Planning a trip to Europe? Along with your passport and itinerary, travel insurance should be at the top of your checklist. A solid Europe travel insurance plan helps protect you from unexpected situations like medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost baggage, which can quickly turn a dream trip into a stressful experience.
However, choosing the right travel insurance plan can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available. What coverage do you actually need? And once you have a policy, how do you use it while you’re abroad?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best Europe travel insurance and how to use your coverage confidently during your trip.
What This Guide Will Cover:
- How to choose the right travel insurance for Europe
- Top Europe travel insurance plans
- What to know about your travel insurance coverage for Europe
- Travel insurance tips for Europe
How Can I Choose the Right Europe Travel Insurance Policy?
Before you depart, select a travel insurance policy that suits your needs. VisitorsCoverage offers a range of options tailored for European travel, including:
- Comprehensive medical coverage
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Repatriation of remains
- Trip cancellation, interruption, and delay
- Lost luggage
- Meets Schengen visa requirements
Consider factors such as trip duration, activities planned, and your budget when selecting a policy.
Additionally, if you need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe, be sure to select a policy that meets Schengen visa travel insurance requirements. You will need travel insurance proof to get your Schengen visa.
Understand Your Travel Insurance Coverage for Europe
Understanding travel insurance for Europe and its coverage is essential when it comes to using your travel insurance abroad.
When you purchase your plan, make sure to familiarize yourself with your policy’s details, including:
- Policy maximum and coverage limits
- Your deductible (what you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in)
- Exclusions and limitations
- Pre-existing conditions coverage
- Covered reasons for trip cancellation and interruption (for trip insurance plans)
Each plan’s coverage and exclusions will vary, so familiarizing yourself with what your policy covers and what it doesn’t can save you frustration later on. It can also help you understand how to make the best use out of your policy – it may have benefits you aren’t aware of!
Carry Your Insurance Information
During your trip abroad, make sure to keep your insurance information with you. You may need to have this information ready, especially in emergency situations.
Store digital copies on your phone and email them to yourself as a backup.
Know How to Contact Your Insurer
Make sure to save your insurance provider’s emergency contact number and email address so that they are easily accessible.
You may need to contact your insurance company for various reasons, including for pre-certification for medical care.
When in doubt, you can always contact your insurance company for assistance.
Keep Documentation of Everything
When using travel insurance abroad, you may have to pay upfront for your care and file a claim for your expenses later on.
For this reason, it is very important that you keep all of your medical care documentation, which you will need to file a claim with your insurance provider.
This can include:
- Doctor’s notes
- Itemized receipts of medical expenses
- Proof of payments
- Prescriptions
- Any other documentation provided to you during your treatment
Seek Appropriate Care
If you do need medical care in Europe, seek the most appropriate care based on your location and needs.
You can always contact your insurance provider for travel assistance services which can help you find the best medical facility for your specific ailment or injury.
In case of illness or injury:
- For emergencies, dial 112 (the European equivalent of 911)
- For non-emergencies, visit a local pharmacy or clinic
- Inform your insurance provider as soon as possible
File Claims Promptly
Submit claims as soon as you can, following your insurer’s specific process.
This typically involves filing a claim form including all relevant information, as well as submitting all supporting documentation with your claim.
How Can I Get the Help I Need for Europe?
With Europe travel insurance, you can travel Europe without having to worry about the what-ifs. Travel insurance offers the vital protection you need in the case of the unexpected.
Compare Europe travel insurance plans or contact our Customer Success Team with any questions – we are happy to help!
- Choose a Europe travel insurance plan that fits your trip length, activities, and budget, and make sure it meets Schengen visa requirements if needed.
- Review key policy details like coverage limits, deductible, exclusions, and pre-existing condition rules before you buy.
- Carry your insurance information during your trip, save digital copies, and keep your insurer’s emergency contact details handy.
- Save all medical records and receipts, seek the right care quickly, and file claims promptly with your insurer’s required documents.
