👉 If you want to understand the importance of starting your journey only after purchasing travel insurance and what features it should have, you are in the right place.

Is travel insurance mandatory?

This is the classic question that doesn’t have a simple and clear answer, so I respond with a “it depends” every time I’m asked.

But let’s proceed in order. In this article dedicated to travel insurance, I will explain:

• why you should buy it and why not
• the costs of medical services
• what features an insurance policy should have
• where to purchase it
• the costs of insurance (at the end of the article, I will tell you how to save)

Why buy travel insurance and why not to buy it

Let’s assume that, for me, travel insurance today is no longer just health-related, but also includes cancellation insurance and coverage for damage or loss of luggage; occasionally, some still like to make a distinction, but not me.

Clarifying this distinction, the reasons why you should purchase medical/luggage/cancellation insurance can be traced back to three factors:

• destination
• means of transportation
• cancellation policies

Destination

This is the most important of the three factors.

Perhaps not everyone knows that, as citizens of the European Community, we have the right to receive equal healthcare in all member countries; just show the health card during hospital admission, and medical expenses will be charged to the patient’s country of residence, at least in theory, but we will discuss that later.

If, however, your destination is outside the European Community, you need to find out what types of treatments are free and which are instead paid.

The reference site to obtain this information is Viaggiare Sicuri, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; just search for the destination country, and in the health situation section, you will find what treatments are available free of charge for tourists.

Example of the HEALTH SITUATION card for Japan</caption]

Means of transportation

If the means of transportation you will be using for your trip is owned by you or rented, a typical example of a road trip in Europe, then the part dedicated to coverage for damage and/or loss of luggage does not concern you.

It is different if you will be using multiple means of transportation, such as airplanes with international layovers where the airline will handle your luggage, or intermodal trips composed of planes, buses, trains, trams, where in addition to luggage damage, you might also incur theft.

Cancellation policies

In recent years, many services can be purchased with very favorable cancellation policies; hotels, cars, airline tickets offer the possibility to change dates or to cancel with a franchise or even without penalties.

However, this possibility is often granted at a cost higher than the standard rate.

If these increases are greater than the cost of a cancellation insurance policy, then purchasing it is a must from an economic perspective.

In this example, free cancellation costs about 10% of the stay.</caption]

So what?

Putting these variables together, you might think that travel insurance (medical/luggage/cancellation) is not necessary if you plan to go on a road trip in Europe staying in hotels that allow cancellation just hours before check-in without any penalty.

But no!

In fact, insurance is useful even in Europe, especially for repatriation coverage, which helps the insured return home in case of trip interruption for the instances specified in the policy.

Moreover, the health card does not cover all medical expenses that an insurance policy would include, and in some countries, such as France, you must first pay out of pocket and then go through a procedure to request reimbursement from the Local Health Authority once back home, with the usual delays of Italian bureaucracy.

If your trip is to a country outside of Europe, using airplanes, hotels, rental cars, where you will be doing excursions or experiences booked and paid for well in advance, in this case, signing up for a policy is a moral obligation rather than a legal requirement.

That’s why in my group trips, health insurance is always included.

How much does medical care cost abroad?

We’ve seen that for EU countries, this is not a major concern, but for non-EU countries, how much does medical care actually cost?
Let’s take a look at the costs of medical services in the United States (source: GeoPop.it):

• Medical prescription: $60–70
• Tonsillectomy: around $5,000
• Ambulance ride: around $2,000
• Emergency room visit: about $1,400

Of course, no one books a vacation expecting to take an ambulance ride, but anything can happen, and it’s good to have a clear understanding of potential costs.

What features should a travel insurance policy have?

I could write thousands of words to describe the ideal features of a travel insurance policy, but after years of experience in this field, I can summarize them as follows:

• 24/7 customer support in Italian
• Adequate coverage limit based on the destination
• Direct payment to healthcare facilities
• Fast reimbursement processing

24/7 Customer support in Italian

This might seem trivial, but having a 24-hour customer support center with Italian-speaking agents is not guaranteed with every insurance provider.
Imagine having to wait until 8:00 AM in the country where the support center is based and then having to speak in English while you’re thousands of miles from home, in a different time zone, dealing with an emergency situation for yourself or a travel companion.

Just writing this makes me anxious—let alone experiencing it in real life!

Adequate coverage limit based on the destination

Considering the United States as an example, any coverage limit exceeding one million dollars is more than sufficient.

Direct payment to healthcare facilities

Insurance companies handle claims in different ways when it comes to medical emergencies.
Most will direct you to a partner healthcare facility where, in addition to receiving appropriate treatment, you won’t have to pay anything upfront.

The insurance company will deal directly with the medical facility to handle the payment for medical services.

This is the best way to avoid paying out-of-pocket and waiting for a reimbursement after your trip.

Fast reimbursement processing

If the insurance company operates on a reimbursement basis, I recommend choosing one with quick and straightforward claims processing, both in terms of payment speed and the simplicity of submitting the required documentation.

Where to purchase travel insurance?

If you are reading this article, you already have the answer.
Online insurance providers have been around for many years, whether it’s for auto, home, or travel insurance. Buying a policy online is the best way to get the best value for money, as long as it meets the features I described earlier.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Again, my answer is “it depends” since many factors influence the cost, such as trip duration, destination, season, and coverage limits.
The cost of a 7-day travel insurance policy for the United States for a 50-year-old traveler, purchased online, averages between €70–80.

How to save on travel insurance costs?

One of the best-value travel insurance providers on the Italian market today is HEYMONDO, which offers multiple options, including single-trip, annual, family, and group policies.

And I have even more good news for you.

CLICK HERE to get a 10% discount!

Heymondo has all the features I mentioned earlier and more:

• 24/7 assistance, 365 days a year
• A travel assistance app
• Direct payment to the hospital
• Ability to purchase the policy even a few days before departure

Click the banner below ⬇️ and customize the perfect insurance policy for your next trip with peace of mind.