What is not covered under Travel Insurance and Why do you need travel insurance for a Schengen visa?

There are certain things that are not covered by travel insurance and you need to know what they are. When you are considering which policy to buy, you must take note of these exclusions. In addition, the terms and conditions regarding any exclusions may vary between insurance companies, so it’s advisable to check thoroughly before purchasing the policy. If these are not covered, you may wish to consider taking additional cover to ensure you are fully protected.

1.         Pre-existing conditions such as asthma or diabetes

2.         Any sports which are deemed as high-risk such as skiing or scuba diving

3.         Travel to high-risk countries where there could be war, natural disasters or terrorism

4.         Acute onset of pre-existing conditions. This means a sudden or unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either by a physician’s recommendation or by symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive and requires immediate care

Why do you need travel insurance for a Schengen visa?

There are many reasons why you need travel insurance for a Schengen visa, but here are just a few.

1) Health emergencies

Travel insurance ensures that any health emergencies are taken care of during your travel. These could range from having an accident to falling sick and requiring medical attention. If this were to happen, you may be looking at expensive medical bills. Not only that, some countries might not even give you access to medical help if you do not have travel insurance. In addition, each country’s health system is different, for example, some hospitals provide their ambulance services through a private company, so you would be expected to pay for that.

2) Travel delays

It may have never happened to you before and the likelihood is small, but lost luggage, cancelled or delayed flights do happen which could seriously affect your trip, so this is another reason why travel insurance is so important.

3) Schengen Visa

If you are applying for a Schengen visa, you must provide proof of adequate travel insurance. Without this, there is really no point in applying because it is a mandatory requirement for all visa applicants. It is one of the most important documents that needs to be submitted to the embassy when you apply for your SchengenVisa.

According to the “Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009”:

“Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States. The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen Area Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000”