Don’t forget! Some countries require proof of insurance to enter. Learn more about these countries and the types of travel insurance that are necessary for entry.
In the midst of planning your itinerary, packing outfits and buying the best tickets, travel insurance may seem like an afterthought in our travel checklist. However, it is an essential part of the planning process to protect you from unfortunate incidents that might happen while you’re away from home. In fact, did you know that travel insurance is actually deemed mandatory for some countries? Read on for the nitty gritty👇
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What Is Travel Insurance?
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Travel insurance is a type of insurance covering unforeseen losses associated with travelling. It can protect against risks and inconveniences such as missed connections, delayed luggage, or more serious cases like medical expenses or emergency evacuation.
From flight cancellations to lost baggage, travel insurance ensures that you won’t lose all your money when things go wrong. Several countries have made travel insurance a mandatory requirement for visitors to ensure their safety and well-being. These countries include the Schengen Agreement countries and Cuba. It is a smart idea to research and find out if your destination requires travel insurance and purchase it beforehand.
Did You Know That Travel Insurance Is Mandatory For Some Countries?: Find out more on if Covid’19 coverage is still essential here
Why Is It Mandatory?
Some countries require travel insurance to ensure that visitors have financial means in case of an emergency. Healthcare costs overseas can be astronomical, and without insurance, visitors could end up with a hefty bill. By requiring travel insurance, countries can ensure that visitors aren’t left with a huge bill that they can’t afford to pay. This may prevent you from getting barred from leaving in case you can’t pay the bills!
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Additionally, travel insurance can also protect visitors from liability for accidents or injury and provide protection for travel disruptions. If a visitor is injured while travelling, they could potentially file a lawsuit against the country or the company that was responsible for the accident. Travel insurance can provide liability coverage, protecting both the visitor and the country from potential lawsuits.
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Which Countries Require Travel Insurance?
Currently, these are the countries that require travel insurance:
Country | Specifications (if any) |
🇦🇶 Antarctica | Required for entry. Travelling to Antarctica is certainly an adventurous choice. As such, it is especially important to get travel insurance when visiting Antarctica because there are no convenient hospitals or medical centres, so in case of any emergencies, you may have to be evacuated. Most Antarctica operators will require you to have an emergency evacuation, repatriation and medical cover up to US$200,000. |
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Medical travel insurance, covering illness and injury, is mandatory for all travellers. |
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Valid travel insurance is mandatory for all travellers. |
🇨🇺 Cuba | Medical travel insurance is mandatory for all travellers. |
Galapagos Island | Health insurance mandatory for all travellers |
🇳🇵 Nepal | Travel insurance that covers health, immediate crisis, or rescue, is mandatory for all travellers. Advisory here |
🇷🇺 Russia | Required for certain passports. |
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Medical Insurance is required for a visa. |
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Medical travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is mandatory for all travellers. |
🇪🇺 Schengen Countries In Europe | Mandatory for tourists who require a Schengen Visa. The required travel insurance must include a minimum of €30K of coverage, with coverage for emergency medical care, medical repatriation, and coverage for expenses related to the traveller’s death. The Schengen area has 27 European countries like Austria, Finland, Croatia and more. Full list here |
🇺🇦 Ukraine | Insurance covering COVID-19-related treatments mandatory for all travellers. The insurance policy certificate must be issued by a Ukraine-registered insurance company, or a foreign insurance company with a contractual partnership with Ukraine or one of the country’s registered insurance companies. More information on travel advisory to Ukraine |
*True as of July 2023
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, and travel rules change frequently. It is always best to check with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit to determine if travel insurance is required.
Did You Know That Travel Insurance Is Mandatory For Some Countries?: Read up on some epic travel disasters & how to avoid the chaos here
Tips For Cheaper Travel Insurance
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Prices for travel insurance are very competitive. Here are some tips to get the best deals for travel insurance tailored to your needs:
1️⃣ Start planning early: Start checking around early so you know what the benchmark rates are
2️⃣ Consider what type of coverage you need: Depending on your trip you might have different needs for different tiers of coverage. For example, the insurance coverage needed for a shopping trip would differ from one for a skiing trip.
3️⃣ Compare prices from different providers
4️⃣ Check your credit card perks: Whether they provide complimentary or discounted travel insurance
5️⃣ Check out our HLAS Travel Insurance on YouTrip!: Enjoy big savings of up to 65% with HLAS when you purchase your travel insurance in-app on YouTrip.
With our partner, HLAS’ COVIDSafe Travel Protect360 coverage, you can get:
- Up to $50,000 in Overseas Medical Expenses for Adults
- Up to $25,000 in Overseas Medical benefits for COVID-19
- $5,000 for Loss of Baggage
- $1,000 for Delayed Baggage
- $7,000 for Trip Cancellation
- $750 for Trip Posementment due to COVID-19
- See the full list of benefits here
Did You Know That Travel Insurance Is Mandatory For Some Countries?: Find out how to purchase travel insurance on YouTrip here
Should You Get Travel Insurance Even If It’s Not Required?
We strongly encourage travellers to get covered with travel insurance no matter the destination! Why? Other than medical or healthcare emergencies, travel disruptions happen easily and can cause major headaches for us travellers. Whether it’s a cancelled flight or lost luggage, travel insurance can help to mitigate some of the stress and inconvenience that comes with these disruptions. After all, to fully enjoy your travelling, you need peace of mind.
Did You Know That Travel Insurance Is Mandatory For Some Countries?: Enjoy big savings of up to 65% on your travel insurance here!
Travel Safe!
Choosing to travel without insurance might seem like a cost-saving measure, but it could end up costing you more in the long run. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure to purchase the right travel insurance before embarking on your next adventure. Plus, travel insurance usually starts at very affordable price points. So don’t risk ruining your trip by neglecting travel insurance!
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