ADAC International Health Insurance: Optimise comprehensive protection for your travels
2 May 2025
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A medical emergency abroad can quickly become expensive and disrupt travel plans. The ADAC International Health Insurance offers protection against high costs. Learn how to find the right plan for your needs.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The ADAC international health insurance provides worldwide coverage for trips up to 63 days, including medical repatriation and no excess in many policies.
For extended stays abroad exceeding 63 days, the ADAC offers special long-term tariffs with a duration of up to 24 months.
In the event of a claim, promptly contacting the ADAC Ambulance Service is crucial for smooth processing and cost coverage.
Understanding the necessity of international health insurance
A sudden illness or accident abroad can quickly lead to a financial burden of several thousand euros. Statutory health insurance often provides insufficient coverage for treatment costs abroad, especially in countries outside the European Union. Without private travel health insurance, travellers bear the full cost risk. The ADAC travel health insurance steps in here and covers necessary treatment costs. This gives you the assurance of receiving the best possible medical care in an emergency without having to worry about financing. A medical repatriation, which can quickly reach five- or six-figure sums, is generally not covered by statutory insurers.
Service range of the ADAC foreign health insurance in detail
The ADAC International Health Insurance offers comprehensive services for your safety while travelling worldwide. For the first 63 days of each trip, there is coverage without any deductible. Key services include covering costs for outpatient and inpatient medical treatments, as well as doctor-prescribed medications and aids. Particularly important is the medically necessary repatriation to Germany, which often incurs high costs. Pain-relieving dental treatments and repairs of dental prosthetics are included in many tariffs. ADAC tariffs cover all types of travel, from holidays to business trips, and provide protection for individuals and families. For longer stays beyond 63 days, ADAC offers special long-term tariffs that ensure coverage for up to 24 months.
Quick Facts: The key benefits at a glance
The ADAC international health insurance offers a range of benefits that provide travellers with peace of mind. Here are the key points summarised:
Worldwide coverage for trips up to 63 days per journey.
No excess in most policies in the event of a claim.
Coverage of costs for medically necessary treatments, even as a private patient.
Organisation and cost coverage for medically advisable repatriation.
Coverage for individuals and families, including children up to their 23rd birthday.
Different plans (Basic, Exclusive, Premium) to meet individual needs.
Even if existing chronic conditions worsen, the coverage applies to additional expenses.
The ADAC Ambulance Service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
These key points illustrate how ADAC travel health insurance minimises financial risks. Next, we will look at specific practical examples and costs.
Practical examples: How ADAC international health insurance provides concrete help
Imagine you suffer a complicated leg fracture during your hiking holiday in Austria. The rescue costs alone can quickly amount to several hundred euros. The subsequent operation and hospital stay can easily add up to over ten thousand euros. Without ADAC foreign health insurance, you might have to bear these costs yourself. Another example: A gastrointestinal infection during a long-distance trip in Asia requires a hospital stay of several days with treatment costs of over two thousand five hundred euros. The ADAC foreign health insurance covers these costs and organises a return transport if needed. Even a dental bill of three hundred euros for emergency treatment in the USA is covered. These examples show how quickly unexpected costs can arise and the value of good insurance coverage. The costs of foreign health insurance are comparatively low. Rates start at under twenty euros per year for individuals.
Expert Depth: Legal Aspects and Key Clauses
When taking out foreign travel health insurance, including ADAC's foreign travel health insurance, there are some legal aspects and clauses to consider. The insurance conditions of the respective tariff are always decisive. Pay attention to the area of cover: Most ADAC tariffs apply worldwide, but it is important to check this in advance, especially when travelling to crisis areas. The maximum travel duration per trip (usually 63 days for standard tariffs) is another point. For longer trips, a special long-term tariff is necessary. Our expert tip: Clarify in advance whether pre-existing conditions affect the insurance cover. ADAC insurance provides cover for acute and unexpected deteriorations of chronic illnesses, but planned treatments are excluded. Medically advisable repatriation is a core component, but the definition may vary; at ADAC, this is usually handled generously. Also, check the regulations on search, rescue, and recovery costs, which are often covered up to a certain amount. The question of whether your health insurance is valid abroad is comprehensively answered by foreign travel health insurance.
