Travel health insurance Europe: Optimal protection for your trips
27.03.25
12
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A medical emergency abroad in Europe can quickly become expensive. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) only provides basic cover. A private travel health insurance policy for Europe fills important gaps and protects you from unexpected costs that often run into several thousand euros.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) only provides basic cover in Europe; private travel health insurance is essential for comprehensive protection.
When taking out travel health insurance for Europe, pay particular attention to whether the costs of medical repatriation and treatment costs above German statutory health insurance rates are covered.
Annual policies for travel health insurance in Europe are often available from as little as ten euros for individuals and usually cover trips of up to 56 days.
Understanding the EHIC: Basic cover in Europe and Its Limits Explained
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides access to medical treatment in 27 EU countries and other states.
It allows you to receive benefits in the host country under the conditions and costs that apply to insured persons there.
This means that, in some cases, you pay country-specific co-payments of ten per cent or more.
Your EHIC is usually found on the reverse of your health insurance card.
Important: the EHIC is not a substitute for private travel health insurance in Europe.
For example, it does not cover the cost of medically necessary repatriation to Germany, which can amount to five-figure sums.
The EHIC also does not cover private healthcare services or treatment in private clinics.
In some countries, such as North Macedonia and Serbia, the EHIC applies only to emergency treatment.
Without additional cover, you could otherwise be left with significant costs.
Closing Coverage Gaps: Explaining the Need for Private Travel Health Insurance for Europe
A private travel health insurance for Europe is essential to close the EHIC coverage gaps.
It covers costs not borne by statutory health insurance, such as higher doctors' fees.
In Spain, treatment costs can quickly exceed German rates by 20 per cent.
Especially important is cover for medical repatriation, which can run into six-figure sums.
Statutory health insurers do not generally cover these costs.
Even for just a few days' travel a year, taking out cover is worthwhile.
Annual policies for individuals are often available from as little as ten euros.
Families can be covered from around 20 euros per year.
Without protection, visits to the doctor abroad can quickly cost several hundred or thousand euros.
A travel health insurance therefore provides financial security for worry-free travel.
Optimising the Scope of Cover: Defining the Core Benefits of a Strong European Travel Health Insurance Policy
A good travel health insurance policy for Europe should cover core benefits.
Make sure it includes reimbursement for outpatient and inpatient medical treatment, without being limited to German rates.
This includes the freedom to choose a doctor and hospital locally, which is especially important in emergencies.
A complicated broken arm in Austria can result in treatment costs of over 5,000 euros.
The following benefits are essential for your protection:
Medically necessary medical repatriation to Germany, ideally without a high excess.
Coverage of costs for medicines, dressings, treatment and aids.
Pain-relieving dental treatment, including simple fillings and repairs to dentures.
Recovery costs following an accident, often up to 10,000 euros.
Treatment of pregnancy complications, if the trip was undertaken during pregnancy.
Organisation and coverage of care for accompanying minor children in an emergency.
A 24-hour emergency hotline for rapid assistance and payment guarantees to hospitals.
Check the sums insured and exclusions carefully before you take out a travel insurance for Europe policy.
A plan should provide a sum insured of at least one million euros for medical costs.
This also protects you in the event of expensive treatment, for example after a serious accident.
Knowing about these benefits helps you choose the right plan.
Reducing Costs: Highlighting Price Ranges and Tariff Options for Europe Travel Cover
The cost of travel health insurance for Europe is low compared with the potential financial risk.
Affordable annual policies for individuals are often available from as little as ten to 20 euros.
For families, annual premiums are usually between 20 and 35 euros.
These policies cover any number of trips within a year, often with a maximum of 56 days per trip.
Some tariffs offer options with or without an excess.
An excess of, for example, 100 euros per claim can reduce the annual premium.
Consider whether the small saving is worth the risk of having to pay yourself in an emergency.
For most travellers, a policy without an excess is the better choice.
Pay attention to age limits; seniors often pay higher premiums or need specialist tariffs.
A comparison of different offers is always worthwhile for the best cover.
Mastering Special Cases: Adapting Travel Health Insurance for Long-Term Stays and Special Needs in Europe
For longer stays in Europe, such as a semester abroad, a standard annual policy is often not enough.
Standard plans usually only cover trips of up to 56 or a maximum of 63 days.
For longer periods, you need a special long-term travel health insurance.
This can be taken out for stays of up to one year, sometimes even five years.
The costs for this are higher: three months can cost around 200 euros.
An entire year abroad in Europe can cost between 400 and 900 euros.
These policies should cover all important benefits such as medical repatriation and treatment costs.
Please ensure that cover does not lapse, even if you return temporarily to your home country.
Students, au pairs or people over 65 often have specific needs.
Check in advance whether pre-existing conditions are covered or waiting periods apply.
The right preparation is crucial for a worry-free long-term stay.
Leveraging Expert Knowledge: Avoid Pitfalls and Optimise Insurance Cover for Europe
To ensure optimal protection with your travel health insurance for Europe, there are expert tips.
Always take out the insurance before you travel.
Taking out a policy from abroad is usually no longer possible or involves waiting times.
Keep all invoices and medical reports carefully for submission.
For smooth reimbursement of costs, you need detailed invoices with diagnosis and services provided.
Our expert tip: If you are admitted to hospital, inform your insurer immediately using the 24-hour emergency number.
This allows cover to be clarified directly, avoiding advance payments.
Check the conditions for medically sensible repatriation carefully; it is often the better option.
Many people overlook that the EHIC abroad only covers basic treatment.
A good travel health insurance policy is not a luxury, but a necessity for carefree travel.
With these tips, you are well prepared for your next trip.
Request your individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific suggestions for improvement.
More useful links
The Federal Foreign Office offers comprehensive travel and security advice, including important health information for stays abroad.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides detailed information about health insurance abroad and the regulations associated with it.
The European Union portal Your Europe provides official information on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
The Federal Office for Social Security (BAS) offers insight into the international aspects of health insurance.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband), the central representative body of statutory health and long-term care insurance funds, explains how the EHIC works and the benefits it provides.
FAQ
Which benefits are particularly important in travel health insurance for Europe?
Important benefits include: medically necessary return transport home, coverage of treatment costs (outpatient and inpatient) beyond German statutory insurance rates, costs for medication, pain-relieving dental treatment and rescue costs. A 24-hour emergency hotline is also very helpful.
Is my German statutory health insurance automatically valid throughout Europe?
With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are entitled to medically necessary treatment in EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the conditions of the respective country. However, this is only basic cover.
What happens if I forget my EHIC while on holiday?
If you have forgotten your EHIC, you must contact your health insurance fund in Germany and request a provisional replacement certificate (PEB). This can often be sent by fax or email.
Does the Travel Health Insurance Europe also cover pandemics such as COVID-19?
Many modern travel health insurance policies also cover treatment related to COVID-19. However, it is important to check the exact policy conditions in this regard before taking out cover, as there may be differences between providers.
Up to what trip duration does a standard annual travel health insurance policy for Europe apply?
Most annual travel medical insurance policies for Europe cover any number of trips within one year, provided that each individual trip does not exceed a certain duration (often 56 or 63 days). For longer stays, there are special long-term plans.
Can I still take out travel health insurance for Europe shortly before departure?
Yes, many providers allow you to take out travel health insurance for Europe at very short notice, sometimes even on the day of departure. It is generally no longer possible to purchase cover after your journey has started.
