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StarHolidays

Independent. No policies to sell.

Know what your trip needs before you buy travel insurance

Check whether your destination legally requires cover, learn what a good policy includes and spot the exclusions that catch people out. Written for travelers from any country.

Start with the basics Estimate the cost

Does your destination require insurance?

Search every country, plus the visa rules we track.

Requirement trackerAll countries A to Z

Find your answer

Start from where you are

I know where I'm going Check rules by destination Entry requirements, visa minimums and what healthcare costs visitors in each place. I want to know what I already have Check by home country What Medicare, the UK GHIC, Canadian provincial plans and others do and don't pay for abroad. I'm comparing policies Choose with confidence A step-by-step way to read a policy, set sensible limits and compare like with like.

Worth knowing

Four numbers to carry into any policy comparison

4–10%
The share of prepaid trip costs that comprehensive plans typically cost in the US market, per Squaremouth.
€30,000
The minimum medical cover under the EU Visa Code for short-stay Schengen visa applicants.
$100,000+
What the CDC says a medical evacuation could cost, which is why it deserves its own limit.
60 days
The trip window for the foreign emergency benefit in eligible US Medigap plans, which also caps out at $50,000 for life.

Most useful first

Essential guides

All guides
What does travel insurance cover? A benefit-by-benefit guide What travel insurance normally covers, from cancellation and medical bills to evacuation, baggage and delays, plus what it leaves out and how limits work. 5 min read → How much does travel insurance cost? Travel insurance usually costs 4–10% of prepaid trip costs in the US market. See real benchmarks, what pushes prices up and how to pay less safely. 4 min read → Is travel insurance worth it? How to decide for your trip Travel insurance is not always worth buying. Use this simple test to weigh your prepaid costs, medical risk and existing cover before you spend money. 4 min read → How to choose travel insurance: a step-by-step method A seven-step way to choose travel insurance: map your risks, set sensible limits, compare like with like and read the clauses that decide claims. 4 min read → When should you buy travel insurance? The best time to buy travel insurance is soon after your first booking. See why timing affects cancellation cover, pre-existing conditions and upgrades. 3 min read → How to file a travel insurance claim that gets paid What to do when something goes wrong, which documents to collect for each type of claim, the deadlines to watch and how to challenge a refusal. 4 min read →

By type of traveler

By type of coverage

How we work

Guidance you can check for yourself

Travel insurance is sold on reassurance and settled on small print. We try to close that gap, so here is exactly how this site works.

  • Sources on every guide. We list what we checked, and we prefer governments, regulators and legal texts to sales pages.
  • We flag uncertainty. Where official sources are unclear or trackers disagree, we say so instead of picking a tidy answer.
  • Ads don't shape the advice. We sell no policies, and advertisers have no say over what we publish.
Read our editorial policy

Frequently asked questions

Does Star Holidays sell travel insurance?

No. We are an independent information site, not an insurer, broker or agent. We do not sell policies, give quotes or handle claims. Our job is to help you understand what you are buying from someone else.

Do I legally need travel insurance?

Usually not, but some places do require it. Schengen visa applicants need at least €30,000 of medical cover, and Georgia, mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar are among the places with a rule for visitors. Use our destination tracker, then confirm with the embassy.

How much should travel insurance cost?

In the US market, comprehensive plans typically cost 4% to 10% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip cost, according to Squaremouth. Age, destination and level of cover all move the price, and policies in other countries are often priced differently.

Will my health insurance work abroad?

Often not, or only in part. US Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the country, and Canadian provincial plans may cover little or nothing abroad. Check with your own plan before you leave, and see our home country guides.

What matters most in a policy?

For most international trips, the highest priorities are emergency medical cover, medical evacuation and repatriation, and cancellation cover equal to what you would lose if you could not travel. Exclusions matter as much as the headline limits.