Travel insurance: invisible protection for your flight

Medical expenses: the limit matters more than the price

Outside the European Union, particularly in the United States, healthcare costs are very high: a hospital stay can exceed 100,000 euros and a week of intensive care can reach several hundred thousand euros. For this reason, it is advisable to choose a policy with a medical expense limit of at least 1 million euros, rather than relying on generic coverage. Within the EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) guarantees access to public care in other member states, but does not cover medical repatriation or private facilities, which remain at the expense of your policy.

Cancellation and baggage: reading the exclusions

Trip cancellation coverage typically reimburses in case of illness, injury, or bereavement, but often excludes preexisting health conditions if not declared and insured with an additional premium. Baggage coverage reimburses the purchase of necessities in case of baggage loss or delay, usually with a maximum limit per item: it is worth checking this in the policy conditions before departure, along with details in the guide on baggage insurance.

When to buy it and what to keep

To activate the cancellation clause, it is best to buy the policy at the time of flight booking, not close to departure. Also save the 24/7 assistance number and the policy certificate in digital format, so you always have them at hand in case of emergency.

Before you leave, save the PDF of your policy and the assistance number on your phone: in case of emergency abroad, they are the first documents the healthcare facility will ask for.