For international trips, almost always yes. A single medical emergency abroad can cost $50,000 to $250,000 without coverage, and US Medicare provides essentially zero international coverage. The case for travel insurance gets stronger with international travel, expensive prepaid bookings, adventure activities, travelers over 60, and trips longer than 30 days.

For short domestic trips with a premium travel credit card already in the wallet, supplemental insurance is often unnecessary. The card likely covers cancellation and baggage; what it almost never covers is medical care abroad.

$100,000 minimum for most international destinations. $250,000 or more for trips to Japan, Switzerland, Australia, and other high-cost healthcare markets. $500,000 or more for travelers over 60, adventure travel, or remote destinations where medical evacuation is plausible.

Verify the policy includes explicit medical evacuation coverage of at least $500,000. Standalone evacuation costs range from $50,000 to $250,000, and most domestic health insurance policies cover none of it.

Yes, with specific providers. SafetyWing, World Nomads, EKTA, and a few others sell coverage to travelers already abroad. Most traditional insurers (Allianz, Faye, most plans on InsureMyTrip) require purchase before departure.

Policies bought mid-trip usually have a 5 to 7 day waiting period before claims can be filed, so the sooner the policy starts, the better. SafetyWing’s subscription model is the most popular option in this category.

Distraction theft. A team of two or three people creates a small commotion (a spilled drink, a dropped clipboard, a friendly bump on the metro) while a partner lifts the wallet or phone. It runs in every major tourist city.

The defense is making the reflex when bumped a hand on the bag, not eyes on the disturbance. The newer AI voice clone family emergency call is also rising fast — the defense there is a family safe word agreed in person before flying, never posted online.

The Schengen Area (26 European countries) requires proof of insurance with €30,000 minimum medical coverage for short-stay visa holders. Cuba requires medical insurance for all travelers. Saudi Arabia requires it for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Qatar requires mandatory health insurance via its official portal.

Russia, Belarus, and several Central Asian countries have historically required it for visa applications, with current geopolitical conditions affecting availability. Antarctica cruise operators mandate evacuation cover of $250,000 or more. Always cross-check with the destination embassy directly.

Contact the nearest embassy or consulate within 24 hours. Most Western embassies issue emergency travel documents within 24 to 72 hours when the traveler has a digital copy of the original passport. File a police report at the local station first since the embassy typically requires it.

Save the embassy’s 24-hour emergency number to phone contacts before flying — the after-hours line is different from the main office. A photographed passport stored in encrypted cloud (iCloud, Google Drive) cuts replacement time significantly.

Road traffic crashes. The World Health Organization reports roughly 1.19 million road deaths annually, and road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 29 worldwide. Among travelers specifically, road accidents kill more people than crime, disease, and terrorism combined.

Always wear a helmet on rented scooters, avoid driving at night in unfamiliar destinations, and verify rental insurance covers the vehicle type. WHO data shows correct helmet use reduces death risk in a crash by more than six times.

For short, low-risk domestic trips, sometimes yes. Premium travel cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X) typically include trip cancellation, baggage, and rental car coverage when the trip is paid on the card.

They almost never include comprehensive medical coverage or medical evacuation, which are the most expensive risks abroad. The best approach is paying with the card to activate built-in coverage, then layering supplemental travel insurance for the medical and evacuation gap.