Travel insurance for trips abroad

How to compare travel insurance properly

Cheap travel insurance is not always good value. Two policies at a similar price can differ a lot on the medical expenses limit, the excess, the exclusions and what counts as an emergency. Compare the cover first and the price second.

Your destination matters. In places where healthcare is expensive, such as the USA, Canada or Japan, a low medical limit can run out quickly, so many travellers choose a higher one there. Also check whether medical evacuation and repatriation to Israel are included, and under what conditions.

• Medical expenses limit and excess
• Pre-existing conditions: excluded, or can they be declared and added?
• Winter sports and adventure activities, usually a separate add-on
• Baggage and electronics: per-item limits and proof required
• Trip cancellation and curtailment: which reasons are accepted

What about your credit card insurance?

Many Israelis rely on the travel insurance that comes with their credit card. Sometimes that is enough, sometimes it is not. Read the card's terms: the medical limit, whether pre-existing conditions, baggage and cancellation are included, and whether cover only applies if you paid for the flight or package with that card.

Check who is included too. Some cards cover only the cardholder, others include family members with their own age limits. If you find gaps, you can look at a top-up or a standalone policy, and ask the insurer how the two work together when you claim.

How buying through our partners works

Clicking an offer takes you to the partner's site, EKTA or VisitorsCoverage, where you enter your details, choose your cover and pay under the partner's terms. Prices are set by the partner and can change until you buy. Read the full policy document before paying and keep a copy in your email and on your phone.

Many policies must be bought while you are still in your home country, and some cannot be bought or extended once you have left. If your flight is soon, sort out insurance before you head to the airport.

During your trip and after

Save the insurer's assistance number, which is usually available 24/7. For non-urgent treatment, many insurers ask you to call before seeing a doctor so they can approve it and, where possible, pay the provider directly. Keep every receipt, medical report and police or airline report, as claims are hard to support without them.

Age limits, pregnancy terms and rules for long trips vary between policies. If any of these apply to you, confirm the details with the insurer before you buy, not after.

Matching the policy to your trip

Set the policy dates to cover the whole trip, including the day you leave Israel and the day you return. If you are visiting several countries, make sure all of them fall within the cover area, as some policies price the USA and Canada separately. A connection through a third country is another reason to check how the area is defined.

Travelling with children? Make sure everyone is named on the policy and within its age limits. Renting a car? Rental excess cover is usually a separate product from travel insurance, so check whether it is included and what it actually pays for.