Travel medical claims cluster around ordinary events rather than the dramatic ones people picture. Knowing which is which changes how you use the policy.
What actually gets claimed
Stomach illness, which is the most common by volume.
Respiratory infections.
Minor fractures and sprains from falls — cobbles, steps, wet surfaces.
Dental problems, which are frequently capped separately and lower than people expect.
Road traffic injuries, particularly involving scooters.
The catastrophic scenarios are rarer, and they are why the high limits exist — a single serious case with intensive care and repatriation can exhaust a low limit entirely.
The emergency line
The most important practical thing in any policy, and the one people forget under stress.
Most policies require contact before incurring significant medical costs, and failing to do so can reduce or invalidate a claim.
The assistance company also arranges direct billing with hospitals, which avoids you paying large sums up front and reclaiming later.
Save the number offline — in your phone, on paper, and with whoever knows your plans. It is useless in an email you cannot reach.
Pre-existing conditions
The definition is broader than people assume.
It frequently includes anything you have had symptoms of, sought advice about, or taken medication for within a stated period — whether or not it was diagnosed, and whether or not you consider it relevant.
Undeclared conditions are among the most common reasons claims are refused, including claims apparently unrelated to the condition, where insurers argue a connection.
Declare everything at purchase. A declared and accepted condition costs more in premium and is covered; an undeclared one may void the policy.
The costs the limits are for
| Event | Order of cost |
|---|---|
| Air ambulance repatriation | Six figures |
| Intensive care abroad, per day | Thousands |
| Medical escort flight home | Multiple seats plus staff |
| US emergency treatment | Multiples of European |
These are why limits in the millions are not marketing.
What is frequently capped low
Dental, often to emergency pain relief only.
Ongoing treatment after the emergency phase.
Chronic condition management.
Pregnancy beyond a stated week, which varies considerably.
Practical steps that protect a claim
Call the emergency line first for anything significant.
Keep every document — receipts, prescriptions, medical reports, discharge notes. Ask for them in English where possible.
Get a written diagnosis, not just a bill.
Report thefts to police within the stated window, which is frequently 24 hours and is a hard requirement.
Do not accept treatment you have not cleared where the policy requires pre-authorisation for non-emergency care.
The health card, again
In Europe, reciprocal arrangements cover state healthcare on the same terms as a resident — not repatriation, not private treatment, and not what residents themselves pay.
Carry both. They cover different things.
The caveat
Policy terms, limits and definitions vary by product and change continuously. The wording for your specific policy is the only authority on what it covers.