Traveling is an exciting adventure that comes with risks! What if I get sick or injured while abroad? What if I break a leg in an accident or have to go to the hospital? Will my insurance cover it? Having the right coverage can make all the difference between a manageable situation and a financial nightmare.
But what exactly is the difference between travel insurance and travel health insurance? Let’s break it down.
What is Travel Insurance?
Imagine your flight gets canceled, your luggage is lost, or you have to cut your trip short due to an emergency. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it protects you from unexpected disruptions before and during your trip. Depending on the plan you choose, it can cover:
- Trip Cancellations or Interruptions – What if you have to cancel your trip due to illness, weather, or other covered reasons? Travel insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable expenses.
- Lost, Stolen, or Delayed Baggage – If your luggage doesn’t arrive on time or goes missing altogether, travel insurance helps cover the cost of replacements. This can sometimes include things like your phone getting stolen right out of your hand but keep in mind there are typically dollar limits on how much will be reimbursed.
- Emergency Evacuations – If you need to be evacuated due to a natural disaster or security threat, travel insurance can help cover the costs.
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment – In the worst-case scenario, travel insurance provides financial protection for you and your family.
- Limited Medical Coverage – Some policies include basic emergency medical expenses, but they often have limits and exclusions.
What is Travel Health Insurance?
Now, what if I get diagnosed with a crazy illness or get paralyzed while traveling? Would your regular health insurance cover you? Many health insurance plans don’t provide international coverage, and that’s where travel health insurance steps in. Also, for digital nomads, not spending more than a couple months in the USA or their home country, you can skip having health insurance altogether and opt for a travel health insurance plan. Read more about my experience with Travel Health Insurance for Digital Nomads here. It typically includes:
- Emergency Medical Treatment – If you need a doctor, hospital stay, or emergency care while abroad, travel health insurance helps cover those costs.
- Medical Evacuations – If you suffer a severe injury and need to be transported to the nearest medical facility or back home, travel health insurance can cover the expense.
- Pre-Existing Conditions (Sometimes) – Some policies cover pre-existing conditions if you purchase the plan within a specific timeframe before traveling.
- Serious Illnesses and Cancer - Major issues like contracting a disease, getting paralyzed, or even being diagnosed with cancer can be covered by certain travel health insurances.
Which One Do You Need?
The type of insurance you need depends on your travel plans:
- What if I’m going on a short trip and I’m generally healthy? – A travel insurance policy may be enough since it includes some medical coverage along with trip protection. This makes the most sense if you have solid health insurance coverage at home.
- What if I’m going on a long trip or doing adventurous activities? – A travel health insurance plan would be a better choice, ensuring you have the medical coverage you need. The longer the trip means there’s more days for things to go wrong and therefore more risk.
- What if I’m traveling long-term or living abroad? – You may be required to obtain a local health insurance from the country you’re staying in or a Travel Health Insurance policy sometimes referred to as an international health insurance plan for continuous coverage beyond a single trip.
My Thoughts Based on My Experiences
So, which one should you get? If you’re worried about canceled flights, lost luggage, or other trip disruptions, travel insurance is the way to go. Sometimes cruises may even be covered and can reimburse you for things like missing a specific port that you dreamed of going to. But if you’re more concerned about what happens if you get sick or injured, travel health insurance is a must. In many cases, having both gives you the best protection.
I have used travel insurance myself several times. And when I say used, I mean actually had to file a claim! Unfortunate it happened but so glad I had the policies! Overall cost for policies is shockingly low for what is covered. One time getting my phone stolen more than paid for all policies I’ve ever had in my life. The two companies I use to start my search and buy through are travelinsurance.com and squaremouth.com. They have consistently been the cheapest options and I will search on both and pick the lowest priced policy that covers everything I’m looking for. I believe in them so much that I've partnered with them to get commissions for anyone who signs up from the links. I encourage you to explore on your own and if you can find any options/alternatives who provide better coverage or price let me know!
For travel health insurance, there’s one that has remained undefeated! I have also unfortunately had to file a claim with them but was reimbursed quickly. I tell everyone about them and that is Genki.world! I used them for two whole years while backpacking and living abroad. Insane coverage and an extremely low price. Do you own research into their current offerings, but I was able to fully rely on them for my health insurance needs and had zero other coverage during that time.
Before your next trip, check what your regular health insurance covers and decide what additional protection you need. The right insurance can give you peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying your adventure. Also, don’t forget that the CapitalOne Venture X credit card, Chase Sapphire Reserve and a select few others also include certain types of coverage when you pay for at least part of your flights with the card!
Safe travels!
