad can create substantial costs, especially when private hospitals, emergency transport, specialist care or medical repatriation are involved. Normal public or private health insurance does not automatically cover every destination or service.

Check medical cover before confirming the journey because suitability may depend on the destination, available hospitals, the length of stay, existing conditions and whether treatment is unexpected or planned.

It depends on the home country, destination, treatment type and duration. Public health cards and normal private insurance may provide limited support, but they do not automatically replace travel health insurance.

• Ask whether the destination country is covered.
• Ask whether private hospitals and clinics are included.
• Check whether treatment must be paid first and claimed back later.
• Check whether pre-authorisation is required.
• Check whether medical repatriation is included.

Depending on the policy, relevant cover may include unexpected outpatient treatment, hospital treatment, diagnostics, medication after an acute event, ambulance transport, emergency assistance and medical repatriation.

• the destination and all transit countries;
• the full travel period;
• private hospitals where relevant;
• a 24-hour assistance service;
• direct billing where possible;
• additional accommodation or return travel after treatment;
• support in the event of death abroad.

They may be excluded, restricted or subject to medical screening. A stable condition is not automatically covered, and an insurer may distinguish between an existing condition and an unexpected acute deterioration.

• Ask what the policy defines as a pre-existing condition.
• Declare recent treatment, pending tests and relevant medication changes when required.
• Ask how undiagnosed symptoms and mental health conditions are handled.
• Request written confirmation before booking when the answer affects travel suitability.

Medical repatriation may involve an assisted scheduled flight, medical escort, stretcher transport or an air ambulance. The exact wording matters.

• Is repatriation covered only when medically necessary?
• Is it also covered when medically reasonable or medically useful?
• Who makes the decision?
• Are medical escort, stretcher transport and air ambulance included?
• Can a companion or relative travel as part of the arrangement?

1. Short-trip cover: usually intended for one limited journey.
2. Annual travel health insurance: may cover several journeys but still limit each individual trip.
3. Long-term travel health insurance: may be needed for stays lasting several months.
4. International private health insurance: may be relevant for residence abroad, repeated long stays or wider ongoing cover.
5. Treatment-related cover: may be needed when planned diagnostics, treatment or rehabilitation are part of the journey.

Travel health insurance is commonly designed for unexpected illness or accidents. Planned diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation, regular physiotherapy, nursing care or treatment that motivated the journey may be excluded or require a different product.

If planned medical care forms part of the stay, ask the insurer to confirm in writing what is and is not covered.

• Is the destination and full travel period covered?
• Is the policy valid for my age?
• What medical information must be declared?
• Are private hospitals and direct billing included?
• Is planned treatment excluded?
• Is medical repatriation included, and under which wording?
• What is the 24-hour emergency number?
• What documents are needed for reimbursement?
• Can the important answers be confirmed in writing?

Travel cancellation insurance generally concerns insured events before departure. Travel interruption insurance generally concerns insured events after the journey has started.

• Before departure: insured cancellation costs may be relevant.
• After departure: unused services, additional accommodation or return travel may be relevant.
• In both cases: the exact insured event and policy wording decide whether a claim is covered.

Consider all prepaid or non-refundable elements that you want to insure, even when they were booked separately. Depending on the policy, this may include flights, accommodation, transfers, excursions, mobility support and certain assistance services.

Ask whether non-classic services such as care support, physiotherapy, planned appointments, vouchers or Concierge support count toward the insured trip value.

No. The insurer must decide how each service is classified. Care Collective must not describe Concierge packages, assistance, care, medical appointments, mobility support or local partner services as automatically insured.

Request written confirmation when a service is expensive, prepaid or non-refundable.

Additional services can increase the total trip value. Check whether the insured sum remains sufficient, whether the new service category is covered and whether the policy can still be adjusted.

1. Keep a list of confirmed bookings and cancellation terms.
2. Recalculate the insured trip value after adding services.
3. Ask the insurer whether the new service type is covered.
4. Adjust the insured sum when necessary and possible.