- Based on our analysis, the best travel medical insurance plans come from Seven Corners, Tin Leg, and Faye (skip ahead to view these plans).
- Medical travel insurance is the most basic form of travel coverage and can cost as little as $1/day when you opt for medical-based coverage only.
- Most emergency travel medical insurance plans include medical expense reimbursement limits and medical evacuation limits. For international trips we recommend opting for limit of at least $250,000 for each.
- A comparison tool is the quickest way to find affordable coverage and compare plans from several providers at onces.
When you buy something using links found on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This content is reviewed & supervised by The Los Angeles Times Commerce Team.
Best Emergency Travel Medical Insurance Plans 2024
Medical travel insurance plans start around $1 per day! – Compare plans & prices now.
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On This Page
- Key Takeaways
- What is the best travel medical insurance?
- Can I use my US health insurance abroad?
- How much does international travel medical insurance cost?
- What is covered by travel health insurance?
- Travel medical insurance vs. comprehensive travel insurance
- Is it worth getting travel medical insurance?
- Types of travel medical insurance coverage
- How do you use international travel medical insurance?
- Travel Health Insurance FAQ
- Recommended articles
- Related topics
On This Page
- Key Takeaways
- What is the best travel medical insurance?
- Can I use my US health insurance abroad?
- How much does international travel medical insurance cost?
- What is covered by travel health insurance?
- Travel medical insurance vs. comprehensive travel insurance
- Is it worth getting travel medical insurance?
- Types of travel medical insurance coverage
- How do you use international travel medical insurance?
- Travel Health Insurance FAQ
- Recommended articles
- Related topics
Holly D. Johnson - Finance Expert
+ 1 other
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
What is the best travel medical insurance?
After analyzing over 20 travel insurance providers, we found that the best travel medical insurance plans are offered by Seven Corners, Tin Leg, and Faye.Here is a closer look at each.
Advertiser Disclosure
Full Policy Details
Seven Corners
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Trip Protection Choice
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000
/
$1,000,000
Why We Like It
PROS
- Offers coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Money-back guarantee
- Cancellation & Interruption coverage standard
- Covers action sports & equipment
CONS
- Cancel for any reason not included standard
- Must meet waiver for pre-existing conditions to be covered
Tin Leg
GET A QUOTE
via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Gold
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000
/
$500,000
Why We Like It
Editor's take
The Tin Leg Gold plan is another one of our most popular plans.
It continually ranks as one of the cheapest policies but offers high medical benefits and comprehensive cancellation coverage. It covers a little bit of everything but stands out for its health coverage.
The Gold plan’s impressive medical coverage includes a $500,000 limit for both emergency medical assistance and medical evacuation assistance – which is more than enough for most destinations. It offers primary coverage meaning there are no deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses.
With a 14-day money-back guarantee and 24-hour travel assistance service, Tin Leg Gold goes above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction and support. This policy truly stands out as a top choice for travelers who prioritize their well-being and want comprehensive coverage for their trips.
PROS
- Excellent primary coverage for medical expenses
- High limit for emergency evacuation coverage
- Optional cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage available
- Comes with coverage for hurricanes and inclement weather
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions is available if purchased within 14 days of the trip deposit
CONS
- Baggage delay coverage requires a 24-hour waiting period
- Low coverage limits for baggage and personal effects
Full Policy Details
Faye Travel Insurance
Check Pricing
via the Faye website
Preferred Plan
Faye Travel Protection Plan
Covers COVID
Yes
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000
/
$500,000
Why We Like It
Editor's take
Faye is a new travel insurance disruptor that offers an innovative solution to travel insurance with a digital-first approach.
Although it’s a newer provider in the travel insurance industry, Faye is already rising as a fan favorite among young, tech-savvy travelers and digital nomads who want quick, convenient, and reliable travel insurance without having to go through an agent.
Faye offers a customizable plan that includes comprehensive medical coverage and limits that can range from $100,000 to $250,000 depending on your trip destination and state of residence. Simply enter your trip details, and Faye puts together a recommended plan based on your unique profile.
Potential Add-ons include:
- Pet care
- Rental car care
- Cancel for any reason
- Vacation rental damage
- Adventure & extreme sports
If you are looking for a convenient and affordable way to insure your vacation, consider opting for Faye travel insurance. *Note: Coverage limits and availability may vary by state of residence.
