Travel outside Europe isn't “the same thing, just a bit further” from an insurance point of view: a different cost level, a different healthcare system, different distances – and no EHIC. On an overseas trip, travel insurance isn't an extra, it's part of the basic kit for the journey. The key word: sizing.
- Healthcare in the USA and Canada is among the most expensive in the world – a serious hospital treatment is an order of magnitude pricier than in Europe.
- Outside Europe you need a worldwide policy (often with a separate USA-Canada category) – a Europe policy doesn't apply there.
- Distance also drives up the cost of medical repatriation: the limit has to cover both the treatment AND the journey home.
Why are the USA and Canada a different league?
Because care there is priced by the market, and those prices are exceptional even by world standards: the same procedure that's already a serious expense in Europe can cost several times more there. That's why insurers typically treat the USA and Canada as a separate territorial category, with a higher premium and higher expected limits. Skimping on the limit is the worst deal you can make here: the reasoning in the medical cover article applies doubly overseas.
The rest of the world
Asia, Africa and South America are a mixed picture: in tourist hubs, private care is typically the standard available – and that's an expensive business everywhere. On a long-haul trip, two items become more important: medical repatriation (because of the distance) and the assistance service's ability to organise things (time zone, language, local knowledge). On an exotic trip, health preparation is also a topic – covered in the exotic trips article, without medical advice, from an insurance angle.
What should you set up differently?
First: territorial scope – a worldwide policy, with a USA-Canada extension if needed. Second: the medical limit – sized to the cost level of your destination, following the sizing logic; on a longer trip or a tour, matched to the most expensive country on the route. Third: cancellation cover – an overseas trip is typically booked months ahead and represents a large outlay; taking out cancellation cover at booking is the most worthwhile precaution here. Fourth: add-ons for activities – hiking, diving, car hire.
One honest word about the premium
A worldwide policy costs more than a European one – and that's fair enough: it's pricing in exactly the disproportionately larger risk that an overseas hospital bill represents. The place to save isn't the limit, it's smart policy choice: comparing several insurers' offers for the same scope of cover – that's where I can help: request a quote.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
I'm connecting through the USA – do I need separate cover for that?
Even a short transit carries local treatment prices if something happens while you're there. If your route touches the USA or Canada – even just as a connection – make sure your cover's scope includes it; at booking, that's one box to tick.
Is every country automatically included in a worldwide policy?
Typically yes, with two exceptions: the USA and Canada can be a separate category, and regions not recommended for travel on the official advisory list are excluded. Check every country on your route against the policy's scope – especially on a tour.
Have a question specific to your own trip? Request a quote – a free 20-minute consultation, no obligation. Book a time here →
