Modern-day traveling does not require a lot of money and travel planning. More and more people travel to very remote places at low cost and rent cheap hostels instead of exclusive apartments.
In fact, many backpackers say that there are many ways to save some money on traveling, which allows everyone to try to visit their dream destination without having to rob a bank. On the other hand, there is an important part of every journey that will require you to spend some money, and that is health insurance. However, you can be sure that it is worth every penny!
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more countries require travelers to have health insurance. That way, the government can avoid dealing with financial losses caused by unpaid medical bills.
Do you want to find out what the countries that require health insurance from travelers are? If that is the case, then keep on reading!
Schengen Area
Any person who is willing to visit any of the Schengen Area countries needs to obtain a Schengen Visa first. While applying for the Schengen Visa, travelers must provide proof of health insurance that covers hospitalization, medical emergency, and repatriation.
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the minimum coverage should be €30,000. Because of that, if you want to obtain a Schengen Visa, make sure that your health insurance plan meets those requirements. There are many companies out there that offer such insurance plans, such as anorak.life.
All in all, make sure that the health insurance plan of your choice includes the countries that are located in the Schengen Area. If it does not, it should be relatively easy to find another one that does. Doing this will save you lots of time and money. And as soon as your visa has been granted, you can start your trip!
Brazil
If you would like to travel to Brazil for up to 90 days, you will be asked to provide proof of a medical insurance policy that is valid in this country. If meeting such criteria appears to be intimidating, consider expediting the documentation process by going through a Brazilian health insurance agency.
These companies already have set up relationships with various insurers and are able to guarantee the necessary coverage in no time.
Even though Brazil has universal health care, it is extremely common for people to buy private health insurance in order to have easier access to certain medical services. Why should you not do the same thing? That way, you should have access to the doctors and medication that you might need without any difficulties.
Cuba
Before entering Cuba, the visitors have to be prepared to present proof of health insurance. It is worth mentioning that Cuba does not deem American health insurance valid. Due to that fact, it would be best if you purchased a supplementary health insurance plan and contacted the local Embassy of Cuba.
If you are denied entry due to not being able to present the authorities with valid health insurance, your travel agency might refuse to give you back the money that you paid for the trip. Because of that, you should make sure that you got everything right when it comes to the documentation that you will be taking with you.
While the healthcare system in Cuba is pretty good, people with common health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and peptic ulcers should undergo thorough medical examinations and stock up on their medications before departure.
Other common preventive measures include vaccinations for measles, influenza, and polio, among others.
The Bottom Line
These are just three examples of countries that require travelers to have health insurance before entering their territories. Make sure to have health insurance for travelling abroad and remember to look into it and sort everything out before you board your flight, as you might not have the chance to properly insure yourself once you land. In fact, some countries might simply send you back home on the very next flight!
In quite a few other counties, it might be impossible to get a tourist visa without providing proof of insurance. For instance, you need to have health insurance before you get to visit any of the countries located in the Schengen Area. Getting turned back at the airport would certainly be a waste of money, would it not?
Lastly, remember that just because a country does not specifically require proof of health insurance upon arrival or when you are applying for a visa, it does not mean that you should not care about it. Quite the opposite!
Health insurance should be near the top of your to-do list before any trip abroad. You never know what might happen to you during your travels, and it is always better to be safe than sorry!