PROS
- Friendly agents
- Easy-to-use mobile app
- Fast reimbursements for eligible claims
- Prompt replies to questions
CONS
- Long wait times for reimbursement
- Difficulty reaching Faye outside of email & virtual chat
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Can I use my US health insurance abroad?
Most US health insurance providers don’t offer coverage outside of the United States. If they do offer coverage, it usually comes with lots of exclusions and fees. Note, this is also the case for Medicare and Medicaid.
In most cases, you are better off spending a few dollars per day to buy a dedicated travel medical insurance plan that can fully cover you while out of the country.
How much does international travel medical insurance cost?
The average cost of travel medical insurance is $5/day. This is based on internal sales data from LA Times visitors who purchased travel insurance over the last year. Travelers spent an overall average of $102 for medical travel insurance for trips with an average length of 20 days.
Note, the cost of emergency medical travel insurance varies depending on many factors such as the coverage limits of your plan, your age, trip length, and destination.
To give you an idea of how much travel health insurance costs, we put together a small study and received price quotes for travel insurance covering two 40-year-olds traveling to France for two weeks in September 2024.
Here are some of the travel insurance quotes we received for a 14-night trip to France:
| Travel Insurance Company | Estimated Plan Cost |
|---|---|
| Battleface | $48.38 |
| IMG | $53 |
| Tin Leg | $156 |
| Seven Corners | $116 |
| World Trips | $166 |
To provide another example, we also applied for quotes for two 65-year-olds traveling to India for two weeks in June 2024.
Here are some of the travel insurance quotes we received for a 14-night trip to India:
| Travel Insurance Company | Estimated Plan Cost |
|---|---|
| IMG | $83.80 |
| Tin Leg | $176 |
| Seven Corners | $178 |
| World Trips | $176 |
The charts above show the average cost of travel health insurance abroad for two different trips, but it’s important to note that each plan we profiled comes with a different breadth of coverage and limits, making them difficult to compare.
For this reason, we overwhelmingly recommend the use of a comparison tool like the one found on our site.
Understanding limits, exclusions, and deductibles
Whenever you compare travel medical insurance policies, it is important to understand the variety of limits, exclusions, and deductibles that are in place. The price of international traveler’s insurance can vary depending on these three factors, so consider them before settling on one particular plan.
Here is a breakdown of the terminology and how it affects your overall quote:
Exclusions:
Exclusions are specific activities and events that are excluded from your final plan and are not covered by your insurance. This can include activities deemed too high-risk risk such as extreme sports. It is therefore important to check the policy to ensure you are covered for any activity you plan to partake in during your vacation.
Limits:
Limits are monetary caps on certain coverage. For example, you may be covered for baggage loss or emergency dental treatment, yet only up to $50 per item or $500 per treatment. Any costs over the stated limit will be your responsibility to pay.
Deductibles:
A deductible is an amount you pay before your insurance policy reimburses you. For example, if you purchase a policy with a $100 deductible and your insurance claim totals $500, the insurer will only reimburse you $400. Bear in mind, that the lower the deductible the more expensive the policy will be.
What is covered by travel health insurance?
The answer to this question depends on your plan and the insurance provider.
That said, the lists below show common situations and treatments that typically are covered by travel insurance plans and ones that are not:
Here is a list of what’s typically covered by international travel medical insurance:
- Broken bones
- Emergency dental procedures
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Emergency room visits and treatment
- Heart attacks
- Repatriation of remains
- Strokes
- Urgent care visits
- X-rays
Here is a list of what’s typically not covered by travel health insurance:
- Pre-existing conditions (unless approved and authorized for the plan)
- Routine and preventative care (unless approved and authorized for the plan)
- Treatments for chronic medical conditions
- Regular dental care
Travel medical insurance vs. comprehensive travel insurance
Travel insurance plans can be divided into two categories:
- Medical-only travel insurance
- Comprehensive travel insurance
Travel medical insurance will provide coverage related to all things medical, while a comprehensive plan covers everything from health travel insurance to trip cancellations or rental car coverage.
