Travel insurance for Europe

Why do I need insurance for Europe?

Travelling from Australia to Europe is an expensive trip, and while you always hope nothing goes awry, it pays to plan ahead anyway. While Europe is full of exciting adventures, it's smart to be prepared for some of the less exciting sides of travel, like; missed flights, lost luggage, theft of your belongings and illness. Without travel insurance, these mishaps can cost a lot.

With travel insurance, you'll be covered for numerous unfortunate events while you're gallivanting around Europe. These include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Other medical expenses caused by injuries and accidents
• Transport to hospital by helicopter or ambulance
• Medical evacuations back to Australia
• Car rental excess (sometimes an optional extra)
• Scooter rental excess (sometimes an optional extra)
• Lost or stolen valuables
• Natural disasters and terrorism
• Delayed and cancelled flights + associated accommodation expenses

How to find the best travel insurance for Europe

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Common travel insurance exclusions

Every travel insurance policy has things you won't be covered for. Common exclusions include:

• If you purchase cover after the incident has occurred.
• Pre-existing medical conditions. If you have any major medical conditions, make sure you let your insurer know before taking out a policy.
• You travel despite government travel advice and warnings.
• Incidents that occur while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For example, if you go out drinking in Prague, get injured and need medical attention — travel insurance won't cover you.
• Driving vehicles without a licence. You won't be covered for medical costs or personal liability expenses if you drive without a licence throughout Europe.

Will I be covered if I'm injured in a country with a reciprocal healthcare agreement?

If you're visiting one of the 9 European countries that have agreed to give reciprocal medical care to Australian Medicare Card holders, then you may prefer to take out a cheaper travel insurance policy or not buy one at all.

However, bear in mind that many popular tourist countries are not on this list and even the ones that are won't offer full cover. For example, some countries won't pay for your ambulance fees or for you to be airlifted to a hospital.

Also, travel insurance can cover so much more than your medical expenses. If you want cover for delayed flights or lost luggage then it's still worth considering travel insurance.

What add-ons should I look for?

• Are you going on a cruise? Not all insurance policies automatically cover you while you're on a cruise and they may ask you to purchase cruise cover separately. If you'll be cruising on the Mediterranean or anywhere else in Europe, find out if your policy covers it. If not, add it to your cover or find a new insurer that offers it.
• Will you be skiing? As with cruises, not all insurers will automatically cover you for certain incidents that happen while skiing - like being airlifted to a hospital from the middle of the Alps. If you add ski cover to your policy, you'll be covered for this plus some unique ski-related incidents like unexpected piste closures and damaged equipment.
• Will you be renting a car? When you rent a car, it will usually come with insurance but the excess on that insurance can be as high as $5,000. Car rental excess insurance can cover this cost in the case of an insured event

Best Travel Insurance for Europe

We can't pinpoint the absolute best travel insurance for Europe, as your needs depend on your specific trip. However, there are some best practices to keep in mind when comparing policies.

Finding the best travel insurance for Europe means understanding the diverse needs of a multi-country trip. You'll want policies with comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, including repatriation, as healthcare costs can vary significantly across European nations. With only a few exceptions, Medicare won't be able to cover you across the continent.

Also, consider policies that cover lost or stolen belongings, as well as travel delays or cancellations, especially if you plan on using multiple modes of transport. If you're planning on doing activities like skiing or hiking, make sure your policy covers those too.

Finally, if you're travelling within the Schengen Area, double-check that your policy meets the necessary medical coverage standards.

How can I find cheap travel insurance for Europe?

There are plenty of ways to find a cheaper travel insurance policy.

• Get a medical only policy. Medical only or basic policies will be the cheaper policies on the market.
• Look for discounts and deals. Use deals or promo codes to get a discount on your travel insurance policy.
• Opt for a higher excess. This will make your policy cheaper but more expensive if you have to claim.
• Compare across a handful of travel insurers. Every policy is different so it's worth comparing to see where you can get the best bang for buck.
• Buy your policy early. Get the most value by buying your policy early. It means you're covered for longer while paying the same price.

FAQs

• Do Australians need travel insurance for Europe?

  For those going on holiday, travel insurance isn't mandatory. If you're going and are getting a visa, you should check what other forms of insurance are mandatory to have alongside that visa.

• Do I have to get insurance for long stays in Europe?

  For countries that are part of the Schengen Zone, a visa is required by its individual member countries for stays over 90 days. An accompanying travel insurance policy with at least EUR€30,000 in medical cover and medical repatriation back to Australia is a typical requirement of such visas.

  If you stay beyond the date stated on your initial travel insurance policy, you can usually extend your policy if you include the reasons you are extending your trip, where and when you will be travelling to and a disclosure of existing health condition and any changes.

• Are any countries in Europe excluded from travel insurance?

  Countries will be excluded if there is a severe travel warning for the area. These will be listed as 'do not travel' countries on the Smarttraveller website.

Written by

Jessica Prasida

Travel Insurance Expert

Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio

Co-written by

Peta Taylor

Publisher of Insurance

Peta Taylor is a publisher at Finder, working across all of insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for over 2 years. Peta is passionate about demystifying complex insurance products to help users make well educated decisions with confidence. Peta is part of Finder's insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring users the best insurance products every year. See full bio