When is travel insurance mandatory and when is it a good idea?

 

Even though travel insurance is not mandatory for most countries, it is a good idea to take it out. That’s because, among other reasons, medical care can be difficult to access or very expensive in many destinations - not to mention how much it costs to repatriate a tourist in a medical plane.

So, if you want to avoid any unforeseen issues, headaches or financial expenses that could reach to thousands of euros, you need to know which countries require you to have travel insurance. Or, at least, where it is highly recommended. And also which insurance policies are best, giving you the greatest protection possible.

 

Which countries require travel insurance?

At the moment, the only country where travel insurance is mandatory is Cuba. This Caribbean island recorded over 2.4 million tourists in 2023 alone. And it expects to welcome 3.2 million international visitors in 2024. If you’re thinking about visiting Cuba, take note.

Travel insurance in Cuba: mandatory

According to the travel recommendations published by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, those travelling to Cuba must meet this essential requirement:

 

• Travel insurance for medical cover that covers health expenses resulting from COVID-19 infection and repatriation in the event of death is mandatory, regardless of the cause.
• This insurance cover must be issued by insurance entities that are recognised in Cuba.
• And the same applies for foreigners who have temporary residence in the country.

 

One reason why it is so important to have medical insurance in Cuba is that the bill for medical care is usually very high and it has to be paid in advance. And it is important to be aware that Cuban authorities forbid foreigners from leaving the country while medical care debts remain unpaid. In short:

 

• By taking out international travel insurance for Cuba, anyone travelling to the island can enjoy their time there without concern, knowing that their medical services are covered.

 

What happens if I don’t have travel insurance when it is mandatory?

Now that you know which country requires travel insurance, take our advice. If you haven’t taken out travel insurance in advance, Cuban authorities could stop you from entering the country. Don’t risk it.

 

Countries where it is a good idea to take out travel insurance

There are other countries where, even though travel insurance isn’t required, it is highly recommended. We’re talking about the United States, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Turkey, destinations where the cost of medical care is particularly high and where a mishap could turn out to be extremely expensive.

 

United States

According to Unespa, the insurance overseer in Spain, the United States is one of the most expensive countries for accidents covered by travel insurance. To give you an idea, this is what medical care costs in the United States:

 

• Average accident: 925 euros.
• Extreme accident: 175,000 euros.
• Medical flight to repatriate a patient to Spain: 50,000 euros.

Remember: healthcare is neither universal nor free in the United States. And medical services and emergency rooms carry out checks before attending to a patient. That’s why it is essential to have travel insurance that covers medical care in the country.

In short, medical insurance is not mandatory for travelling to the United States. But if you take out travel insurance with good medical cover, you’ll sleep much better, knowing that your insurance company has your back.

 

China

Travel insurance isn’t required to enter this enormous Asian country. However, as far as medical care is concerned, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns:

 

• Healthcare in China is not free and medical bills can be high.
• Taking out travel insurance that includes very extensive medical, health and evacuation cover is highly recommended.
• Treatments usually need to be paid in advance to ensure you receive medical care.

 

Indonesia

Indonesia is another example of a very expensive healthcare system. In this case, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns those travelling to this Asian country of the following:

 

• Having travel insurance that covers any hospital care required during your time in Indonesia and medical evacuation is highly recommended.
• We recommend that the policy taken out covers a minimum of 80,000 euros in medical expenses.

 

Thailand

In regard to Thailand, the situation is similar: medical care costs in this Asian country are extremely expensive. When travelling to Thailand, it is essential to bear in mind the following:

 

• Medical care is not denied to visitors in Thailand. However, payment for this service is required later.
• Healthcare centres are under no obligation to treat a foreigner if they are not properly covered by insurance.
• As such, medical insurance is strongly recommended when travelling to Thailand, with a policy that is as extensive as possible.

 

Turkey

And as far as Turkey is concerned, it is also a good idea to take out full travel insurance before travelling. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends considering the following issues:

 

• The travel insurance must cover medical expenses in Turkey and repatriation to Spain.
• If you are going to be doing high-risk activities such as climbing, paragliding, scuba diving or hot air balloon rides, which are common in Turkey, it is a good idea to make sure that the policy covers these, among other things..

If you do not have travel insurance in Turkey, hospital costs, medical treatment and evacuation will need to be paid by the traveller, and these can be extremely high.

 

What are the benefits of taking out travel insurance if I am going abroad?

With all the above, we hope we have helped you gain an understanding of where travel insurance is mandatory. In countries where it is not required, having this kind of protection is highly recommended. And don’t settle for a basic insurance policy that is limited to medical care.

At Adeslas, we don’t want you to have to worry about anything other than choosing where to go, because we can take care of protecting you. If you are not very sure what a travel insurance policy covers, our Travel Assistance insurance covers the insured individual, their personal effects and any other incidents that take place while travelling. 

You can benefit from the following guarantees, according to the type and cover chosen:

 

• Medical cover.
• Emergency medical repatriation.
• Trip cancellation.
• Baggage loss or delay.
• Ski cover.

Undoubtedly, it has the best cover on the market. It’s also less expensive and allows you to include the whole family on the same policy, and also choose the duration: from one day to six months. Have a great trip!