Below is a brief outline of what you can generally expect from a travel medical insurance policy and a comprehensive travel insurance policy:
| Coverage Type | Travel Medical Insurance | Comprehensive Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Trip cancellation | X | ✓ |
| Trip delay | Limited | ✓ |
| Emergency medical evacuation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Baggage delay | Limited | ✓ |
| Lost baggage | Limited | ✓ |
| Accidental death and dismemberment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental car coverage | X | ✓ |
1
Look for a policy with adequate limits for emergency medical care.
The most important components of travel medical insurance include coverage for medical expenses and emergency evacuation. Generally speaking, we recommend at least a $50,000 medical limit on trips within the US and North America, but you may be able to get by on less. For further abroad, you should look for travel medical policies that include at least $250,000 worth of coverage in both medical and emergency evacuation coverage.
2
Decide which benefits you want.
Some travel medical policies also come with emergency travel assistance as well as coverage for trip delays, lost baggage, or repatriation of remains. If you want to have these additional benefits, make sure to check for plans that include them. It is also important to check whether you have trip interruption or cancellation coverage. You will want to be covered should your trip get interrupted or canceled due to you falling ill and not all medical-based plans include thos a s standard.
3
Check for age limits and coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Read over different policies to see which ones might limit coverage based on age. Also, make sure you know how pre-existing conditions are treated within the plans you’re considering.
4
Read the fine print.
It’s extremely important to read over all the fine print on the policies you’re comparing as well. Make sure you understand any waiting periods that apply, as well as whether your travel heath insurance plan has a deductible. Also, check for exclusions in your plan.
5
Shop around and compare pricing with several companies.
The best step to take to find the right travel medical plan involves shopping around for coverage. Get a travel medical coverage quote from at least three or four providers, then use that information as a basis to compare plans, included coverages, and premiums. Using a comparison tool like the one found on our site makes this process quick and easy.
Is it worth getting travel medical insurance?
Buying international travel medical insurance is totally worth the expense as most plans only cost a couple of dollars per day to insure you for up to several hundred thousand dollars of coverage.
Additionally, since most US health insurance plans don’t work abroad, anyone traveling outside of the US should buy medical travel insurance at a minimum. Without it, you run the risk of paying for emergency treatment out of pocket. Overseas medical treatment can easily cost $10,000 or more, and medical evacuation costs can quickly exceed $100,000 in most countries.
If you have health insurance and are traveling domestically, you may not need to buy additional medical travel coverage, but some travelers may benefit from additional protections including seniors, people with chronic illnesses, and travelers headed to remote areas. Check out our guide to senior travel insurance for more info.
Additionally, some countries require visitors to have travel insurance before entering, and if you plan to stay in Europe for longer than 3 months, you will be required to have travel insurance as part of the Schengen visa.Tips for choosing travel health insurance
Types of travel medical insurance coverage
There are different levels of medical insurance for overseas travel depending on the plan and company that you choose.
Here is a list of common types of international travel medical insurance and the differences between them.
Primary vs. secondary medical coverage
Medical travel insurance international policies are broken down into two separate groups, primary and secondary. Primary medical coverage means you will submit your claim directly to the insurance provider first and they are solely responsible for picking up the bill before any other provider. For example, if you break your ankle and need emergency medical treatment immediately, you will submit your insurance claim directly to your primary insurance provider to cover the cost.
On the other hand, a secondary insurance policy cover will only pick up the remaining cost once you have submitted a claim to your primary insurance provider.
Emergency travel medical insurance
As we have already mentioned, general international travel medical insurance aims to pay for care relating to a medical emergency you have away from home. This could be an illness or an injury, and coverage will pay for treatment and medical care either way. Some items included in medical emergency insurance are hospitalization, emergency room treatment, X-rays, emergency dental care, and more.
Emergency medical evacuation insurance
Medical evacuation insurance pays for your transportation for medical care. This could include a pricey trip in an airplane or a helicopter or even an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital or clinic. In some cases, evacuation coverage will pay for transportation to your home country for treatment. This coverage differs from general emergency medical insurance in that some general plans do not cover transportation or evacuation to a hospital. If you only travel in your own country and don’t plan on participating in extreme sports during your vacation it is worth comparing cheaper travel insurance.
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How do you use international travel medical insurance?
The process involved in using international travel medical insurance varies from company to company.
However, you should check whether you need approval for some types of medical care before you receive it. Almost all policies also require you to get prior authorization for emergency medical evacuation, and they offer a hotline your hospital can call for this purpose.
