Securing the Right Coverage for Peace of Mind on Your Travels
Whether you're a seasoned traveler, an international professional, or someone whose career requires frequent travel, having reliable global insurance coverage is essential. However, knowing how to choose travel insurance that best suits your needs can be a challenge.
International Citizens Insurance offers a range of tailored options for travelers and expatriates. Our travel medical insurance provides essential coverage for short-term trips, protecting you from unexpected medical expenses abroad. For those living or working overseas, our global health plans offer comprehensive healthcare coverage worldwide.
We also provide emergency evacuation policies to ensure swift transportation to medical facilities in critical situations. Choosing the right option depends on how frequently you travel, your destinations, and your personal needs. Whether you're seeking short-term protection, long-term global benefits, or peace of mind during emergencies, our team is here to help you choose the travel insurance that best fits your needs.
Whether you're a seasoned traveler, an international professional, or someone whose career requires frequent travel, having reliable global insurance coverage is essential. However, knowing how to choose travel insurance that best suits your needs can be a challenge.
International Citizens Insurance offers a range of tailored options for travelers and expatriates. Our travel medical insurance provides essential coverage for short-term trips, protecting you from unexpected medical expenses abroad. For those living or working overseas, our global health plans offer comprehensive healthcare coverage worldwide.
We also provide emergency evacuation policies to ensure swift transportation to medical facilities in critical situations. Choosing the right option depends on how frequently you travel, your destinations, and your personal needs. Whether you're seeking short-term protection, long-term global benefits, or peace of mind during emergencies, our team is here to help you choose the travel insurance that best fits your needs.
What Is an International Travel Medical Plan?
An international travel medical insurance plan is designed for travelers venturing outside their home country, typically for short-term trips.
It provides essential medical coverage along with additional travel-related benefits. Beyond medical expenses, travel plans often cover lost luggage, trip interruptions, terrorism, and natural disasters.
When selecting travel insurance, it's important to assess your specific travel needs, including destination-specific risks, trip duration, and the level of coverage you require.
Find the Best Travel Medical Plan for Your Trip
Compare top travel medical insurance plans side by side to find the right coverage for your needs.
Types of Travel Medical Plans
Travel medical plans are designed with various coverage options to meet the diverse needs of travelers. The type of policy you need depends on several factors, such as:
- Type of travel (leisure, business, adventure, or missionary)
- Number of travelers (individual, family, or group)
- Trip length (short-term or multi-trip)
- Budget and desired coverage level
With these factors in mind, you can select coverage that best fits your specific travel needs. Below is a summary of the different types of travel medical plans, along with recommended options for each.
Single-Trip Plan
A single-trip travel insurance plan provides short-term health coverage for individuals traveling abroad on a single journey. These policies cover essential medical expenses, including emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and evacuation services.
GeoBlue Voyager Plan
- For U.S. citizens up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
Multi-Trip Plan
A multi-trip or annual travel insurance plan is ideal for individuals who take multiple international trips within a year. Instead of purchasing separate travel plans for each trip, this plan provides continuous coverage for an unlimited number of trips within that period.
Trekker MultiTrip Travel Insurance
- Up to $500,000 for sickness and accidents
- $500,000 medical evacuation benefit
- Unlimited Trips Outside the U.S. for trips up to 70 days
Patriot Multi-Trip Insurance
- Annual travel medical coverage
- Designed for individuals and dependents
- Full year of cover for trips of 30, 60, or 90 days in length
Group Travel Plan
Group travel insurance allows you to insure an entire group of people under a single policy, making it a cost-effective and convenient option.
Whether you're traveling as part of a missionary group, student group, or corporate group, this plan provides comprehensive medical coverage while simplifying enrollment and ensuring uniform benefits for all travelers. Groups can also opt for a multi-trip plan, which offers protection for multiple trips throughout the year under a single policy.
If you have any questions or would like to explore the best options for your group, feel free to contact our experienced broker, who will guide you through every step of the process and provide a personalized quote tailored to your needs.
