Travel Insurance by Region: Coverage Differences You Need to Know

World map showing regional travel insurance coverage differences

Peter Schneider

January 16, 2026

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Healthcare costs, common risks, and coverage requirements vary dramatically by region. A medical emergency that costs $5,000 in Thailand might cost $150,000 in the USA. Scooter accidents are common in Bali but rare in Portugal. Some regions require specific coverage minimums for visa approval.

Understanding regional differences helps you choose appropriate coverage—and avoid being under or over-insured for your destinations.

This article is part of our complete digital nomad travel insurance guide.

Southeast Asia

Healthcare Costs and Quality

| Country | Hospital Day | ER Visit | Major Surgery | Healthcare Quality | |---------|--------------|----------|---------------|-------------------| | Thailand | $50-150 | $100-300 | $3,000-15,000 | High (Bangkok) | | Vietnam | $30-100 | $50-200 | $2,000-10,000 | Variable | | Indonesia | $50-200 | $100-500 | $5,000-20,000 | Variable | | Philippines | $40-150 | $100-300 | $3,000-12,000 | Good in cities | | Malaysia | $60-200 | $150-400 | $4,000-15,000 | High |

Key insight: Healthcare is affordable. Your bigger risk is the incident, not the treatment cost.

Common Risks

| Risk | Frequency | Insurance Relevance | |------|-----------|---------------------| | Scooter accidents | Very high | Must have moto coverage (125cc limit usually) | | Food poisoning | High | Usually covered, low cost | | Tropical diseases | Moderate | Covered under medical | | Petty theft | High | Gear coverage limits matter | | Diving incidents | Moderate | Depth limits matter |

Insurance Recommendations

Minimum: Budget coverage like SafetyWing ($250K medical sufficient for regional costs)

Recommended upgrades:

Verify scooter coverage (125cc+ common in Bali)
Diving coverage if applicable
Moderate gear coverage

Special considerations:

International evacuation important (regional hospitals may lack specialists)
Political evacuation not typically needed
Monsoon season may affect trip coverage

Europe

Healthcare Costs and Quality

| Country | Hospital Day | ER Visit | Major Surgery | Healthcare Quality | |---------|--------------|----------|---------------|-------------------| | Western Europe | $300-800 | $300-500 | $15,000-50,000 | Very high | | Eastern Europe | $100-300 | $100-300 | $5,000-15,000 | Good to high | | UK | $400-700 | $200-400 | $20,000-60,000 | High | | Switzerland | $800-1,500 | $500-1,000 | $30,000-100,000 | Very high | | Nordics | $400-800 | $200-400 | $15,000-40,000 | Very high |

Key insight: Costs are moderate to high. Quality is consistently good.

Visa Insurance Requirements

Schengen Zone:

Minimum €30,000 (~$33,000) medical coverage required
Must cover all 27 Schengen countries
Must include repatriation
All nomad policies meet this requirement

Non-Schengen (UK, etc.):

Requirements vary by visa type
Work visas may have specific insurance requirements

Common Risks

| Risk | Frequency | Insurance Relevance | |------|-----------|---------------------| | Standard tourism | Low-moderate | Basic coverage sufficient | | Winter sports | Moderate | Skiing coverage needed if applicable | | Theft in tourist areas | Moderate | Gear coverage useful | | Flight disruptions | Moderate | Trip delay coverage helpful |

Insurance Recommendations

Minimum: Budget coverage meets Schengen requirements

Recommended upgrades:

Higher medical limits for Western Europe/Switzerland
Winter sports coverage if skiing
Trip delay coverage (helpful for complex itineraries)

Special considerations:

EU citizens have EHIC for reciprocal coverage
UK post-Brexit requires full coverage for non-UK citizens
GHIC replaced EHIC for UK citizens in EU

Latin America

Healthcare Costs and Quality

| Country | Hospital Day | ER Visit | Major Surgery | Healthcare Quality | |---------|--------------|----------|---------------|-------------------| | Mexico | $100-400 | $150-400 | $5,000-25,000 | Good in cities | | Colombia | $80-250 | $100-300 | $4,000-15,000 | Good in major cities | | Argentina | $100-300 | $100-300 | $5,000-20,000 | Good | | Brazil | $150-400 | $200-500 | $8,000-30,000 | Good to high in cities | | Costa Rica | $150-400 | $200-400 | $8,000-25,000 | High |

Key insight: Quality varies significantly between urban and rural areas. Major cities have excellent private hospitals.