Most travel medical plans pay for the care you receive directly, although you may wind up paying for some of your treatment upfront and then asking for reimbursement from your travel insurance provider.
Before you invest in travel medical coverage, make sure you understand the process of the insurer, what is and isn’t covered in your plan, and when you need to get treatment pre-approved before you receive it.
Can I buy medical travel insurance only?
Yes, medical-only travel insurance plans are available and are often the cheapest. Stand-alone medical travel insurance policies include medical treatment, evacuation during your trip, and cancellation due to an illness or accident. Battleface Insurance is an excellent choice for medical-only travel insurance as it allows you to only buy the type of coverage you need.
Travel Health Insurance FAQ
Do I need international travel medical insurance if I have health insurance?
Generally, yes. It’s worth it to buy travel insurance if you plan to travel abroad or if your traditional medical insurance doesn’t cover you while traveling outside your local area.
Having health insurance or Medicare within the United States doesn’t mean you have health insurance overseas if you become sick or injured in another country. In fact, it’s unlikely your standard policy provides health insurance when traveling abroad, even for emergencies.
Consumer Reports also notes that Medicare plans typically do not provide international medical insurance for travelers, although some Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans do offer worldwide emergency care.
Can I get international travel medical insurance if I don’t have health insurance?
Yes, almost anyone can get emergency medical insurance for travel if they are willing to pay for it.
For trips overseas, you can purchase medical insurance for international travel even if you don’t have health insurance in your home country. You may also be able to purchase travel emergency medical insurance if you are traveling within the US. One type of coverage does not impact or limit the other.
Does travel health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Some travel medical insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions, although various terms and conditions can apply. Make sure you check the plans you’re considering to find out how they treat pre-existing conditions and whether you can get coverage for medical conditions you have had in the past. You can also read more about buying travel insurance for pre-existing conditions in our help guide.
What medical conditions are covered by travel insurance?
Almost any medical condition can be covered by travel insurance, including broken bones, a heart attack, a stroke, pre-existing conditions, and more. Coverage will depend on the plan and provider. Make sure you read over the exclusions in your plan so you know which medical conditions may not be covered. When purchasing a plan you can look for specific inclusions and exclusions using filters on our comparison tool.
Does travel health insurance cover pregnancy or childbirth?
Most travel medical insurance plans are geared towards unexpected medical emergencies, so a healthy pregnancy or birth would not be covered. Certain unexpected emergency scenarios or complications may be covered, so it’s important to check with your policy provider. For more details, read our detailed guide on pregnancy travel insurance.
Will my medical insurance cover me in another country?
Generally speaking, U.S.-based health insurance companies can’t pay out to foreign medical providers. Therefore, it’s important to purchase a travel insurance policy when you go on vacation, as your domestic medical insurance won’t work while you’re traveling abroad.
What is the average cost of travel medical insurance?
The average cost of travel medical insurance depends on many factors. These include your age, destination, trip cost, and length of the trip. Generally speaking, your insurance policy will cost between 5% and 6% of your total trip cost.
Does international travel medical insurance cover coronavirus?
Since the pandemic, the vast majority of travel insurance plans now include COVID-19 coverage as they would cover treatment of any other illness. This means that coronavirus treatment is typically included when it comes to medical travel insurance.
That said, it’s important to read over the inclusions and exclusions listed in the travel medical plans you’re considering. Some plans offer more coverage than others. One example is lost expenses relating to an unexpected quarantine. However, regarding medical care for COVID-19, you should most certainly be covered.
If you have questions or doubts, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance provider to find out for sure.
About the Author
Holly D. Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer who covers topics like insurance, investing, credit and family finance. As a leading voice in the travel and loyalty space, Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries over the last decade.
The author has also written extensively on the power of household budgeting, and she even co-authored a book on the topic. Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love was originally published in 2017, and it teaches families how to use zero-sum budgeting to reach their financial goals. She is also the co-owner and founder of the family finance and travel website, ClubThrifty.com.
Johnson’s 10+ years of writing have focused on helping families make important financial decisions at each stage of their lives. The author also applies the financial principles she teaches to her own life, and she is currently on track to retire in her late 40’s with her partner. She currently lives in Central Indiana with her husband and children, and she is a regular contributor for Bankrate, CNN, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report Travel and many other notable publications.
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