How to Find the Best Coverage for Your Visa Application
If you’re planning to travel to Europe, you need to meet specific travel medical insurance requirements to obtain a Schengen visa. This mandatory coverage is a crucial part of the application process for most travelers.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Schengen visa insurance, including the required coverage limits and essential policy benefits. You’ll also learn how to choose a plan that meets all criteria, so you can apply confidently and travel with peace of mind.
If you’re planning to travel to Europe, you need to meet specific travel medical insurance requirements to obtain a Schengen visa. This mandatory coverage is a crucial part of the application process for most travelers.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Schengen visa insurance, including the required coverage limits and essential policy benefits. You’ll also learn how to choose a plan that meets all criteria, so you can apply confidently and travel with peace of mind.
Schengen Visa-Compliant Travel Insurance
- Designed for travelers who need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe
- Meets the €30,000 medical coverage requirement
- Includes emergency evacuation, repatriation, and a visa letter
Understanding the Schengen Area and Insurance Requirements
The Schengen Area consists of 29 European countries that allow travelers to move freely across borders with a single Schengen visa. Once you have this, you can visit any of these countries without repeated border checks.
However, before your visa is granted, you must meet several requirements, one of the most critical being valid travel medical insurance that covers your entire stay and is accepted throughout the Schengen Zone.
Whether you are traveling for leisure or business, alone or with a group, this insurance is mandatory for your application.
Read More: The Schengen Visa for Travel to Europe
Schengen Visa Travel Insurance Requirements
To meet the requirements for the visa, your travel policy must:
- Be valid throughout the entire Schengen area
- Cover the full duration of your stay
Some countries also require an official letter from your insurance provider confirming that your policy meets the requirements.
This letter usually includes your full name (as on your passport) and date of birth. Check with the embassy or consulate of your destination to see if this letter is needed.
The typical coverage requirements include:
- Minimum medical coverage of EUR 30,000 (approximately USD 32,800)
- Valid coverage within the Schengen region for the entire travel period
- Coverage for medical repatriation, urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment, and death
Always verify with your embassy or consulate if additional health insurance requirements apply, as these can vary.
For most travelers staying less than 90 days, this insurance is mandatory. However, even if it's not required for entry, having travel medical coverage is a smart way to protect yourself abroad.
Read More: Travel Health Insurance
The Benefits of Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance offers temporary health coverage for you and your traveling party. These plans can save you from expensive medical bills if you need urgent care while abroad.
Typical benefits include:
- Freedom to seek treatment with a hospital or doctor of your choice
- Medical coverage limits ranging from $50,000 to $2,000,000
- 24/7 access to an emergency medical assistance hotline to speak with medical experts
- Deductible options from $0 to $2,500
- Renewable coverage up to 24 to 36 months
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
When planning your trip, it's important to research your coverage options carefully and invest in adequate insurance.
Doing so lets you relax and enjoy planning your adventure, knowing you can access any assistance you might need while traveling.
Read More: How to Choose a Travel Medical Plan
The Best Travel Medical Plans for a Schengen Visa
Here are some recommended travel medical plans that meet the requirements:
Best for All Nationalities Traveling to Europe
Our top-tier Schengen visa plan for international travelers, IMG Patriot Platinum, offers the highest policy limits, extensive global medical benefits, and fast documentation, which is ideal for extended trips or premium coverage needs.
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
- Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
- IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
- Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
The Trawick Safe Travels International plan offers excellent value for international citizens visiting Europe. It includes Schengen visa-ready coverage, substantial emergency medical benefits, no U.S. residency requirement, and an instant visa letter upon purchase.
Safe Travels International
- Desinged for non-U.S. citizens traveling outside their home country (excluding the U.S.)
- Coverage for an unexpected recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition
- Coverage from 5 days to 364 days - extensions are available
WorldTrips Atlas is a reliable, budget-friendly option that is ideal for visa applicants worldwide. It meets Schengen requirements with customizable coverage and an instant letter.
Note that this plan is not available to residents of Australia or Canada; however, Australians and Canadians are exempt from holding a Schengen visa.
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
Best for U.S. Citizens and Residents Traveling to Europe
U.S. citizens can enter the Schengen Area without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, by the end of 2026, you must obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) approval before departure.
If you are a U.S. resident but not a U.S. citizen, such as a green card holder, you may still need a Schengen visa depending on your country of citizenship. Check the current requirements based on your passport nationality before planning your trip.