Global Benefits for Organizations
- Offering group plans for international health, life and travel
- Request a quote from the leading insurers around the globe
- A licensed agent will provide quotes and expert advice
How Much Does a Travel Medical Insurance Plan Cost?
International travel medical insurance costs can range from as little as $1–$2 per day to $8–$10 per day for older travelers, with several factors influencing the final price.
The medical maximum limit you choose affects the overall cost, as higher coverage limits typically increase premiums. Additional factors like age, trip length, destination, deductible amount, and optional benefits like adventure sports coverage or pre-existing condition waivers can also impact pricing.
Younger travelers and those selecting higher deductibles often enjoy lower rates, making this type of insurance a flexible and cost-effective solution.
Read More: How to Buy Travel Insurance
How to Choose the Right Travel Insurance Plan
Selecting the right travel medical plan for your trip doesn't have to be complicated.
Follow our simple step-by-step guide to confidently choose the coverage that fits your needs and keeps you protected during your travels.
Step 1 – Check Your Current Health Insurance
Before purchasing a separate travel insurance plan, check if your domestic health insurance covers you while you're abroad.
While many policies provide limited or no coverage outside your home country, some may offer basic benefits. Be sure to ask the following questions:
- What is covered while you are overseas?
- How much coverage do you have?
- How long will your insurance cover you outside your home country?
If your existing coverage is insufficient, consider selecting a dedicated travel medical plan.
Step 2 – Assess Your Needs
Your travel plans and activities will play a major role in determining the type of coverage you need.
Here are key factors to consider:
- Trip purpose: Are you traveling for leisure, business, study, or relocation?
- Activities: If you plan on engaging in adventure activities like skiing, scuba diving, or bungee jumping, make sure your policy includes adventure sports coverage.
- Family needs: If you’re traveling with family, look for coverage that includes routine care, pre-existing conditions, or maternity benefits.
- Visa requirements: Certain work, student, or travel visas may require proof of international health insurance. Be sure to check the specific visa requirements for your destination.
- Budget: Determine a realistic budget based on your medical needs and trip duration.
Step 3 – Research Your Destination’s Healthcare System
Research your destination by reviewing the government’s guidelines on how foreigners can access the healthcare system.
- Quality of medical care: Does your destination have modern healthcare facilities, or will you need coverage for medical evacuation?
- Foreigners’ access to healthcare: Even in countries with socialized medicine, coverage for non-residents may be restricted or subject to waiting periods before they qualify for care.
- Cost of healthcare: In some countries, medical care can be expensive for travelers without insurance.
Step 4 – Ask for Recommendations
Ask friends, colleagues, or fellow travelers about their experiences with travel medical insurance. However, make sure their advice is current, as policies and providers change frequently.
Insights from those with recent travel or relocation experiences can help you stay informed on the latest options.
Step 5 – Compare Travel Medical Plans
Now that you understand your needs, compare travel insurance plans and research common policy details, including:
- Medical Coverage Limits: Choose a plan that covers at least $50,000 to $2 million in medical expenses.
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Ensure coverage for transportation to the nearest medical facility or back home.
- Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Costs: Consider how much you're willing to pay upfront versus your monthly premium. A higher deductible lowers your premium, but you’ll pay more out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in.
- Provider Network and Direct Billing: Check if the insurer has a wide network of hospitals and doctors. Also, confirm whether they offer direct billing or if you'll need to pay upfront and seek reimbursement later.
- Customer Support: Look for 24/7 customer service in your language, especially for handling emergencies abroad.
- Policy Duration and Renewability: Check your plan's duration and renewal options. Some single-trip plans cover up to 364 days, but not all can be extended beyond two years. Multi-trip plans cover frequent travelers, while international health insurance offers long-term renewable coverage.
Step 6 – Consider Your Budget and Read the Fine Print
Once you've narrowed down your choices, carefully review costs and policy details, including:
- Out-of-pocket expenses: Co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance.
