If you’re planning to travel in 2026, you may be among the 50% of Americans who purchase supplemental insurance to protect their trip. But before you do, you’ll need to compare travel medical insurance and trip insurance and decide which best meets your needs. Although they are sometimes bundled together, they aren’t the same, and purchasing the wrong type of policy could prove costly.
What is travel medical insurance?
Travel medical insurance can help cover the costs of medical care for injuries, illnesses, or other health emergencies that occur while you’re traveling. Depending on the policy you purchase, travel medical insurance may cover part or all of the cost of:
- Medical. Travel medical insurance is typically for care that can’t wait until you return home. It can cover trips to a doctor or clinic after aninjury or illness that requires immediate care, whether that’s for extreme dehydration or a sprained or broken ankle.
- Dental care. A damaged tooth or throbbing jaw can be extremely Travel medical insurance can ensure you get the care you need and help you find a doctor near you.
- X-rays and other. Coverage for diagnostic imaging is typically included in medical travel insurance policies.
- 24/7 assistance. If you are injured or ill and don’t speak the language of the country where you’re traveling, you can call your insurer and get help finding a
- Medical equipment and mobility. Crutches, braces, slings, and other devices are typically included in travel medical insurance coverage.
- Medical transport or evacuation. This is where travel medical insurance becomes extremely important. It can cover the cost of transporting you to another city or country, or your country of residence, to ensure you get the care you need. Medical transport and evacuation costs can range widely, from $20,000 to more than $100,000, depending on the remoteness of your location and the mode of transport.
Before purchasing a policy, review the coverage details and exclusions carefully. Some policies may allow you to add specific coverage for cruises, adventure travel, or pre-existing conditions.
At SentinelMED, we always encourage people to purchase travel medical insurance when traveling outside the United States. In most cases, Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for medical care outside the United States. The same is true for private insurance.
What is trip insurance?
You can think of trip insurance as covering the financial aspects of the trip, such as airfare, hotels, or lost luggage. In general, trip insurance protects you from financial loss due to:
Trip cancellation or disruption. If you have to cancel or postpone a trip at the last minute due to a medical emergency, weather event, or flight delay, travel insurance can help reimburse you for expenses.
Lost, damaged, or delayed luggage. Policies can cover the cost of lost items or reimburse you for essentials that you need to purchase if your luggage is delayed.
Rental car damage. Trip insurance may cover damage to or theft of a rental car. In addition, some credit cards include rental car coverage as a perk. If you plan to rent a vehicle, check whether coverage is available through your credit card issuer, or consider a trip insurance policy.
Travel Medical Insurance vs Trip Insurance: How much should you pay?
Policies that only cover trip insurance are less expensive than comprehensive policies that include medical care and medical evacuation. However, travel medical insurance is a wise investment when you consider the costs of a medical emergency or evacuation.
You can expect to pay about 4% to 10% of the prepaid portion of your trip. However, the more expensive your trip, the more you should expect to pay. Age also affects the cost of travel insurance, with prices increasing for people who are 60 years old or older.
About SentinelMED
SentinelMED provides medical transport, medical repatriation, and medical escort services for people who need assistance to travel long distances. The SentinelMED team is skilled at arranging transport for patients anywhere in the world.
Our medical professionals work closely with travel insurance providers, patients and their families to provide safe and comfortable door-to-door transportation after an accident or illness.
At SentinelMED, we understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to people who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the
