Travel insurance is recommended regardless of which country you travel to yet some travellers still take the risk of travelling without it. Some countries strictly mandate travel insurance with medical as an entry requirement. You should check the Australian government's travel website, smartraveller, to find out exactly which ones require insurance.
The Schengen Zone and compulsory travel insurance
The Schengen Zone is a region encompassing 27 European countries and states.
Travel insurance is required for stays over 90 days
If you want to visit the Schengen Zone for 90 days or more, you need a visa. To receive the visa, Australian travellers must meet the minimum requirements for most member states. These requirements include compulsory travel insurance with the minimum medical cover of €30,000 and cover for repatriation back to Australia.
Compare travel insurance policies to meet entry requirements
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Why get travel insurance even when it's not compulsory?
A night in hospital in a country such as Singapore or the United States of America (USA) could end up costing you almost $900 and $750 a night respectively. Travelling to these countries without travel insurance is like playing with fire.
Top 6 most expensive destinations to have an emergency
Destination
Hospital stay per night
Singapore
$893
United States of America
$751
Hong Kong
$722
The Netherlands
$671
Canada
$603
Germany
$561
Other medical expenses you must be aware of
Other medical emergency expenses that you should be aware of include:
Ambulance fees
Medication
Inpatient and outpatient treatment
Doctor consultation fees
Food and incidentals
Accommodation for travelling companions
Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts
We're free
Our travel insurance engine is completely free to use. You pay the same as buying directly from the insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site.
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of travel insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped over one million people find travel insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
No, travel insurance is not a compulsory entry requirement. The high cost of healthcare however, means that travel insurance might as well be compulsory when you're travelling to the United States.
No, travel insurance is not a compulsory entry requirement. Travel insurance is however, highly recommended for the due to the many common travel mishaps travellers to the UK find themselves in.
Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification.
Guide to high-risk travel insurance: What is and isn't covered.
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