When planning a trip to Europe, one of the first things you might encounter is the need for a Schengen visa, especially if you’re from a country that requires one to enter the Schengen Area.
The Schengen visa allows you to enter and travel across certain European countries and is required for some nationalities.
In order to get a Schengen visa, you must meet certain visa requirements, one of which is having travel health insurance coverage for your trip.
One common question that travelers may have regarding health coverage for a Schengen visa is whether or not travel insurance provided as a benefit for some credit cards could meet the Schengen visa requirements.
Let’s dive deeper into whether or not credit card travel insurance could satisfy the health coverage requirement for a Schengen visa.
What Are the Schengen Visa Travel Insurance Requirements?
In order to obtain a Schengen visa, you must show proof of travel insurance that meets the following criteria:
- Minimum medical expense coverage of EUR 30,000
- Coverage for emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation
- Must be valid in all Schengen countries
- Must be valid for the entirety of your stay in the Schengen area
In order to ensure that your Schengen visa application is approved, you must get a travel insurance policy that satisfies all of the requirements listed above.
What Does Credit Card Travel Insurance Cover?
One tricky thing about credit card travel insurance is that coverage and benefits will vary greatly depending on the type of credit card you have.
In general, most credit card travel coverage focuses on trip-related protection, such as trip cancellation or interruption. Medical expense coverage may not be included in your credit card’s travel insurance coverage, or might be very limited.
It’s important to contact your credit card provider to understand exact coverage details for your specific account.
Does Credit Card Travel Insurance Work for Schengen Visa?
In most cases, credit card travel insurance will not meet Schengen visa travel insurance requirements – and here’s why.
- Most credit card travel insurance benefits will not meet the EUR 30,000 minimum medical expense coverage. Many travel insurance benefits provided by credit cards don’t include medical coverage, or only provide a very limited maximum.
- Some credit card travel insurance policies may exclude certain countries or regions.
- Credit card travel insurance typically offers trip-related benefits rather than medical-focused protection.
- Credit card travel insurance often does not include coverage for repatriation of remains and emergency medical evacuation.
- You need written proof of your medical coverage for a Schengen visa, and many credit card companies do not provide documentation that meets the Schengen visa requirements.
In addition to the points above, using credit card travel insurance to try and get a Schengen visa can also be tricky, as you would have to prove that you paid for your trip using that credit card in order to receive the benefits.
Many Schengen countries will explicitly state that credit card travel insurance is not accepted as valid travel insurance proof.
Where to Buy Schengen Travel Insurance
If you were considering trying to use credit card travel insurance for your proof of health coverage, it’s vital to first check that your credit card travel insurance:
- Meets the Schengen visa travel insurance requirements
- Provides the correct documentation for proof of coverage
- Is valid in all Schengen countries
- Provides coverage for hospitalization, medical evacuation, and repatriation
- Is accepted by your destination country as a form of health coverage
If your credit card travel insurance doesn’t meet the above, you can opt for a Schengen visa travel insurance policy through VisitorsCoverage.
Schengen travel insurance through VisitorsCoverage only takes a few minutes to purchase, and provides you with an instant downloadable proof of insurance documentation that you can use for your Schengen visa application.
Best Schengen Travel Insurance
The following plans are the best options for those who need Schengen travel insurance. These plans meet all of the Schengen visa requirements.
Get Schengen Travel Insurance Today
Credit card travel insurance generally isn’t valid or reliable to use as proof of health coverage for a Schengen visa. Purchasing a Schengen travel insurance plan that meets the Schengen visa travel insurance requirements will ensure that you have proof of the coverage that you need to get your visa.
Need Schengen travel insurance for your Schengen visa? Compare Schengen visa travel insurance plans or contact our Customer Success Team with any questions or concerns. Safe travels!
