Travel Insurance for Europe

Do I need Travel Insurance for Europe? 

If you’re hoping to see as much of Europe as possible, you’ll likely need to get your hands on some Travel Insurance. This is because appropriate Travel Insurance is highly recommended for the Schengen area. 

What is the Schengen area? 

The Schengen area is 27 different European countries you can travel between without having to go through border controls — this means less time waiting around and more time seeing the sights. 

Aussies can travel visa free through the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.  If you’re planning to stay for longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a visa for the country you’re spending the most time in. 

But before your visa is granted, you’ll need to get that Travel Insurance sorted. 

What they’re looking for is Travel Insurance that covers you for at least €30,000 of medical emergencies and hospital care for the entirety of your stay in all of the Schengen countries. So, Travel Insurance for just Italy or Greece isn’t going to cut it. 

Even if you aren’t intending to pass through the Schengen area, the Australian Government recommends getting Travel Insurance regardless. After all, it could help protect you and your family from some pretty significant financial burden if you’re injured or sick while travelling. 

Opting for a policy that covers the entire European region could then be the way to go. Not only would it mean you meet that Schengen requirement, but you then have flexibility in where you go. You might think you’ve planned out everywhere you want to visit but then learn from fellow travellers or locals of a must-see location just across the border. And no one wants to come home with FOMO because they only had Travel Insurance for France. 

Are my medical expenses covered in Europe? 

Even in European countries with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia you may very well still want to have Travel Insurance to handle your medical expenses.  

For a start, there’s actually only ten European countries with this kind of agreement with Australia. If you restricted yourself to just these countries, you could be missing out on lots of great experiences to make your mates at home jealous.  

Additionally, while the agreement can differ between countries, it’s unlikely it will cover everything under the sun. Emergency medical treatment — the kind that can’t wait until you’re back in Australia — tends to be covered or at least subsidised. Anything that could wait tends to not be in the agreement. As a result, you could find yourself needing to pay a co-payment (and this could be hefty) or travelling home in some serious pain or discomfort to get treated. 

And what about if you need medical help in a European country without a reciprocal health care agreement? Well, you could really be in trouble. In these instances, you may need to pay the full cost of being treated, sometimes even upfront. 

However, if you had Travel Insurance with medical cover, your bills could be covered (excluding your excess). Therefore, you could travel with peace of mind and a little more carefree abandon (just don’t take it as an excuse to do anything reckless!).  

What else does Travel Insurance cover in Europe? 

It’s not just medical costs Travel Insurance could help with though. Depending on your policy, you could be covered for: 

• Lost baggage, valuables, money and travel documents 
• Cancellations and delays, including due to COVID-19 
• Rental vehicle excess 

In all of these circumstances, you won’t be able to turn to the local Australian Consulate for help (except for lost, stolen or damaged passports). So, by being able to connect with your insurer you could get your trip back on track sooner. 

Speaking of not being able to get help for things, there are some common exclusions between Travel Insurance Policies too. You may be on your own if: 

• You leave your bags or valuables unattended
• You get up to any illegal activities 
• You’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol 
• You didn’t let your insurer know about any pre-existing medical conditions 

Will Travel Insurance cover me if I go skiing or snowboarding? 

Whether it’s the main point of your trip or just a small part, Europe has some pretty spectacular slopes for winter sports. However, there’s lots of potential for things to go wrong, from strains and sprains to breaks and worse.  

Your Travel Insurance could help cover your medical costs from a less-than-stellar day in the snow. You might just need to purchase additional Travel Insurance for snow sports. Reading through the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) could help you understand what you are and aren’t covered for. 

Which European countries won’t I be able to get Travel Insurance for? 

Different policies will cover different places. However, as a general rule of thumb, if a place has a Level 4 travel advisory rating, you probably won’t be able to find cover for your trip there. 

As of 5^th June 2024, Europe has a few Level 4 countries and locations, including: 

• Belarus 
• Russia
• Ukraine 
• Parts of Armenia 
• Parts of Azerbaijan 
• Parts of Georgia 
• Parts of Moldova 
• Parts of Türkiye  

You can see where a policy covers by reading the PDS or speaking with the insurer.

Tips for choosing Travel Insurance for Europe
	Check SmartTraveller.gov.au for Level 4 countries
	Decide if I want to visit any Schengen countries
	Know if I want to go skiing or snowboarding
	Understand what the Australian Consulate can help with
	Remember to get cover for any countries visited, even just to transit through

Do I need Travel Insurance if I’m going to be working in Europe? 

Backpacking and picking up odd jobs to top up your bank account are as Aussie as lamingtons and democracy sausages. But how does that work with your Travel Insurance? 

Well, you may want to double-check the PDS to see if your work is covered by the policy. Alternatively, you could always give your insurer a ring. If taking a break from backpacking means you’ll be pushing out your trip, you may need to get in touch with your insurer anyway to extend your policy. 

For those who’ll be staying for a lot longer, you may want to switch from Travel Insurance to a local option. Alternatively, your employer may have an insurance arrangement available to you. 

Insurance aside, you might want to also make sure that you can legally work on the visa you’re travelling on.  

Where can I find and compare Travel Insurance? 

If you’re ready to go see Europe for the first time or the hundredth, Travel Insurance could well be worth your while. Even purchasing it early — when you book your flights — in case your trip has to be cancelled or postponed could mean fewer headaches for you.  

At iSelect, we can help you save time and effort by comparing a range of Travel Insurance Policies from different providers online. That means more time and energy to make it the trip of a lifetime.