Travel Insurance
Travel insurance covers unexpected medical costs, trip cancellation, and emergencies while you are abroad.
Travel insurance covers unexpected medical costs, trip cancellation, and emergencies while you are abroad.
Also known as
Travel medical insurance, Holiday insurance, Trip insurance, Overseas health cover
Why travellers need to know
Travel insurance is the difference between a manageable incident and a financial crisis. A single ER visit in the US can exceed $5,000. Medical evacuation can cost $50,000-200,000. Most national health systems (NHS, Medicare) provide zero cover abroad. Even EHIC only covers public healthcare in the EU at local rates. Comprehensive travel insurance with at least $1 million medical cover is the baseline for any international trip.
Real-world example
You fall off a motorbike in Bali and break your collarbone. The ER visit, X-rays, and overnight stay at BIMC Hospital cost $2,800. Your travel insurance covers the full amount minus a $100 excess. Without insurance, you'd have paid the entire bill yourself before leaving the hospital.
Country-specific notes
🇺🇸 United States
Medical cover of $2M+ recommended due to US costs
US healthcare costs are so high that many insurers recommend $2 million+ medical cover for trips to the US specifically. A week in a US ICU can exceed $50,000. Budget travel insurance with $100,000 limits may be insufficient for serious incidents.
Check your policy's US-specific sub-limits. Some policies that offer $5M cover worldwide cap US medical expenses at a lower figure.
🇪🇺 European Union
EHIC supplements but does not replace travel insurance
EHIC/GHIC gives EU citizens access to public healthcare at local rates, but it doesn't cover repatriation, private treatment, or non-medical costs like trip cancellation. Travel insurance on top of EHIC is strongly recommended for any EU trip.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Some insurers exclude motorbike injuries without a licence
Motorbike accidents are the leading cause of travel insurance claims in Thailand. Many policies exclude motorbike injuries unless you hold a valid motorcycle licence from your home country. Riding a scooter on a car licence is technically uninsured.
Check your policy's motorbike clause before renting a scooter. If excluded, some insurers offer a motorbike add-on for a small additional premium.
Frequently asked questions
What should travel insurance cover at minimum?
At minimum: medical expenses ($1M+, $2M+ for the US), medical evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation, baggage loss, and personal liability. For adventure travel, ensure your specific activities (skiing, diving, trekking above certain altitudes) are explicitly covered.
Does my credit card include travel insurance?
Some premium credit cards include basic travel insurance when you book travel on the card. Cover is typically limited (often $50,000-100,000 medical) and may exclude pre-existing conditions, adventure sports, and trips over 30-90 days. Read the certificate of insurance carefully; don't assume it's comprehensive.
Store your policy number, insurer hotline, and cover limits in your Nomedic record so they are accessible at the moment you need them, not buried in an email.