How to choose the best
international travel insurance

Taking out international travel insurance protects you in the event of unforeseen incidents. It covers far more than just medical expenses. It helps you deal with unexpected situations that can make your stay abroad very costly. This type of cover generally includes:

• Medical assistance: In the event of illness or injury abroad, the insurance covers medical expenses and hospitalisation.
• Repatriation assistance: If your state of health requires it, the insurance covers the cost of repatriation to the nearest hospital or to your home country.
• Loss of luggage: Your luggage is covered in the event of loss or theft during your trip, allowing you to obtain compensation for valuable items. This cover may be included or optional.
• Third-party liability: If you cause material damage or bodily injury to someone else during your trip, this option covers legal and compensation costs.
• Trip cancellation: If, for personal or medical reasons, you must cancel your trip, the insurance reimburses expenses incurred for flights, accommodation, etc.

Here is a table summarising the coverage of different types of expenses:

It is common for bank cards, especially premium cards (Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold, etc.), to include travel insurance among their benefits. This insurance can cover several elements such as:

• Trip cancellation: if your flight or stay paid for with the bank card is cancelled.
• Medical assistance: your bank card may offer cover for medical expenses, but reimbursement limits are often quite low.
• Liability and repatriation: some bank cards also include liability cover and repatriation assistance.

Beware, these policies are often limited in terms of coverage and are not sufficient for longer stays or travel to destinations where medical costs are high. It is therefore recommended to take out dedicated international travel insurance to be properly covered.