Traveling abroad is an incredible experience, but a medical emergency can turn it into a financial nightmare. International travel medical insurance is your indispensable safety net, ensuring...
Traveling abroad is an incredible experience, but a medical emergency can turn it into a financial nightmare. International travel medical insurance is your indispensable safety net, ensuring your only concern is enjoying your destination. This guide will explain everything you need to know to choose the perfect protection and travel with complete peace of mind.
International Travel Medical Insurance: The Essential Guide
What is international travel medical insurance and why is it crucial?
International travel medical insurance, also known as travel assistance, is a protection policy specifically designed to cover health emergencies that occur outside your country of residence. It works as a temporary health plan that accompanies you to any corner of the world, ensuring you receive quality medical care without having to bear exorbitant costs out of your own pocket. Unlike your local health insurance, which likely doesn't cover you abroad, international travel medical insurance is designed for emergencies anywhere in the world.
It is essential to understand the key difference with your local health insurance, whether it's an EPS (Health Promoting Entity), a prepaid plan, or social security. These plans are designed to operate within your country's borders, and in the vast majority of cases, their coverage is null or extremely limited abroad. Relying on them for international travel is a huge risk. Travel assistance, on the other hand, is activated precisely when you cross the border, giving you access to a global network of hospitals, clinics, and health professionals.
Purchasing travel medical insurance is not a luxury; it's an absolute necessity. An accident or sudden illness abroad can lead to catastrophic debts that could affect your finances for years. Healthcare systems in many countries, especially developed ones, have private costs that are unthinkable for the average traveler's pocket. Let's look at some concrete examples that illustrate the magnitude of the risk:
- Doctor's visit in the United States: A simple visit to a general practitioner for a cold or a mild infection can cost between $300 and $500 USD. If you need to go to an emergency room, the initial bill can easily exceed $1,500 USD, not including additional tests.
- Appendicitis in Europe: Emergency appendicitis surgery in a country like Germany or France, including surgeon's fees, anesthesiologist, hospital days, and medications, can range between €10,000 and €20,000.
- Fracture in Asia: Suffering a broken arm or leg while skiing in Japan or falling in Thailand may require surgery, metal plates, and hospitalization. The cost can vary between $5,000 and $15,000 USD, depending on the complexity and the hospital.
- Hospitalization for COVID-19 or pneumonia: A severe case requiring several days in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can generate bills of hundreds of thousands of dollars. A day of hospitalization in the United States can cost more than $4,000 USD.
These numbers show that the cost of an insurance policy, which can be a few dollars a day, is insignificant compared to the potential debt from a single medical emergency. Traveling without this protection is, simply put, a gamble not worth taking.
Indispensable coverages in your travel medical insurance
When evaluating international travel medical insurance, not all plans are created equal. It is vital to understand which coverages form the core of a good policy and will provide you with real and effective protection. At Baraglo, all our plans are built on a solid foundation of essential coverages, because your health is our number one priority.
Here are the coverages that should never be missing from your travel assistance:
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Medical assistance for accident or illness: This is the pillar of any travel insurance. It covers expenses generated by an unforeseen medical emergency. This includes everything from a consultation for a severe flu to complex surgery for an accident. Robust coverage should include:
- Medical consultations: Both with general practitioners and specialists.
- Tests and diagnostics: X-rays, blood tests, MRIs, etc.
- Hospitalization: Covers the cost of the room, meals, and nursing care during your stay.
- Surgical interventions: Pays for the surgery itself, including the medical team's fees.
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Covers the costs of a stay in the Intensive Care Unit, which are extremely high.
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Prescription medications: If after a consultation the doctor prescribes antibiotics, painkillers, or other medications to treat the emergency, the insurance should cover their cost. This prevents you from having to pay sometimes very high prices for medications in foreign pharmacies.
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Emergency dentistry: This coverage is not for teeth whitening, but for real emergencies that cause acute pain, such as an infection, an abscess, or a broken tooth. It covers the soothing and necessary treatment so you can continue your trip without pain.
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Medical and funeral repatriation: This is one of those coverages that no one wants to think about using, but whose absence can be devastating.
