Why Travel Health Insurance Is Essential – And What Full Travel Insurance Really Protects You From
Health is the most important thing in life – and on holiday, that's exactly where the biggest financial risks lurk. Many travelers underestimate the danger and rely on their credit card, their statutory health insurance, or simply on luck. That can be expensive: A hospital bill abroad can quickly run into five figures – and your statutory health insurance often covers only a fraction of it in an emergency.
The biggest misconception: "My national health insurance will cover it"
The opposite is true. Statutory health insurance covers abroad costs only up to German tariff levels – often just 10–30 % of actual expenses. And what many people don't know: Costs for repatriation, mountain rescue, or treatment in private clinics are completely excluded.
A real-world example: A broken leg in the USA can easily cost $30,000–$80,000. An emergency medical evacuation from Thailand by air ambulance: €50,000–€120,000. Without insurance, you're facing that bill alone – with travel health insurance, you're covered for often under €15 per week.
What travel health insurance covers
Good travel health insurance includes:
- Medical treatment and hospital stays abroad (outpatient and inpatient)
- Medication and medical treatment after accidents or acute illness
- Necessary repatriation to your home country (medically supervised)
- 24-hour emergency hotline in English – worldwide, around the clock
- Depending on the plan: dental treatment after accidents, rescue costs, children's repatriation
And "regular" travel insurance? It's more than health!
While travel health insurance protects your health, comprehensive travel insurance (often sold as a package) covers everything else:
- Trip cancellation & interruption – if you fall ill before departure or have to cut your trip short
- Baggage insurance – for loss, theft, or damage at the airport
- Flight delay & cancellation – compensation for disrupted flights
- Rental vehicle damage – the CDW gap
- Emergency assistance – practical help abroad
Rule of thumb: Travel health insurance is the most important component (never travel without it!). A full travel insurance package makes sense for expensive bookings, family trips, and long-haul travel.
Who needs it most?
- USA, Canada, Caribbean & Thailand: extreme healthcare costs
- Long-haul trips & extended holidays: the further away, the more expensive the repatriation
- Families with children: kids get sick more often and end up in hospital more frequently
- Seniors 65+: higher risk; many plans offer special conditions
- Adventure trips & winter sports: ski accidents are the most common injury abroad for Germans
What to look for when buying
Not every policy is equal. Check for:
- Repatriation coverage – must be explicitly included, not just "treatment costs"
- Coverage of at least €1–2 million – anything less won't cut it in the USA
- Pre-existing conditions – are they covered? (important for diabetes, heart conditions, etc.)
- No deductible for emergencies
- 24/7 emergency number with an English-speaking hotline
Our conclusion: Never travel without it
Travel health insurance is the cheapest way to protect yourself from the biggest financial risks on holiday. For the price of one restaurant dinner, you're covered – and full travel insurance adds protection for cancellations, baggage, and breakdowns.
✅ Not insured yet? Compare offers from our trusted partners: [AXA TravelSecure] · [Hanse Merkur] · [European Assistance] All three offer 24/7 English-speaking emergency assistance and repatriation coverage. Free cancellation within the statutory withdrawal period.
⚠️ Not insured yet? A hospital stay abroad can quickly cost €30,000+ – and statutory health insurance often covers only a fraction of it. Protect yourself from €10 per week:
✅ [AXA TravelSecure] – worldwide coverage, 24/7 emergency hotline ✅ [Hanse Merkur] – ideal for long-term trips & ski holidays ✅ [European Assistance] – all-in-one package incl. baggage & cancellation
💰 Save with andsave: Compare insurance and travel deals – with cashback on top on AXA, Hanse Merkur and more travel providers.
All offers include repatriation coverage · free cancellation within the statutory withdrawal period
Travel insurance - top providers at a glance: Why travel insurance is indispensable
AXA Assistance – International assistance provider with a worldwide service network; strengths: fast, multilingual emergency assistance and strong services for international repatriation.
Hanse Merkur – Traditional German insurer with very good Stiftung Warentest ratings; strengths: solid all-round protection, wide range of services and fair prices, especially for long-term and international trips.
andsave.de – Online travel insurance in the style of a travel portal with a comparison function; strength: uncomplicated, inexpensive online purchase and flexible protection for short trips and students.
travelsecure.de – Specialist insurer for international travel and stays abroad; strength: tailor-made tariffs for extended stays, work assignments and digital application.
Europ Assistance – One of the world's largest assistance service providers; strengths: 24/7 emergency hotline, worldwide partner networks and reliable help in case of illness, accident or breakdowns abroad.
International health insurance with Hanse Merkur Hanse MerkurHanse MerkurHanse MerkurHanse Merkur
andsave.deandsave.de andsave.de andsave.de travel insurance
Travel health insurance at travelsecure.de travelsecure.de travelsecure.detravelsecure.de
2. FAQ Block (SEO / Featured Snippets)
Place as an H2 section ("Frequently Asked Questions") below the main article – or as a standalone FAQ page:
❓ Does my credit card count as travel insurance? Usually only to a limited extent: card insurance often covers trips of up to 42 days only, has low coverage limits, and excludes pre-existing conditions. Check the exact terms – in most cases, a separate policy at €10–15 per week is the safer choice.
❓ When is annual travel insurance worth it? If you take 2–3 trips per year, an annual policy usually costs less than individual contracts – and you're automatically covered for spontaneous weekend getaways. Ideal for frequent flyers and city trip lovers.
❓ Will travel insurance pay out if I cancel due to illness? Yes – trip cancellation insurance reimburses cancellation fees if you or a close relative fall unexpectedly ill. Important: buy the policy on the day of booking or shortly after.
❓ Are COVID-19 infections covered? With good providers, yes – acute COVID-19 infections are treated like any other illness. Quarantine costs vary by plan, so check the conditions carefully.
❓ What about pre-existing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure? Not every plan covers them. With our partners [AXA TravelSecure], [Hanse Merkur] and [European Assistance] you'll find options – always answer the health questionnaire honestly, or your claim could be rejected.
❓ Do I need travel health insurance within the EU? Yes! The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) only covers you at the level of the host country's system – in many countries (Italy, Spain) public clinics mean long waiting times, and private treatment is completely excluded.
❓ Who pays for repatriation to a home hospital? Not your statutory health insurance – and not automatically every travel policy. Only plans with explicit repatriation coverage include it. This is the single most expensive benefit (up to €120,000), so check for it before buying.
❓ How last-minute can I buy the insurance? Travel health insurance: anytime, even shortly before departure or while abroad (with a waiting period). Trip cancellation: within a few days of booking at the latest – otherwise no cancellation benefit applies.