Choosing travel medical insurance for a Schengen visa

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Check the visa requirement first

An ordinary short-stay tourist application requires medical insurance that meets the consulate's conditions. France-Visas ↗ specifies at least €30,000, covering emergency care, hospital treatment and medical repatriation, including in the event of death, throughout Schengen for the trip. This is a minimum visa condition, not a recommendation to limit your actual protection to that amount.

If you apply under a special EU family procedure or another exempt category, check whether the requirement applies first. Do not buy additional documents solely because they appear on a general tourist checklist.

Match the certificate to your itinerary

The evidence should clearly show the insured person's name, policy number, dates, territory and medical cover. Check any surname change, every travelling child and that protection starts no later than the first day of travel.

A marketing label such as “Europe” may not explain which countries are included. If your itinerary includes a non-Schengen destination, check it separately. Make sure the insurer accepts people with your residence circumstances: a British policy can have its own UK resident definition and healthcare eligibility conditions.

Compare terms as well as price

Read the policy wording and benefits table. Compare medical limits, excesses, emergency assistance, treatment authorisation requirements and repatriation to your country of residence. Separately examine pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, age restrictions, winter sports, mountain activities and work-related activities.

Disclose health information as the insurer requires and obtain confirmation of the accepted cover. A cheap policy excluding your condition may match attractive advertising without meeting your circumstances. Cancellation and baggage protection are separate benefits; do not confuse them with the medical component required for a visa.

If you plan several trips

An annual policy may be convenient, but check its maximum length for each journey and any cumulative day limits. A policy lasting a year does not necessarily cover remaining overseas for a whole year.

With a multiple-entry visa, check insurance before every departure. France-Visas expressly requires evidence of medical insurance on each trip. Extending a visa does not extend an insurance policy, and buying another policy does not increase your permitted visa days.

GHIC and checks before paying

NHSBSA explains ↗ that GHIC/EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance and does not cover repatriation. If you qualify for a card, it can complement insurance but does not replace the visa insurance certificate.

Prices depend on duration, age, health, destination and selected risks. Compare quotes on equivalent terms. Before payment, check refunds following visa refusal and whether travel dates can be changed. Save the certificate and policy offline, and keep the emergency assistance number separately.