- Medical Repatriation: If you suffer a serious accident or illness and, on medical advice, need to be transported back to your home country on an air ambulance with medical equipment, the costs can exceed $50,000 or even $100,000 USD. This coverage is responsible for organizing and paying for this complex transfer.
- Funeral Repatriation: In the unfortunate event of death, this coverage handles the costs and complex logistics of transferring the remains back to the country of origin, relieving the family of a huge financial and bureaucratic burden at a very difficult time.
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Medical Evacuation (Medevac): Not to be confused with repatriation. Medical evacuation occurs when you are in a remote area or a city with inadequate medical facilities for your condition. The insurance organizes and covers your transfer to the nearest hospital that does have the capacity to treat you adequately, whether by ground or air ambulance.
At Baraglo, we understand what travel assistance is in a comprehensive sense. For this reason, in addition to these fundamental medical protections, our plans include valuable additional coverages for your trip, such as compensation for lost or delayed luggage, reimbursement for trip cancellation due to force majeure, and legal assistance. Thus, we protect you and your investment in the trip.
How to choose the ideal medical insurance according to your destination
Choosing the coverage amount for your medical insurance is not a decision to be taken lightly. Your travel destination is the most determining factor, as medical costs and entry requirements vary drastically from one region to another. Selecting an adequate plan for your destination is key to traveling with true peace of mind and complying with all regulations.
Europe and the Schengen Area
If your destination includes any of the Schengen Area countries, purchasing medical insurance is mandatory. Regulations require a policy with a minimum medical coverage of €30,000 (approximately $32,000 USD) that is valid throughout the Schengen territory and covers repatriation expenses. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in denied entry when passing through immigration. For these destinations, it is essential to choose a plan that meets or exceeds this minimum. You should never opt for a plan with lower coverage, such as Baraglo's Basic Plan, as it would not be sufficient.
Baraglo Recommendation: Traveling to the Schengen Area requires insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000. Baraglo's Standard Plan meets this requirement for $4.99 USD per day, providing you with protection of up to $35,000 USD. If you are looking for extra peace of mind, the Essential Plus Plan with $50,000 USD coverage is an even more robust option.
Specific option for travelers from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Bolivia: For citizens of these countries who need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Europe, insurance requirement is a crucial step in the process. To facilitate this process, Baraglo offers a tailored solution. For travelers from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Bolivia, the Visa Schengen Plan is the most economical option to comply with European requirements, costing only $2.99 USD per day. This plan offers $30,000 USD coverage, just what is needed for the visa application and travel, being the most efficient and economical alternative on the market.
United States and Canada
These two countries are known for having the highest healthcare costs in the world. Here, a simple emergency room visit can turn into a bill for thousands of dollars, and hospitalization can lead to debts of tens or hundreds of thousands. For trips to the U.S. or Canada, skimping on insurance coverage is the worst mistake you can make. It is imperative to select a plan with a high coverage amount.
Baraglo Recommendation: Don't risk it. For travel assistance for the United States or Canada, we strongly recommend our high-coverage plans. The Essential Plus Plan ($5.29/day with USD 50,000 coverage) is a good starting point, but the Premium Plan is ideal. A day of hospitalization in the United States can cost more than $4,000 USD. International medical insurance like Baraglo's Premium Plan, for only $8.99 USD per day, offers you coverage of up to $100,000 USD. This is maximum protection for your health and your assets.
Asia, South America, and the rest of the world
In destinations in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, or Oceania, medical costs may be lower than in the U.S. or Europe, but the quality of healthcare can vary enormously between public and private systems. Good travel medical insurance gives you access to the best private hospitals and clinics, where care is of international standard. In addition, many of these destinations include adventure activities or are in remote areas, making coverages such as medical evacuation especially important.
Baraglo Recommendation: For most of these destinations, Baraglo's Standard Plan with $35,000 USD coverage for $4.99 USD per day offers an excellent balance between protection and price. It gives you the security of accessing quality care in the event of any unforeseen event, regardless of whether you are exploring the beaches of Thailand, the mountains of Peru, or the cities of Australia. It is important to remember that there are several countries that require mandatory travel insurance outside of Europe, such as Cuba, Ecuador, and Thailand, so you should always check the specific destination requirements.
