Travel Insurance In Europe - How Does It Differ Between Countries?
Traveling across Europe can be a great way of taking an extended
vacation, especially when you travel from one European country
to the next. While Europe may be one continent, the various countries
that go to make it up can be very different. They have different
governments, different laws, and different policies when it comes
to people visiting the countries. In some countries health care
is free and at least very cheap for visitors whereas in others
it may be more expensive than it is in your country of origin and
you may not be covered by your current medical insurance. Probably
the best type of policy is European travel insurance which will
cover you for the different conditions you will meet in each country.
If part of your plan is to visit the Alps for some skiing then
you will want to have an add on to cover you skiing and snowboarding
and the risks associated with that.
Whenever you travel abroad you should always make sure that you
have comprehensive travel insurance, which covers things like lost
and stolen belongings and documents, emergency health care, emergency
dental treatment (usually just pain relief). There may be some
slight differences in this standard insurance but generally speaking
these are the kinds of things for which you can expect to be covered.
If you come from outside Europe intend traveling through or visiting
more than one of the fifteen European countries, whether your trip
is for pleasure or for business, then you will need to get a personal
Schengen visa. While this may seem like an extra nuisance it is
actually designed to cut back on the amount of European bureaucracy
that you may be subject to. This means that you will no longer
need different types of travel insurance if you intend to visit
different European countries.
The Schengen visa has to be obtained from the Consulate of the
primary country that you intend to visit. However, before any European
Consulate will grant such a visa you have to provide proof that
you have already obtained health insurance. The insurance is in
case you have to be returned to your own country because of medical
reasons, urgent medical and dental treatment or hospital admission.
The requirements for this cover are $37, 500 medical coverage and
the company which issues the policy must have an office in Europe.
You also have to show that you have the means of subsistence for
the duration of your stay.
There are two types of Schengen visa, category c, the short stay
visa is used mainly for tourism, but also for family visits and
for business trips. The second is the category b or transit visa
this is if you are going from one non-European country to another
non-European country but have to pass through the European states.
There is also a category a airport transit visa but this does not
require health insurance. Shop around before you buy your insurance
it is worth looking at insureandgo.com who give a range of companies
and prices.