Travel Insurance for Europe: What You Need to Know

Is it Compulsory to have Travel Insurance before Entering Europe?

This depends on which European country you wish to travel to. Before answering this, you must know some basics:

• Europe consist of 44 countries as per the United Nations
• After including various transcontinental countries that are a part of Europe as well as another continent (such as Asia), the total number of European countries adds up to 50. Some examples include Turkey and Russia.
• Out of the total, only 27 countries are part of the European Union where the Euro is the single currency.
• Europe is also known for having the largest free travel area in the world, the Schengen Zone. There are 29 Schengen countries as of January 2025.

Now that you have some important facts clear, let's come back to the initial topic: if buying travel insurance is necessary for Europe? The answer will depend on the European country you're planning to visit.

Europe travel insurance is mandatory for several countries, including the 29 Schengen countries. Many countries like the UK, Macedonia, Montenegro, etc. are a part of Europe but have not made it compulsory to buy travel insurance before issuing a visa.

So, it is very important to know the European country you're planning to visit and understand its entry requirements. That being said, you should always insure your journey even if you are not compelled to buy travel health insurance. Not only is Europe much more expensive than other countries, it is a wise investment that can help with huge expenses in case of a crisis later.

What Insurance Do I Need to Go to Europe?

Your travel insurance plan will depend on several factors:

• Country: Different European countries may have specific coverage requirements, for example, Germany or Italy are a part of the Schengen Zone and require a minimum EUR 30,000 coverage
• Duration: If going to Europe for a short trip, you can buy any single trip insurance. However, for studies or employment you must buy a travel health insurance appropriate for your purpose of visit.
• Coverage: Other than the minimum sum insured, some countries require you to have coverage for medical emergencies like hospitalisation, medical evacuation and repatriation.
• Approved List of Insurers: Many European countries, especially the Schengen states, need you to buy travel health insurance with specific coverage. They even have a list of approved Indian travel insurance providers from whom you can buy travel insurance Europe.

If you have any doubts about understanding the travel insurance requirements for Europe, you can easily read about them on the official embassy websites of the respective countries. You can also find a suitable travel insurance plan for European countries on policybazaar.com.

Does Schengen Travel Insurance Cover all of Europe?

By now you must already know that out of 50 countries in Europe, only 29 are a part of the Schengen region. Therefore, your Schengen travel insurance will not cover the remaining countries even though you're on the same continent.

If you plan to travel to a non-Schengen country along with the Schengen ones, you can inform your insurer and buy a plan as per the itinerary. You can filter plans as per the trip destination and get customised coverage by purchasing add-ons. This way, you can stay protected by your travel insurance policy irrespective of your travel destination.

Over to You

Travelling to Europe is a dream for many, and it comes at a considerable cost. However, isn't it convenient to only focus on the fun part of the trip and leave the unpleasant thoughts at bay? With a good travel insurance plan for Europe, you can rest assured that any major emergency will be taken care of. From losing your passport to getting hospitalised because of a health emergency, you can easily reduce your out-of-pocket expenses by purchasing Europe travel insurance.