In which countries is travel insurance compulsory?
Unlike car insurance, travel insurance is not mandatory. Except in certain countries where a certificate of insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation will be systematically required at the airport and therefore strongly recommended when buying a plane ticket or a stay. These are China, Mongolia, Algeria, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal and Saudi Arabia. Two countries currently not recommended for tourists, Russia and Burma, are also on the list.
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For China and Mongolia, this is due to a shortage of medical personnel and the large size of the territory. In Cuba, be careful because the insurance company chosen must also be approved by the Cuban consulate or embassy.
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In other countries, medical costs are high, United States in the lead
Apart from these exceptions, travel insurance remains optional in the majority of countries around the world which, after tightening entry requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic, have now returned to a "normal" regime.
Nevertheless, some destinations deserve special attention for two reasons: medical costs are particularly high and the maximums provided by credit card insurance are rarely sufficient.
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Pay attention to the ceiling and deductible of medical expenses for emergency care (hospitalization, dental care or urgent optical care). This ceiling must be high in countries where medical costs are very expensive. However, the limits of bank cards, even high-end bank cards, are insufficient in these countries," says David Dumont, CEO of the comparator Insurly.
Among the most expensive destinations in terms of health costs, the United States ranks first. "This country has medical costs up to five times higher than in France: it costs 80 dollars for a consultation with a general practitioner, nearly 100 dollars for a cream after a burn and sometimes several tens of thousands of dollars in case of hospitalization," says Amina Walter, deputy director general of the Lelynx.fr website. No wonder in these conditions that the rates offered by travel insurers often specify the mention "outside the USA" or "USA included", because the financial stakes are not the same!
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In countries with high medical costs, it is better to compare travel insurance
Countries such as Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Qatar, Hong Kong and New Zealand are also affected by prohibitive health tariffs.
If you leave for one of these destinations, do not hesitate to make sure properly, by comparing the contracts of the market, because a simple sprain or a toothache can quickly lead to astronomical billings. It must be said that some very touristic countries no longer want to make their health system bear the consequences of mass tourism.
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There is a significant drift in the average cost of medical expenses abroad. Before, the United States was singled out for its exorbitant medical bills. From now on, we must also count with the Dominican Republic, Turkey, Australia...» adds Quentin Poizat, Sales Director Tourism and Leisure at Allianz Partners France.
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Canyoning, diving... For these activities, avoid exorbitant bills
Finally, there are also countries with risky specificities in terms of health, such as Thailand, where renting scooters is very easy and wearing a helmet is not mandatory. "Accidents are numerous and can quickly beexpensive," says Amina Walter du Lynx.fr.
Or the popular destinations for their diving or canyoning sites, accidents being statistically more numerous. They may also be countries where public health systems are weak or non-existent and where the Western traveler will be systematically referred to a private clinic, at prohibitive rates.
Overall, as soon as you plan a trip a little "roots" that goes off the beaten track, it is better to take out additional insurance. Indeed, only repatriation is always covered "at real costs", including in the guarantees of bank cards. For all other expenses, it will be necessary to settle everything that exceeds the ceiling provided for in the contract...
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(Sometimes) accommodating insurers
Fortunately, for travelers who have taken out insurance before leaving for an expensive or risky country, insurers (and their assistance service) will be accommodating.
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I remember the tragic example of a young girl who was hit by a car in the United States. Medical expenses amounted to €680,000 while our ceiling was €500,000. We could have asked the insured for the reimbursement of the overrun. But we managed to get the remaining €180,000 covered by an assistance guarantee included in another family contract, then we made an appeal against the driver, "explains a sales director of a platform. Another scenario, "sometimes, if the insured really does not have the means to pay, our "cost efficiency" teams can negotiate medical rates with hospitals on site".
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This article is being updated.