Travel insurance: when it actually matters
Inside the European Union a European health insurance card covers necessary state treatment, but it does not cover private treatment, repatriation or cancellation, which is why travel insurance matters most outside the EU and on any trip with non refundable bookings.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- Medical repatriation from the United States can exceed 60,000 €.
- A basic travel policy costs 3 € to 9 € per day of the trip.
- Cancellation cover normally must be bought within days of booking.
- A medical capital of 500,000 € is the usual benchmark for the United States.
The question is not whether something could happen. It is what it would cost if it did, and that figure is easy to look up before the trip rather than during it.
What a health card covers
Necessary state provided treatment during a temporary stay in another member state, on the same terms as residents of that country, including any co-payments they would face. It does not cover treatment in private clinics, transport back to the home country, repatriation in the event of death, lost baggage or cancellation. It is a state healthcare arrangement, not an insurance policy.
| Incident | Destination | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| Private consultation | Europe | 80 to 250 € |
| Hospital emergency | United States | 1,500 to 6,000 € |
| Three day admission | United States | 12,000 to 40,000 € |
| Medical repatriation | United States | 40,000 to 90,000 € |
| Medical repatriation | Southeast Asia | 25,000 to 60,000 € |
| Repatriation of remains | any destination | 6,000 to 20,000 € |
| Basic policy per day | any destination | 3 to 9 € |
When it is essential
Outside the EU and the EEA, always. In destinations with expensive private healthcare, emphatically. On trips involving activities that a basic policy excludes, which need a specific extension. And in countries that require insurance as a condition of entry, where minimum capital sums are specified and evidence must be produced at the border or with the visa application.
Cancellation cover
The cover most often used and the one with the most conditions. It normally must be arranged within 7 days of booking and responds only to listed causes: serious illness of the traveller or a close relative, redundancy, a court summons, serious damage to the home. Cancel for any reason variants return a percentage, usually 60 to 80 per cent, at a higher premium.
On a 2,400 € non refundable trip, cancellation cover at 90 to 160 € protects a sum 15 times larger, which is the ratio that justifies it even within Europe.
What to check before buying
The medical capital, which should reach at least 100,000 € outside Europe and around 500,000 € for the United States. Explicit inclusion of repatriation. How pre-existing conditions are treated, since many policies exclude them entirely. Which sports are covered. And whether the credit card used to pay for the trip already includes cover, which is common on premium cards and avoids paying twice for the same protection.
Frequently asked
+Is a European health card enough?
For state treatment within the EU yes, but it covers no private care, no repatriation and no cancellation.
+What does travel insurance cost?
Three to nine euros per day of the trip for basic cover, more with cancellation or sports extensions.
+What would a repatriation cost?
40,000 to 90,000 € from the United States and 25,000 to 60,000 € from Southeast Asia.
+When must cancellation cover be bought?
Normally within seven days of booking, and it responds only to the listed causes.
+What medical capital should I look for?
At least 100,000 € outside Europe and around 500,000 € for the United States.
Sources
- 1Ministerio de Sanidad, Gobierno de España (August 2026)
- 2Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE (August 2026)