Sam_Renae14

This is my first time going to Europe, or overseas in general. I have no clue if I need insurance or not, I'm a student and can't really afford to pay any extra. I don't have health insurance here, so that isn't an option. I've seen the insurance on STA Travel, would that be the best option for me?

Bobmrg

I can't comment on a specific company because I am just not that familiar with the industry. All I know is that we buy travel insurance whenever we are leaving the country and the one time we needed it, it paid off 100%. Maybe $3800 bucks is chump change in some circles, but getting that check from the insurer put a smile on our faces. We are firm believers in Murphy's Law.

thursdaysd

There are different kinds of insurance.

Trip cancellation/interruption refunds the cost of items you have paid for up-front, like plane tickets, if you can't make the trip. I would only buy this if you have booked a tour, a cruise, or expensive hotels you can't cancel.

Medical insurance covers you for medical care, although in SOME countries emergency care will be free.

Evacuation/repatriation insurance gets you home if you have a medical emergency or accident. This is the most important - if you break a leg/arm, you WILL need this.

Go to insuremytrip.com and sevencorners.com, although if you qualify for STA insurance, that maybe cheapest, but you MUST be clear about what it covers.

november_moon

I always go to insuremytrip.com and search for policies there before travelling overseas - I only buy medical insurance though, which isn't very expensive. My regular medical insurance doesn't cover me out of the country and medical costs can add up very quickly if something happens. I never buy trip insurance though because I don't have non-refundable deposits generally.

Sam_Renae14

Yeah the STA travel insurance is by far the cheapest for how long I'll be out there.

It covers quite a bit from what I can tell. It has medical and dental, evacuation, trip delay, cancellation, lost baggage, and emergency medical transport. It sounds good and within my budget.

MissGreen

I always get travel insurance.

hetismij2

The very minimum you need is good health insurance, with a coverage to get you home, and or someone out to you should you need it.

My son's MIL, a healthy woman, OK no student, but ver healthy - runs 5km daily, dances etc etc went on holiday to Austria with her husband. On Day 2 she was struck down with pneumonia and has spent three weeks in ICU. Her husband was able to hand over all the admin involved to the insurance company, who also paid for his extended stay, his loss of wages due to his extended stay and the ambulance which is bringing her home. There is absolutley no way of knowing if you will be ill, run over by a bus or whatever but what you, and your family do not need if such an eventuality occurs is the worry of paying bills, the costs of someone coming over to be with you, or the costs of transporting you home.

It is absolutely worth the few extra dollars for the peace of mind it gives.

thursdaysd

"I always get travel insurance."

What kind of insurance for what kind of trip?

northie

there is a saying if you can't afford health travel insurance you can't afford to travel

LEANNA

Get it!!! The trip cancellation is a must...cause in this day and age we nevah know!!!!

I fell off a pyramid in Mexico. THANK GOD I HAD INSURANCE

My TA just fell in South Africa....Major foot surgery,.4 weeks in hotel rooms, she had to fly first class home so she could lay flat becuase of blood clots etc..the cost was over $15,000 each for just the flight....and they also flew her hubby the same way.

Believe me ...she is really saying...THANK GOD I HAD INSURANCE.

thursdaysd

Trip cancellation insurance is nothing like as important as evacuation/repatriation insurance, which is what got you home from Mexico. If you don't have a heavy prepaid investment there is no reason to buy cancellation insurance.

MissGreen

Medical, cancellation of trip, luggage loss - everything.

Iowa_Redhead

To be a bit of a downer, why are you going to Europe if you can't afford health insurance at home?? There are a lot of options available to students that will basically cover emergency/major care at pretty low cost. Pleae make sure that you at least have enough insurance to cover a major medical emergency (if your appendix acts up, if you break an ankle, if you get a UTI that goes into a kidney infection, etc). Things can happen to a completely healthy young adult that will absolutely clean you out financially. Okay, lecture over.


I always use insuremytrip.com and squaremouth.com to find a cheap plan that works for my planned trip. Medical and evacuation are what I'm mainly looking for. I also watch trip cancellation/delay because I can't afford to lose out on a plane ticket if something comes up (break my leg 3 days before departure, etc). READ THE DETAILS!! Some plans will cover you if you're injured/ill right before a departure, some won't. Some will pay for delays if you're delayed for 4 hours and some for 24 hours.

The details matter. Figure out what you can afford to lose and insure yourself so that you don't lose more than that.