What is Schengen travel insurance?
Schengen travel insurance is simply a travel insurance plan that offers coverage while you’re traveling in Europe’s Schengen area, which now excludes the UK. This type of insurance is required for certain Schengen travel visas.
Typically, travel insurance plans offer coverage for certain destinations or areas of travel, and can sometimes exclude other destinations as part of the plan. Therefore, Schengen travel insurance refers to plans that offer coverage for travels within the Schengen area.
When do I need Schengen travel insurance?
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance any time you travel to this region, whether it be places such as France, Spain or Germany since most traditional health plans won’t work abroad, but you definitely need health insurance for a Schengen visa as noted by travel.state.gov) if you plan to apply for a longer stay.
Having valid Schengen travel insurance is a basic requirement for applying for a Schengen visa. In other words, you cannot get a visa for the Schengen area unless you buy travel insurance for the length of your stay.
That said, we recommend buying travel insurance any time you travel to this region, regardless of if you plan to apply for a Schengen visa.
Schengen visa travel insurance requirements
Travel medical insurance for a Schengen visa has the following requirements:
- It must be valid in all Schengen Zone countries and remain in effect until the end of your trip.
- It must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses.
- Your insurance policy must cover repatriation due to medical emergencies. Repatriation is the technical term for returning to your own country.
What does Schengen travel insurance cover?
Every insurance policy is a little different, but travel insurance usually covers these expenses:
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Medical expenses:?
If you want a Schengen visa, your policy must include medical insurance. This type of insurance covers expenses arising from certain illnesses and injuries. Read your policy carefully, as Schengen travel health insurance typically excludes pre-existing conditions.
Regardless of whether you require a Schengen visa or not, having medical insurance is a must for anyone traveling outside of the US. Medical insurance is generally broken down into two categories; emergency medical coverage, and emergency medical evacuation coverage.
Schengen medical insurance covers you for things such as hospitalization, emergency room treatment, X-rays, emergency dental care, and more. Emergency medical evacuation coverage will cover you for any transportation you require to receive medical care. This can include an ambulance to the nearest hospital or a pricey evacuation via a helicopter or plane.
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Lost/damaged luggage:?
Many Schengen visa travel insurance plans cover lost and damaged luggage. Your policy may even reimburse you for the cost of purchasing essential items while you wait for your delayed bag to arrive.
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Cancellations:?
Comprehensive travel insurance usually covers trip cancellations, giving you extra peace of mind in the event you have to cancel your plans due to severe weather, illness, serious medical problems, natural disasters or legal obligations. According to the Department of Financial Services, Schengen visa insurance won’t cover?cancellations due to COVID-19 in most cases unless you have COVID-19 travel insurance. This is because it’s no longer an unforeseen complication.
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Delays:?
Some types of travel insurance cover losses arising from trip delays. This coverage kicks in if you experience a delay while traveling via one of these common carriers: airline, passenger railroad, ferry or long-distance bus service. Your policy may cover meals, hotel accommodations, toiletries and other related expenses.
What doesn’t Schengen travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance coverage depends heavily on the plan you choose. The more comprehensive your plan, the more things you will have covered.
That said, there are some common things not covered under travel insurance that extend to Schengen visa travel insurance.
Schengen visa travel insurance may not cover:
- Some scenarios relating to pregnancy – such as childbirth (see pregnancy travel insurance)
- Some pre-existing conditions – depending on the plan and waiver criteria
- Some COVID-19 scenarios – such as self-imposed quarantine
- Anything mentioned in the “Exclusions” section of your specific plan – always read the fine print.
It’s important to review all the specific inclusions and exclusions of the plan you choose as there can be loopholes and exceptions to each of these scenarios.
For example, pre-existing conditions, which are health problems that existed before you purchased your policy, typically aren’t covered. However, there is often a limit to how far back this applies and certain criteria for waiving the exclusion.
How much does Schengen travel insurance cost?
Schengen travel insurance can cost as low as around $1 per day for the most basic coverage.
For more comprehensive travel insurance, you can expect to pay around $4 per day.
That said, the exact cost of travel insurance depends on several factors, including:
- Your age
- The duration of your trip
- The cost of your trip
- The coverage limits you select
- The destination of your trip
For example, medical insurance usually costs less for younger people than it does for older people, so a 65-year-old can expect to pay more than a 23-year-old.
Let’s walk through a real-world example comparing coverage types. We got travel insurance quotes for the following trip information:
- Age: 35 years old
- Destination: Schengen area
- Trip Length: 14 days
- Trip cost: $3,000
- Date: September, 2024
The requirements for Schengen visa travel insurance are quite simple, so you can get a relatively inexpensive plan. In this first table, we got price quotes for basic Schengen travel insurance.