Behaviour in the Event of Damage: Step-by-Step Guide
If a medical emergency occurs abroad, prompt and correct action is crucial to make the best use of the ADAC International Health Insurance services. Here is a brief guide:
Contact the ADAC Ambulance Service immediately at the emergency number +49 89 76 76 76, available 24 hours a day.
Describe the situation in detail and have your insurance number ready.
Follow the instructions of the ADAC staff regarding the choice of doctor or hospital.
Collect all receipts, bills, and medical reports in their original form; they will be required for reimbursement.
For hospital stays, the hospital should settle directly with the ADAC whenever possible.
Submit all documents promptly online or by post after your return.
Contacting ADAC early often ensures direct cost coverage and avoids upfront payments. This significantly facilitates the process. Also, check whether you can deduct international health insurance on your taxes.
Covering long-term stays and special needs
For travellers who spend more than the usual 63 days abroad, ADAC offers long-term international health insurance. This policy can be flexibly selected for periods from two to 24 months and is ideal for world trips, study semesters abroad, or longer professional assignments. The benefits are comparable to short-term policies and include necessary medical treatments and repatriation. The costs for long-term cover are higher than annual contracts for short trips and depend on travel duration, age, and destination. It is important to secure this cover in good time before departure, as taking it out from abroad is often no longer possible. ADAC also provides solutions for specific needs, such as travelling with chronic illnesses, where acute deteriorations are covered. A thorough review of the conditions, for example, which countries are covered by the UKV international health insurance, is advisable in advance, even if this concerns ADAC. ADAC also offers comprehensive cover for travel within Europe, which makes a European travel health insurance a sensible choice.
nextsure: Your partner for tailored insurance coverage
The choice of the right international health insurance, whether from ADAC or another provider, can be complex. At nextsure, we understand that every traveller has individual needs. Our mission is to offer you tailored and easy-to-understand insurance solutions. We help you keep track of the tariff jungle and find protection that truly suits you and your travel plans. With our expertise in niche insurance and our fully digital approach, we provide you with expert and transparent advice. Trust our experience for your worry-free time abroad.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive specific optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive overview of international health insurance.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides information about health insurance abroad.
Stiftung Warentest offers a large comparison of international health insurances.
FAQ
Benötige ich trotz meiner deutschen Krankenversicherung eine zusätzliche Auslandskrankenversicherung vom ADAC?
Ja, das ist sehr empfehlenswert. Die gesetzliche Krankenversicherung übernimmt im Ausland oft nur einen Teil der Kosten und keinen Krankenrücktransport. Die ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung schließt diese Lücke.
Gilt die ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung weltweit?
Ja, die ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung bietet in der Regel weltweiten Schutz. Es ist jedoch ratsam, die genauen Bedingungen Ihres Tarifs zu prüfen.
Was passiert, wenn meine Reise länger als 63 Tage dauert?
Für Reisen, die länger als 63 Tage dauern, benötigen Sie den ADAC Auslandskrankenschutz Langzeit, der für Aufenthalte von bis zu 24 Monaten abgeschlossen werden kann.
Sind Vorerkrankungen bei der ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung mitversichert?
Die ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung leistet bei akut und unerwartet auftretenden Verschlechterungen bestehender chronischer Erkrankungen im Ausland. Geplante Behandlungen sind jedoch nicht abgedeckt.
Wie melde ich einen Schaden bei der ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung?
Kontaktieren Sie im Notfall sofort den ADAC Ambulanz-Service. Sammeln Sie alle Belege und reichen Sie diese nach der Reise zur Kostenerstattung ein.
Kann ich die ADAC Auslandskrankenversicherung auch kurz vor Reisebeginn abschließen?
Ja, der Abschluss ist oft auch kurzfristig online möglich, muss aber vor dem Grenzübertritt erfolgen.








