Travel Guide

Travel Insurance Abroad: The Complete Guide 🏥

Everything you need to know - from free insurance, price comparison, essential extensions, to filing a claim.

TL;DR:

Israeli health insurance is not valid abroad - a night in a US hospital can cost $10,000, and medical evacuation to Israel over $50,000. Most premium credit cards include basic free insurance, but it's often not enough. This guide covers how to choose a policy, essential extensions (pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, flight cancellation), and common mistakes.

Why do you need travel insurance?

Israeli health insurances (HMOs and supplementary insurances) are not valid outside Israel. In case of illness or accident abroad, all medical expenses are on you.

Examples of medical costs abroad:
  • USA: Hospital night $3,000-$10,000 | C-section $30,000+ | ICU $10,000/day
  • Europe: Hospitalization €1,000-3,000/day | Helicopter evacuation €30,000+
  • Medical flight to Israel: $50,000-$150,000

Free Insurance - Credit Cards & Clubs

Before buying insurance, check if you already have free coverage!

Credit Cards
  • Visa Platinum/Signature/Infinite
  • Mastercard World/World Elite
  • Amex Gold/Platinum
*Common condition: You must pay for the flight with the card to get coverage.
Clubs & Carriers
  • Cellular providers (Partner, Cellcom)
  • Bank Premium Clubs
  • HMOs and Labor Unions
Note: Credit card insurance is usually very basic - it doesn't cover extreme sports or pre-existing conditions and has lower coverage limits. Check what is covered and supplement if necessary.

Basic Coverage & Extensions

What does basic insurance cover?
  • Medical expenses and hospitalization
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical evacuation (ambulance/helicopter)
  • Medical flight to Israel
  • Emergency dental care
Common Extensions (Extra Cost)
  • Baggage: Coverage for loss/theft
  • Trip Cancellation: Requires 3 days waiting period!
  • Search & Rescue: Essential for treks
Pre-existing Medical Condition

The basic policy does not cover worsening of a previous medical condition. If you have heart disease, diabetes, asthma, etc., you must buy this extension.

Extreme Sports & Skiing

Activities like trekking, diving, water skiing, or dirt bikes require an extreme sports extension (~$0.5/day). Skiing & snowboarding require a separate winter sports extension (~$7/day).

Insurance Companies Comparison

Company Avg Price/Day* Main Advantage
Menora $1.75 Cheapest price
Migdal $1.90 Fast approval
Clal $2.00 Broad medical coverage
AIG $2.50 Fast claim payments
PassportCard $2.70 Direct payment card to hospitals
*Prices refer to basic insurance without extensions for Europe (USA rates are 30%-50% higher).

How to choose?

  • Check exclusions and limit (recommend $1M+)
  • Check the deductible amount
  • Is there direct payment to hospitals?
  • Buy immediately when booking

Common Mistakes

  • Buying after takeoff (invalid)
  • Not extending the policy on time
  • Not reporting pre-existing conditions
  • Lack of documentation (receipts)

How to file a claim?

1. During the event

Call the emergency hotline, follow instructions, and document everything (receipts, reports).

2. Required Documents

Hospital summary, doctor's diagnosis, original receipts, and prescriptions.

3. After returning

Fill out the official claim form online, attach docs. Processing takes 30-90 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Legally - no, but highly recommended. Israeli health insurance is not valid abroad, and medical costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Immediately upon booking your flight! This covers you if you need to cancel. The cancellation extension requires a 3-day waiting period. You can buy up to 24h before the flight, but not after takeoff.

Usually not. Credit card insurance is very basic - it doesn't cover extreme sports or pre-existing conditions, and limits are low. Verify coverage and supplement if needed.

You must purchase a "pre-existing condition" extension. Without it, any worsening of your condition will not be covered. It costs a few dollars a day and is worth every penny.

The main differences are: coverage limits, deductible amount, claim service, and whether there is direct payment to hospitals (like PassportCard) or if you pay and wait for reimbursement.