Travel insurance by home country
Where you live decides what cover you already have, how policies are sold and who regulates them. These guides explain the starting point for travelers from different countries.
Guides by home country
Travel insurance for US residents: Medicare and health plan gaps
What Medicare, Medigap and US health plans pay for abroad, what the government will not pay and how Americans can choose the right travel insurance.
4 min read →
Travel insurance for UK residents: GHIC, cover and what to check
A GHIC isn't a replacement for UK travel insurance. See what it covers, what it doesn't, what the government says to check and how to complain about an insurer.
4 min read →
Travel insurance for Canadians: what provincial plans miss
Canadian provincial health plans may pay little or nothing abroad. See what OHIP and BC's MSP cover, what the federal government advises and what to buy.
4 min read →
Travel insurance for Australians: Medicare and reciprocal deals
Medicare and reciprocal health agreements give Australians limited help abroad. See where they apply, what they leave out and what Smartraveller says to check.
3 min read →
Travel insurance for Indians: visas, Schengen rules and cover
What Indian travelers need to know about overseas travel insurance: Schengen €30,000 rules, visa checklists, sum insured in dollars and policy terms to check.
3 min read →
Questions to ask, wherever you live
Our country guides can't cover every country, but the same questions work anywhere:
- Does my health cover work abroad? Ask your plan or health authority directly, and ask about your specific destination.
- Who pays up front? Many systems reimburse you afterwards, if at all. Some hospitals want a guarantee of payment before they treat you.
- Who pays to bring me home? Medical evacuation is usually where public cover stops.
- Is the insurer allowed to sell here? Buy from an insurer authorized in the country where you live, and check your national insurance regulator's register if you're unsure.
- Where would I complain? Knowing the regulator or ombudsman in advance is useful if a claim ever goes wrong.
Don't see your country?
We're adding more. In the meantime, our complete guide and choosing a policy apply wherever you live, although the names of benefits and regulators will differ. Tell us which country to cover next through our contact page.