Example Where Plan Doesn’t Reimburse the Full Trip Cost
While you are at it, you may want to opt for more comprehensive benefits. For the example below, we chose plans that will reimburse the full cost of your trip.
Example Where Plan Does Reimburse the Full Trip Cost
When you purchase travel insurance, it’s up to you whether you want to stick with the required minimums or give yourself a little extra peace of mind. That can have a big impact on the cost of your policy. For example, it costs a lot more to purchase €100,000 in medical insurance than it does to purchase the minimum €30,000 in medical insurance.
Where can I purchase Schengen travel insurance?
Where you ultimately purchase Schengen visa travel insurance is up to you.
If you are going as part of a larger tour or study program, you may be able to purchase Schengen visa travel insurance through your tour operator.
That said, you may be able to find a better deal buying Schengen travel insurance online. Most major travel insurance providers offer plans that match the Schengen visa requirements.
You can also have a look at an online comparison tool. To see Schengen visa travel insurance plans you can enter your trip details in the tool below. Once you reach the quote pages, there is a filter to select “Schengen Visa” under the preset filter options. This will highlight all the plans that match the Schengen visa requirements from multiple travel insurance companies at once.
Schengen visa requirements
Before you travel, you may need to obtain a Schengen visa. Here’s what you need to know about the visa requirements.
Who needs a Schengen visa?
Any American citizen who intends to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days must obtain a visa before traveling. This includes both business travelers and leisure travelers.
How does a Schengen visa work?
A Type D Schengen visa, also known as a national long-stay visa, allows you to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in a 180-day period. It also allows you to travel from one Schengen country to another Schengen country.
If you need to travel to the Schengen Area several times, you may be able to obtain a 3-year, multiple-entry Schengen visa or a 5-year, multiple-entry Schengen visa.
It’s important to note that if you plan to get a Schengen visa, you must have valid Schengen travel insurance for the entirety of your stay within the Schengen area.?Multi-trip insurance insurance can be especially beneficial in such cases.
Schengen visa requirements for children
Age criteria for Schengen Visa:
- Children aged 6 and over will often require their own Schengen Visa. This specific age can vary from country to country, so it is important to check the specific age requirements of the Schengen country you plan to visit.
Application Process:
- Minors need to pass through the same Visa application process as adults. This process generally contains the following stages:
- Applicants must complete a Schengen visa application form.
- You must gather the appropriate supporting documents (see below).
- Schedule an appointment with the respective embassy or consulate.
- Pay the Visa fee.
Required Documentation:
- A child’s Schengen Visa application requires the following documents:
- A valid passport with at least two blank pages.
- A completed Schengen Visa application form. Parents or legal guardians must ensure they sign this form for young children.
- A recent passport-sized photo.
Parental Consent:
- When a minor is traveling without one or both parents, it is important to provide a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian(s). This letter contains information such as the child’s name, the names of the traveling and non-traveling parents or guardians, the travel dates, and a brief explanation of the trip’s purpose.
How do I apply for a Schengen visa?
To apply for a Schengen visa, follow these steps:
Tips for buying Schengen travel insurance
Travel insurance is a worthwhile expense, but not all plans offer the same level of protection, so it’s important to shop around.
Follow these tips to find a policy that meets your needs.
Decide what type of travel insurance you’d like
Remember, your U.S. health insurance won’t cover medical expenses incurred overseas, so you’ll need to purchase a Schengen insurance plan that includes medical coverage.
You should also consider the following types of travel insurance.
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Medevac:?
Medical evacuation insurance, commonly called medevac coverage, covers the cost of transporting you to a medical facility if you get into an accident or develop a serious illness while you’re traveling.
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Rental car insurance:?
If you decide to rent a car while traveling in the Schengen, rental car insurance covers you in the event of an accident. Many policies also cover theft and vandalism.
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Cancel-for-any-reason insurance:?
CFAR insurance allows you to recoup some of your expenses if you have to cancel a trip for a reason that’s not covered by your standard insurance policy. For example, if you encounter financial difficulties, you may have to cancel your trip to save money.
Compare plans
Several companies offer insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirements for a Schengen visa. Before you purchase coverage, use the LA Times comparison tool to find the best plan for the best price.
Check the limitations of your policy
Most insurance policies have limitations. Before you apply for a Schengen visa, review your policy to make sure it meets the minimum requirements. During your review, make sure you have coverage for common travel scenarios.
See if your credit card already provides trip insurance
Some travel credit cards offer rental car insurance, trip interruption insurance and other types of insurance coverage. Before you travel, check your credit card terms to find out if you have any of these benefits available to you. If you have certain types of coverage through your credit card company, you won’t have to purchase them.
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