GeoBlue Voyager Choice offers premium travel medical insurance for U.S. citizens and residents with primary health coverage. It includes up to $1,000,000 in benefits, covers pre-existing conditions, and provides access to a trusted global network, making it an ideal choice for safe, worry-free travel abroad.
GeoBlue Voyager Plan
- For U.S. citizens and residents up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Trawick Safe Travels Outbound is a popular travel medical plan for U.S. citizens traveling to Europe. It offers up to $500,000 in coverage for medical emergencies, along with benefits for evacuation, trip delay, and lost baggage, providing solid protection for international trips.
Safe Travels Outbound
- U.S. citizens/residents traveling outside the United States
- Up to $500,000 in emergency medical coverage
- Coverage for up to 180 days
The Best Trip Cancellation Plans for Traveling to Europe
Trip cancellation insurance covers the cost of your trip if you or a traveling companion cannot travel, while also meeting the medical coverage requirements. It’s especially valuable in cases of illness, accidental injury, stolen passports, or unexpected events like a terrorist incident at your destination.
The Trawick Safe Travels Voyager plan is only available to U.S. citizens. It is ideal for costly international trips, booked well in advance, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In addition to trip cancellation, the plan protects against travel delays, lost baggage, and other unforeseen disruptions, helping you safeguard your investment and travel with greater peace of mind.
Safe Travels Voyager
- Valid for U.S. citizens/residents traveling within the U.S. and/or internationally
- Comprehensive coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical and post-departure travel coverage
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) available
Schengen Visa Insurance Letter
One great benefit of the recommended plans above is that they automatically generate a visa insurance letter immediately after purchase.
This letter confirms your policy meets the requirements and is emailed to you along with your insurance documents, including your policy, cards, and more. You can submit this letter with your application at the embassy or consulate.
How Much Does Coverage Cost?
The cost of travel insurance for your Schengen visa depends on several factors, including your age, trip length, destination, total trip value, and the coverage limits you select.
Plans that include trip cancellation coverage generally cost more. On average, trip cancellation insurance costs about 5% of your total trip price. This is higher if you are older, and lower if you are younger.
Although the visa sets minimum insurance requirements, purchasing extra coverage, especially for longer trips, is a smart way to better protect yourself.
For example, based on June 2025 rates for Trawick’s Safe Travels Voyager plan (available to U.S. citizens only), a 40-year-old traveler on a 30-day European trip with a total trip cost of $5,000 might expect to pay:
- About $337 ($11 per day) for a travel medical plan with trip cancellation
- About $569 ($19 per day) for a plan that includes trip cancellation plus Cancel for Any Reason coverage
You can also buy coverage on a daily or monthly basis, with costs typically ranging from $1 to $5 or more per day, depending on your age, trip details, and selected benefits.
Plans with lower medical limits and higher deductibles will cost less, while those with higher limits and lower deductibles will cost more.
Read More: International Travel Insurance
Does Medicare Supplement Insurance Meet Schengen Visa Requirements?
Most U.S. Medicare and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans do not meet the required medical coverage criteria for a Schengen visa.
While some Medigap plans offer limited foreign travel emergency coverage, they often fall short of Schengen criteria. For example:
- Coverage is typically limited to a $50,000 lifetime maximum
- You may need to pay a $250 deductible plus 20% coinsurance
- These plans often exclude benefits like emergency medical evacuation or repatriation, which are mandatory under Schengen rules.
To meet the requirements, you must have at least €30,000 in medical coverage, valid throughout all Schengen countries, including emergency care, hospitalization, and repatriation. Most U.S.-based Medicare Supplement plans don’t fulfill these criteria.
If you’re applying from the U.S., consider purchasing a travel medical plan specifically designed to meet the requirements.
Need Coverage for Your Trip to Europe?
Click the link below to explore our travel plans and get the coverage you need for your visa application and travel in Europe.
Schengen Visa-Compliant Travel Insurance
- Designed for travelers who need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe
- Meets the €30,000 medical coverage requirement
- Includes emergency evacuation, repatriation, and a visa letter
Read More
Author: Kamela Hutzley is a Senior Editor at International Citizens Insurance. She is a native New Jerseyite who recently emigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia. In late 2022, she spent a month each in Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, before deciding on Atlantic Canada for the long haul. She’s traveled to Hawai’i, Jamaica, France, Spain, the UK, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. Kamela writes about International Life Insurance, Travel insurance, and Health topics as well as advice for expats and travelers.