Travel insurance Europe

According to the United Nations, 44 countries make up the European continent. According to the bright-eyed, high school version of myself, there were about 4: Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, and Rome. 

These are, of course, cities, as I have since found out. Europe has been a vast and diverse centre of culture for thousands of years, made up of many cities, which in-turn have linked arms to create countries. Many countries. And with all 44 countries to explore in all their vastness and detail, the ultimate travel companion is, of course, a travel insurance policy.

For many Australians, getting to Europe can be an expensive enough task as it is, without worrying about things like cancelled flights, overseas medical emergencies, and lost luggage. So, when budgeting for your European getaway, consider factoring in a travel insurance policy, which could save you hundreds, or even thousands of Euros if something goes wrong. 

Besides, a policy might only cost a fraction of your total holiday cost, which is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

The kind of insurance you buy will depend on what kind of traveller you are. When comparing international travel insurance policies, consider how long you are travelling for, what benefits you might need, and if there are any optional-extras you’re interested in.

Whether you’re travelling around Europe in a rental vehicle, backpacking, or sightseeing, an international travel insurance policy should fit your needs and budget. If you’re looking to travel in luxury on the Mediterranean sea, then make sure your policy offers cruise travel insurance as an optional-extra. If you’re after a winter sports escape to the rolling hills of powder in France or Italy, then opt for a policy that offers snow travel insurance. 

And if you’re travelling with a pre-existing medical condition, make sure that your insurance provider covers your condition. You don’t want to foot the bill in an overseas hospital if your health acts up while travelling. 

Many travel insurance providers will offer different tiers of cover on their international policies. These often range from basic or essential policies, to premium or comprehensive policies. 

Generally, a basic policy will cover benefits like overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, and personal liability. However, cover for things like flight delays, cancellations, loss of travel documents or cash, might only be available if you pay a higher premium. The question you have to ask yourself is, what can I afford to risk?

If you hold an Australian passport, then you won’t need a visa if you’re travelling inside the Schengen zone for less than a total of 90 days, within a 180 day period. The Schengen Area includes 27 European countries who abolished their internal borders, allowing for the free and unrestricted movement of people between countries.

Countries included in the Schengen Area are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Excess fees. When you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy, you may be required to pay a certain part of the total value of your claim. The rest would be paid by the insurance provider. This amount that you need to pay yourself is called an excess. This excess fee can vary according to your policy. Generally, the cheaper the cover, the more likely your excess fee will be higher.

Pre-existing conditions. Travel insurance providers ask you to declare any pre-existing conditions at the time of purchasing the policy. If you fail to do so, the insurance company can reject a claim you later make regarding that condition. Also, remember that pregnancies are considered as a pre-existing condition.

Unattended baggage. Remember that if your bags go missing while you’ve left them unattended, your insurance provider may reject your claim. In fact, even when you leave your bags with the hotel concierge after you’ve checked out, that’s often considered ‘unattended’ in the provider’s eyes. So, say you check out of your hotel in Florence and take off for a day-trip to Pisa, leaving your luggage at the hotel, your provider could refuse to reimburse for it, if it goes missing. 

Report incidents ASAP. Whether you’ve injured yourself while skiing in Switzerland, or had your purse stolen in Naples, you must report any incident as soon as possible. Again, if you’ve read your policy’s product disclosure statement (PDS) carefully, you’ll know the exact documentation that you will be required to submit with your claim. Generally, these will be doctors reports, hospital bills, police reports, or receipts, depending on the nature of your claim. So, make sure you hold onto these when it comes to contacting your travel insurance provider. 

Driving in Europe. First of all, don’t drive a vehicle you aren’t licensed to drive. Make sure you have the right paperwork when you hire a car in Europe. Also, remember that unlike Australia, most Europeans drive on the right-hand side of the road, which can be a bit confusing to begin with. So take extra care when pulling out of your parking spots, or turning at an intersection. And like in any part of the world, don’t drink and drive – your insurance will not cover you for any accidents while under the influence.

Drink responsibly. It’s all too easy to keep a highly-sippable jug of Spanish sangria close by, but always remember to be responsible with your drinks. If you face a medical emergency or injury while you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurance company could refuse to reimburse you for those expenses. The worst type of hangover doesn’t come from red wine – it’s induced by bills.

If you’re looking to Europe for your next trip, head to our international travel insurance hub for more info about venturing overseas right now. 

Need more information about what to look for in a travel insurance policy that works for you? We recommend giving our best travel insurance page a read-through.

If you are planning a trip to Europe and tossing up between travel insurance providers, the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards can help you narrow your search. 

To find out more about the winners of these categories, check out our best travel insurance page.