International health insurance for 60 days worldwide: How to avoid cost traps while travelling
24 Oct 2025
5
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
An unexpected illness abroad can quickly incur five-figure costs. Public health insurance often provides insufficient coverage for these risks. A private international health insurance for trips up to 60 days closes this dangerous gap.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Statutory health insurance usually offers no coverage outside the EU; therefore, private travel health insurance is essential for every trip.
A 'medically sensible' return transport is a crucial contractual clause and protects against costs of up to €200,000.
The cost of a comprehensive annual policy (often under 20 euros) is minimal compared to potential treatment costs of over 10,000 euros abroad.
Legal protection ends at the border: Cost risks abroad
Many travellers rely on their statutory health insurance, but its coverage is geographically limited. Within the EU, only treatments that correspond to the national standard are often covered, which can lead to significant co-payments. Outside of Europe, for instance in the USA or Thailand, there is generally no statutory insurance coverage at all. A simple doctor's visit for an upset stomach in the USA can quickly cost several hundred euros. A hospital stay due to an accident can push the costs to over 10,000 euros. Private foreign health insurance is therefore essential. The consumer advice centre urgently recommends taking out such a policy for every trip abroad. Closing this gap in coverage is the first step towards safe travel planning.
Performance Check: These three components are indispensable
A powerful international health insurance for 60 days worldwide is based on three central pillars. First, the coverage of costs for outpatient and inpatient medical treatments at one hundred percent, ideally with treatment as a private patient. Second, the medically sensible repatriation is crucial. Pay attention to the wording "sensible" instead of "necessary", as the latter clause significantly limits cost coverage. Repatriation by air ambulance from Australia can cost up to 200,000 euros. Third, it's the additional services that make the difference. These include:
Pain-relieving dental treatments including simple fillings.
Coverage of search, rescue, and recovery costs up to an amount of 15,000 euros.
Organization of a hospital visit by a close person.
Provision of an interpreter in the hospital.
These components form the foundation for comprehensive protection, as a good travel health insurance should provide.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Low Premium Against Existential Risks
The cost of travel health insurance abroad is negligible compared to the potential financial damage. An annual policy for an individual is often available for less than 15 euros and covers unlimited trips up to a duration of 56 or more days. Special rates for a one-off 60-day trip can range between 60 and 170 euros, depending on age and destination. This is in contrast to the immense treatment costs abroad. A medical repatriation from Mallorca can already cost 12,000 euros, from China up to 80,000 euros. These figures illustrate that the premium for an annual travel health insurance is one of the best investments in your own safety. The decision against this protection is an incalculable financial risk.
Tariff Comparison: Four Criteria for the Right Choice
When selecting the right tariff for your international health insurance for 60 days worldwide, there are four key points to review. These will help you identify the optimal protection:
Coverage area: Check if the tariff truly applies worldwide or if regions such as the USA and Canada are excluded, as this often results in lower premiums.
Deductible: Always choose a tariff without a deductible. In case of a claim, you won't have to pay any additional costs out of your own pocket.
Maximum travel duration: Ensure that the policy covers the full travel duration of 60 days. Many standard annual policies are limited to 56 days.
24-hour emergency service: A 24/7 accessible emergency call center is crucial to receive immediate assistance and cost coverage guarantees in case of an emergency.
A careful review of these criteria ensures that your chosen travel and leisure protection will actually perform in an emergency.
Expert Tips: Pitfalls with Pre-existing Conditions and Contract Conclusion
A common issue area is pre-existing conditions. Standard policies often exclude cover for illnesses that were treated in the six months prior to the start of a trip. Insurance cover is usually only provided for an “unexpected acute deterioration” of a known illness. Our expert tip: Clarify the coverage for chronic conditions in writing with the insurer in advance, or choose a special tariff that explicitly includes pre-existing conditions. Another important point is the timing of taking out the policy. Always take out insurance before starting your trip. Taking out a policy from abroad is usually not possible. Also, check the conditions for accompanying children; family tariffs often offer a cost-effective solution for all travel insurances at a glance.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive concrete optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) offers comprehensive information on travel and health.
FAQ
How long before the trip do I need to take out the insurance?
You must take out international health insurance before leaving Germany. It is generally not possible to obtain it after starting your journey. There is no waiting period; coverage applies immediately after the contract is concluded.
Am I also protected if I contract COVID-19 abroad?
Yes, an acute illness from COVID-19 during the trip is treated like any other unforeseen illness by most modern policies. The costs for medical treatment are covered. However, any quarantine costs are generally not covered.
What is the difference between a single-policy and an annual tariff?
A single trip policy applies only to a specific trip with a fixed duration. An annual plan covers all trips within a year, as long as no individual trip exceeds a certain maximum duration (e.g., 56 or 60 days). For frequent travelers, the annual plan is almost always the more cost-effective option.
Does the insurance also cover the costs for salvage and rescue?
Yes, good policies cover search, rescue, and recovery costs if, for example, you have an accident while hiking. The coverage amounts are often limited to figures like 10,000 or 15,000 euros, which is sufficient in most cases.
Does the insurance also cover costs if I have to go to a private clinic?
Yes, the international health insurance covers the costs for treatments in private clinics and with private doctors. This is a significant advantage over the statutory health insurance, which often only covers public facilities.
What should I do first in the event of a claim?
In the event of a serious medical emergency, contact your insurer's 24-hour emergency hotline immediately before incurring high costs (e.g., for a hospital stay). The emergency call center provides a commitment to cover costs and assists with organization.