- Claim process: Will providers bill your insurer directly, or will you need to pay upfront and file a claim for reimbursement?
- Pre-certifications: Some plans require pre-approval for procedures, such as surgeries or diagnostic tests.
Find the Best Travel Medical Plan for Your Trip
Compare top travel medical insurance plans side by side to find the right coverage for your needs.
Specialty Travel Plans
When standard travel insurance isn’t enough, specialty travel plans like MedEvac and adventure sports insurance provide targeted coverage for unique travel needs.
If you're participating in high-risk adventure sports or traveling to remote areas where emergency medical evacuation might be necessary, these plans provide crucial protection.
They cover situations that standard travel policies often exclude or provide only limited coverage for, ensuring you have the higher coverage limits needed for peace of mind.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
Medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of emergency transportation to a suitable medical facility when a person experiences a severe illness or injury in a location with limited medical resources.
If your existing international health or travel plan covers you abroad but does not include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, there is no need to purchase duplicate coverage.
Our recommended standalone medical evacuation and repatriation plan, Medjet, provides the additional protection you need without any unnecessary extras.
Medjet Global Medical Transport
- Hospital to Hospital Medical Transfer regardless of Medical Necessity
- All-Expenses-Paid Air Medical Transport in the U.S. as well as Internationally
- Covers both business and personal travel
Adventure Sports Insurance
Adventure sports insurance is a specialized form of travel medical insurance that covers injuries and emergencies resulting from high-risk activities, such as off-piste skiing and deep-sea scuba diving.
If your trip involves adventurous activities or high-risk sports, make sure the plan you purchase covers them. Many travel plans offer adventure sports coverage as an optional add-on, while others include it in their standard benefits.
Our recommended adventure travel plan, World Nomads, includes sports coverage for all travelers at no additional cost.
World Nomads Adventure Activities Travel Insurance
- Coverage for 150+ adventure activities
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Baggage and gear cover
FAQs About Choosing a Travel Medical Plan
Travel medical insurance covers unexpected medical expenses while traveling abroad, including doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency evacuation, and repatriation.
This coverage is crucial since most domestic health insurance plans do not cover medical care outside your home country.
To select the right plan, consider:
- Your destination (healthcare quality, cost, and accessibility)
- Trip length (short-term vs. long-term coverage)
- Activities planned (adventure sports, remote travel, etc.)
- Pre-existing conditions (if coverage is needed)
- Your budget (deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, and premiums)
Travel medical insurance covers short-term trips and primarily provides emergency medical coverage and evacuation.
International health insurance, on the other hand, is renewable and designed for expats, digital nomads, and long-term travelers. It offers comprehensive benefits, such as routine check-ups, prescriptions, and preventive care.
A medical coverage limit of $250,000 – $500,000 generally provides adequate protection for most travelers.
However, for those visiting countries with expensive healthcare systems, such as the U.S., it's recommended to consider a coverage limit of $500,000 to $1 million to ensure full protection.
Yes, many travel medical plans offer extension or renewal options, but the availability and terms vary depending on the specific policy.
Key Considerations for Extending or Renewing Your Plan:
- Single-Trip Travel Medical Plans: Most plans allow extensions up to a maximum duration (typically 364 days), but some may limit extensions beyond two years. Make sure to request an extension before your current coverage expires.
- Multi-Trip Travel Plans: These policies cover multiple short trips within a year but generally cannot be extended beyond the original policy term. You may need to purchase a new plan if your multi-trip policy expires.
- International Health Insurance (Long-Term Plans): If you're staying abroad for an extended period, consider renewable international health insurance, which provides continuous coverage without time limits.
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About the Author:Mackenzie Manning, Director of User Experience at International Citizens Insurance, specializes in optimizing customer journeys and providing seamless experiences for clients seeking international insurance solutions. With expertise in global health, life, and travel insurance, she helps expatriates and global travelers find the right coverage, ensuring a smooth, informed decision-making process for their international needs.