Baraglo Plans: transparency and coverage tailored to your needs
At Baraglo, we have reinvented international travel medical insurance with the modern Latin American traveler's needs in mind. We got rid of endless paperwork, confusing fine print, and slow processes. Our platform is 100% digital, transparent, and easy to use, allowing you to quote, compare, and purchase your protection in minutes, from your cell phone or computer.
We believe in total transparency. That's why, unlike others, we show you our prices and coverages clearly from the beginning. We want you to make an informed decision and choose the plan that truly fits your trip and your budget. Below, we present a comparison of our most popular plans for international travelers:
| Plan |
Price per day (from) |
Maximum Medical Coverage |
Ideal for... |
| Standard Plan |
$4.99 USD |
USD 35,000 |
Europe (meets Schengen requirement) and most worldwide destinations. |
| Essential Plus Plan |
$5.29 USD |
USD 50,000 |
Travelers seeking greater peace of mind or for multi-destination trips. |
| Premium Plan |
$8.99 USD |
USD 100,000 |
Maximum protection for expensive destinations like the United States and Canada. |
It is important to note that these prices are per person and may vary by age. For travelers over 75, a 50% surcharge is applied to the base price, ensuring adequate coverage for this age group. Baraglo's strength lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. Once you complete your online purchase, you receive your policy, your digital assistance card, and all 24/7 emergency contact numbers directly in your email. No waiting, no complications, just instant protection!
Steps to quote and buy your medical insurance at Baraglo
Purchasing your protection for your next trip has never been so easy and fast. We designed an intuitive and 100% digital process so you can get your international medical insurance in less than 5 minutes. Forget about calling agents or filling out paper forms. With Baraglo, your peace of mind is just a few clicks away.
Follow these simple steps to secure your trip:
- Go to Baraglo.com: Access our website baraglo.com from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Our platform is optimized for any device.
- Complete your trip details: In the quote tool on the main page, select your country of origin, your destination(s), your trip start and end dates, and the age of each traveler. Accuracy in this data is key to providing you with an exact quote.
- Compare your options instantly: Click "Quote" and our system will show you the plans available for your trip in seconds. You will clearly see the price, the medical coverage amount, and a summary of the most important benefits of each plan.
- Choose and customize your plan: Select the plan that best suits your needs. Review the coverage details and, once you are sure, proceed to complete the travelers' personal information.
- Pay securely and receive your policy: Make the payment through our secure gateway with your credit or debit card. Immediately after payment confirmation, you will receive an email with your policy, your digital assistance credential, 24/7 emergency contact numbers, and all the information you need to travel protected.
And that's it! It's that simple. You are now covered by Baraglo to enjoy your adventure with the certainty that, in the event of any medical emergency, you have a team of professionals ready to assist you anywhere in the world.
Ready to travel with the peace of mind you deserve? Get a quote for your international medical insurance at Baraglo.com now and get your policy in seconds. Your protection is just a click away!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance the same as international medical insurance?
Not exactly. Comprehensive travel insurance usually includes international medical insurance as its main component, but also adds coverages for trip cancellation or lost luggage. At Baraglo, all our plans provide you with robust medical assistance as a fundamental pillar of your protection.
How much does medical insurance cost to travel abroad?
The cost varies by destination and coverage, but it's more affordable than you think. With Baraglo, you can find plans starting from $2.99 USD per day, like our Visa Schengen Plan, or plans with maximum protection like the Premium for $8.99 USD per day.
Which countries require mandatory travel medical insurance?
Several countries require it, notably the 27 in Europe's Schengen Area, which ask for a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros. Other destinations like Cuba, Ecuador, Turkey, and Thailand also have insurance requirements for tourist entry.
Can I buy travel insurance if I am already abroad?
Yes, with Baraglo you can purchase your travel assistance even if you have already started your trip. The process is 100% online and your coverage is activated according to the policy conditions, allowing you to be protected no matter where you are.
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