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Travel Insurance Guide

Updated: May 1, 2026Written byRai AntonioReviewed byDavid Krug
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● Travel Insurance

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Travel medical insurance vs. medical evacuation

Why you typically need both for international travel.

For international trips, two distinct medical coverages matter. They cover different scenarios and are often bundled but should be sized separately.

Travel medical insurance

Pays for emergency medical treatment while traveling:

  • Hospital stays
  • Doctor visits
  • Prescription medications
  • Emergency dental
  • X-rays, diagnostic tests
  • Sometimes pre-existing condition exacerbations (with specific waivers)

Why you need it abroad: most US health insurance doesn’t cover you outside the US. Medicare definitely doesn’t. ACA marketplace plans usually don’t. Even private plans often have limited international benefits.

Typical coverage: $50,000 - $2,000,000 per trip. $100K is the modern baseline for routine international travel; $250K+ makes sense for trips to areas with expensive medical care (Europe, Japan) or for older travelers.

What it doesn’t cover:

  • Routine care
  • Pre-existing conditions (unless specifically waived — usually requires purchase within 14-21 days of first deposit)
  • High-risk activities not covered by your specific plan (climbing above certain altitudes, scuba below certain depths, motorcycling, etc.)

Medical evacuation insurance

Pays for transport to appropriate medical care when you can’t get adequate treatment where you are:

  • Helicopter evacuation from remote areas
  • Air ambulance transport to a major hospital
  • Repatriation home for continued treatment
  • Repatriation of remains if the worst happens

Why this is separate: medical care abroad is one cost. Getting from rural Nepal or a Caribbean cruise to a major hospital is an entirely different and much larger cost. Medical evacuation can run $50,000-$300,000+ for transport alone.

Typical coverage: $100,000 - $1,000,000+. $250,000 is the modern baseline; $500K-$1M for remote/adventure travel.

Coverage levels by trip type

Domestic US travel: typically just need top-up coverage for what your regular health insurance doesn’t pay. Often not needed if you have good health insurance.

Standard international (Europe, Japan, developed countries):

  • Travel medical: $100K-$250K
  • Medical evacuation: $250K-$500K

Adventure or remote international (rural Asia, Africa, Latin America):

  • Travel medical: $250K-$500K
  • Medical evacuation: $500K-$1M

Cruise:

  • Travel medical: $250K (cruise ship medical can be expensive)
  • Medical evacuation: $500K minimum (helicopter from a cruise ship is enormously expensive)
  • Verify the policy covers cruise-ship-based incidents specifically

High-altitude trekking, climbing, expedition travel:

  • Travel medical: $500K minimum, with high-altitude rider
  • Medical evacuation: $1M+, with high-altitude rescue coverage
  • Consider specialized expedition policies (Global Rescue, World Nomads Explorer)

The pre-existing condition waiver

The single most important fine print in travel medical insurance. By default, travel medical excludes pre-existing conditions (broadly defined). The pre-existing condition waiver removes this exclusion if you:

  • Buy the policy within 14-21 days of your first trip deposit
  • Cover 100% of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs
  • Be medically able to travel on the date of purchase

For travelers with any health history, this waiver is essential. Buy travel insurance immediately after booking — not weeks later.

Memberships vs. policies

Two specific medical evacuation memberships are worth knowing:

  • MedjetAssist: pays for hospital-of-choice transport (you choose the destination hospital). Independent of trip insurance. ~$300-$600/year.
  • Global Rescue: combines evacuation with field rescue services (helicopter from remote locations). ~$170-$1,400/year depending on coverage.

These can supplement or replace per-trip medical evacuation coverage depending on how much you travel.

What primary US health insurance does (and doesn’t) abroad

  • Medicare: virtually no coverage outside the US (very limited exceptions for emergency in Canada/Mexico)
  • Medicare Advantage: varies by plan — some include emergency international, most don’t
  • ACA marketplace: rarely covers international beyond stabilization in emergencies
  • Employer plans: varies enormously — read your specific plan
  • TRICARE: limited coverage abroad
  • Some “global” plans (international students, expats): much broader coverage

Never assume your domestic plan covers you abroad. Verify in writing or get travel medical coverage to be sure.