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Schengen Travel Insurance
Schengen Travel Insurance
Schengen Travel Insurance is a type of insurance policy specifically designed for travellers visiting the Schengen Area in Europe.
The Schengen Area is a zone comprising 27 European countries that have abolished passport control at their mutual borders, allowing for free and unrestricted movement of people within the area.
This zone covers most of the EU countries, except for Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus. In addition, non-EU countries such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also part of the Schengen zone
These countries have agreed to common visa policies for short stays. To obtain a Schengen visa, travellers are often required to provide proof of travel insurance that meets certain criteria.
The Schengen Travel Insurance must typically cover medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. The minimum coverage amount is specified by the Schengen regulations, and it is usually around 30,000 euros.
It’s important to note that the coverage requirements may vary slightly among the Schengen countries, so it’s advisable to check the specific requirements of the country you plan to visit.
Schengen Travel Insurance provides financial protection in case of unexpected medical emergencies during the trip, ensuring that travellers have access to necessary medical care without a significant financial burden.
Schengen Visa
Certain citizens need to apply for either a short stay visa or an airport transit visa – see here
The European Union has a list of countries whose citizens require a visa – see here
Travel Insurance by Country
Travel insurance is pretty much a must, whatever country you are going to visit, but its cost and necessity does vary country by country.
For some countries it is a legal requirement, for others things like medical costs, as per USA, make it pretty crucial for most people.
Some countries are safer than others, and some parts of some countries are safer than others.
Insurance companies require people to follow any travel advice that their national government gives out about the state of a country, and how safe it is to travel there.
Governments of other countries than your own will also have travel advice for their citizens, which will be useful to follow.
Whilst travel insurance will usually cover most medical conditions, albeit at a cost, if you have a condition such as epilepsy it is worth remembering that some countries still have quite a cultural and social problem with people who suffer from it.
It is also worth researching the medical system of any country you are going to, especially if you are visiting any remote areas of that country.
Also check if your insurance company will pay any medical bills directly to the hospital, or if you are expected to pay them and claim the money back from the insurance company.
Below is a list of articles about travel insurance to different countries, including some general travel tips and information on safety, airlines, sports, and health systems etc.