Traveling abroad soon? In some countries, travel insurance is mandatory!
Before you set off on your trip, there are a number of things you need to check. Vaccinations, necessary documents, bank charges – it’s a real checklist you need to go through before you consider packing your bags. But perhaps you didn’t know, travel insurance is compulsory in some countries. It’s a good idea to be well-informed on the subject to avoid visa delays and the like.
To help you get started, here’s our mini-guide to countries where travel insurance is compulsory!
Travel insurance: mandatory in 4 countries
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Africa Studio
Travel insurance is currently compulsory in only 4 countries. The question naturally arises as to why 4 countries, each very different from the next, require you to take out insurance in order to obtain a visa. Each country is free to impose coverage to ensure that you are solvent and do not have to pay for certain care provided to tourists.
Here is the list of countries:
Before leaving for these countries, compare travel insurances to find one that meets the requirements of each state. Here, your bank card (Mastercard or Visa Premier) won’t always be enough.
Regardless of the type of trip and the length of your stay, you must be covered.
| Insurer | Contract name | Travel time | From | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cap Groupe | 90j maximum | 6€ | See the offer |
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Globe Partner | Up to 12 months | 13€ | See the offer |
|
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Cap Cancellation | All durations | 15€ | See the offer |
|
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Cap Assistance 24h/24 | Less than 90 days | 22€ | See the offer |
|
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Cap Au Pair | From 1 to 12 months | 23€ | See the offer |
|
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Cap Aventure | From 3 to 12 months | 36€ | See the offer |
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Cap Working Holiday | From 3 to 12 months | 36€ | See the offer |
Travel insurance for China
International travel insurance is compulsory to obtain your visa, and is an integral part of the documents you’ll be asked to present to receive your precious sesame.
To travel to China, you’ll need at least repatriation assistance and coverage for medical expenses. As well as being compulsory, such cover is useful in a country where medical care is expensive and the medical offer is poor, depending on the region.
Compulsory insurance for Russia
It’s impossible to obtain a visa for Russia without applying for travel insurance beforehand. Russia, too, is keen to ensure that your medical expenses are covered. Not only is travel insurance compulsory, but you must also ensure that it covers medical expenses and repatriation up to a minimum of €30,000 in the event of death or serious accident.
Travel insurance required for trips to Algeria
Travel insurance is also mandatory for travel to Algeria, and must include repatriation assistance as well as coverage for medical and hospitalization expenses. You can’t get a visa without it. Depending on the type of insurance you take out, you’ll be entitled to reimbursement of medical expenses and many other services.
Mandatory insurance for your vacation in Cuba
Since 2010, Cuba has required tourists to take out travel insurance. This time, however, things are a little different. It is perfectly possible to obtain a visa for Cuba without taking out travel insurance, as this is not a compulsory document.
However, if you are unable to provide proof of insurance at the border, you have two options:
- You turn around;
- You take out insurance on site.
This time, however, you won’t be able to make comparisons, you’ll be in a hurry and you’ll be taking out fairly expensive cover. So it’s best to know the rules in advance and contact French insurers, especially as reading general conditions if you don’t speak the language isn’t recommended.
Countries where travel insurance is recommended but not mandatory
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Shutter_M
We’ve already mentioned the countries where travel insurance is compulsory. Let’s take a look at the countries where it’s advisable to take out insurance.
In absolute terms – and we’ll come back to this a little later – travel insurance is useful everywhere. It offers real protection for a worry-free stay abroad.
Social security may cover you in France, the European Union and the European Economic Area, but it’s not always enough. And when you go much further afield, things get even more complicated.
In many countries around the world, there is nohealth insurance, and healthcare costs are extremely high. If you’re going on a trip, whether around the world or on a short break, you’ll want to make the most of it, not spend all your money on medical care. It’s one thing to pay in advance, but quite another to pay in full.
If you travel to countries such as Japan, the United States,Australia, New Zealand or Canada, you should know that these are among the countries with the most expensive healthcare costs. In these countries, unlike our healthcare system, prices are set freely by all practitioners. This can lead to major excesses.
In Canada, you can expect to pay between CAD$50 and CAD$100 to see a doctor. In Japan, it costs around €40. Need emergency hospitalization in the U.S.? Expect to pay $1,000.
Why is travel insurance so important?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – StockLite
Without being alarmist, we would like to draw your attention to the importance of this insurance. In view of the high cost of medical expenses abroad, failure to pay could put you in a delicate financial situation.
But that’s not all. Travel insurance isn’t just about medical care, hospitalization and repatriation. Good coverage goes far beyond that.
You’re covered for third-party liability abroad. If you injure someone or break something, you’re covered. The legal protection included in some contracts can also be useful. Going abroad also means venturing into countries you don’t necessarily know. As a traveler, you may not be familiar with local legislation, and you may break the law at any time without realizing it. This legal protection offers you valuable assistance. It may even be indispensable if you don’t speak the language of the country you’re visiting.
Another major point: cancellation insurance. Can’t leave for some reason beyond your control? Trip cancellation is possible with your guarantee.
Finally, take advantage of luggage insurance in the event of loss or theft. All insurances offer different levels of cover, so it’s up to you to find the one that really suits your needs. Chapka, Mondial Assistance, Europ Assistance, find the best insurance to get the best reimbursements.
Soon mandatory travel insurance in Thailand?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – CC7
In 2019, the Thai government has announced its intention toimpose travel insurance for tourists wishing to stay in its country. According to the Minister of Tourism, nearly €10,000,000 has been spent to date on covering travelers’ medical expenses. To compensate for this, Thailand is likely to take strong measures in the near future.
As a result, it intends to tax each incoming tourist 100 baht, equivalent to around €3. Travelers will be exempt from this tax if they can prove that they have taken out insurance to cover hospitalization, medical repatriation, dental care and many other health expenses.
Now you’ve got the facts. You’re now in the best position to prepare for your future adventures. Bon voyage!