Common Risks

| Risk | Frequency | Insurance Relevance | |------|-----------|---------------------| | Altitude sickness | High (Andes) | Covered under medical | | Food/water illness | Moderate-high | Usually covered | | Petty theft | High | Gear coverage matters | | Road accidents | Moderate | Medical coverage essential | | Adventure activities | Moderate | Check specific coverage |

Altitude Considerations

High-altitude destinations:

Peru (Cusco, Lake Titicaca): 3,400-3,800m
Bolivia (La Paz): 3,600m
Ecuador (Quito): 2,850m
Colombia (Bogota): 2,640m

Insurance implications:

Altitude sickness is covered as medical condition
Evacuation to lower altitude may be needed
Higher altitudes increase medical risk

Insurance Recommendations

Minimum: Budget coverage adequate for most destinations

Recommended upgrades:

Higher evacuation limits (variable healthcare quality in remote areas)
Adventure coverage for common activities (hiking, rafting)
Higher medical limits if visiting Brazil (more expensive healthcare)

Special considerations:

Evacuation important for remote areas
Some countries have mandatory insurance requirements for entry

North America (USA Focus)

Healthcare Costs (USA)

| Service | Typical Cost | Range | |---------|--------------|-------| | ER visit | $2,000-5,000 | $1,000-10,000 | | Hospital day | $3,000-8,000 | $2,000-15,000 | | Ambulance | $1,000-2,500 | $500-5,000 | | ICU day | $10,000-20,000 | $5,000-30,000 | | Major surgery | $50,000-150,000 | $30,000-500,000 | | Heart attack treatment | $75,000-200,000 | $50,000-500,000 |

Key insight: USA healthcare costs are exponentially higher than anywhere else. Budget coverage may be insufficient for serious incidents.

Why USA Coverage Is Different

Most expensive healthcare system in the world
No government safety net for visitors
A single serious incident can reach $500,000
$100,000 coverage limits can be exceeded quickly

Insurance Recommendations for USA

Minimum: $250,000 medical coverage (SafetyWing's limit)

Strongly recommended: $500,000+ (Insured Nomads or similar)

Ideal: $1,000,000+ for extended USA stays

Canada note: Healthcare costs are high but not USA-level. $250,000 coverage is generally adequate.

Common Coverage Exclusions

Many policies have USA-specific provisions:

Higher deductibles for USA claims
Separate USA coverage limits
USA excluded from some budget policies

Always verify: Your policy covers USA at adequate levels before visiting.

Middle East

Healthcare Costs and Quality

| Country | Hospital Day | ER Visit | Major Surgery | Healthcare Quality | |---------|--------------|----------|---------------|-------------------| | UAE | $300-800 | $200-500 | $15,000-50,000 | Very high | | Israel | $400-800 | $300-600 | $20,000-60,000 | Very high | | Turkey | $150-400 | $150-400 | $8,000-25,000 | Good to high | | Jordan | $100-300 | $100-300 | $5,000-15,000 | Good |

Common Risks

| Risk | Frequency | Insurance Relevance | |------|-----------|---------------------| | Heat-related illness | Moderate | Covered under medical | | Road accidents | Moderate | Medical coverage essential | | Political instability | Variable | May exclude certain areas |

Insurance Considerations

Coverage exclusions:

Some areas may be excluded (check policy)
Conflict zones typically not covered
War exclusions common

Recommendations:

Verify specific countries covered
Higher medical limits for UAE/Israel (expensive)
Standard budget coverage adequate for Turkey, Jordan

Africa

Healthcare Costs and Quality

| Region | Hospital Day | Major Surgery | Healthcare Quality | |--------|--------------|---------------|-------------------| | South Africa | $200-500 | $10,000-30,000 | Good (private) | | Morocco | $100-300 | $5,000-15,000 | Good in cities | | Kenya/Tanzania | $150-400 | $8,000-25,000 | Variable | | West Africa | $100-300 | $5,000-20,000 | Limited |

Critical Considerations

Evacuation is paramount:

Medical facilities limited in many areas
Long distances to adequate care
Air evacuation often necessary
Recommend: $500,000+ evacuation coverage

Common Risks

| Risk | Frequency | Insurance Relevance | |------|-----------|---------------------| | Tropical diseases | High | Medical coverage essential | | Safari accidents | Low-moderate | Check activity coverage | | Road accidents | High | Medical + evacuation critical | | Healthcare quality gaps | High | Evacuation coverage critical |

Insurance Recommendations

Minimum: Comprehensive coverage with high evacuation limits

Essential:

$500,000+ evacuation (non-negotiable)
Tropical disease coverage
Repatriation coverage

Consider:

Standalone evacuation (GEOS, Global Rescue)
Medical evacuation membership

Asia-Pacific (Australia, NZ, Japan)

Healthcare Costs

| Country | Hospital Day | ER Visit | Major Surgery | Healthcare Quality | |---------|--------------|----------|---------------|-------------------| | Australia | $500-1,000 | $300-600 | $20,000-60,000 | Very high | | New Zealand | $400-800 | $200-500 | $15,000-40,000 | Very high | | Japan | $400-1,000 | $300-700 | $20,000-70,000 | Very high |

Key insight: High quality but expensive. Coverage needs similar to Western Europe.

Visa Insurance Requirements

Australia:

Working Holiday visa requires specific insurance
Must cover emergency hospital treatment and medical evacuation
Some employers require additional coverage

Japan:

No mandatory insurance for tourists
Residents must enroll in National Health Insurance
Very high healthcare costs make insurance essential

Insurance Recommendations

Minimum: $250,000-500,000 medical coverage

Recommended: Comprehensive coverage given high healthcare costs

Regional Coverage Summary

| Region | Healthcare Cost | Evacuation Importance | Recommended Minimum | |--------|-----------------|----------------------|---------------------| | Southeast Asia | Low | Moderate | Budget ($100K-250K) | | Europe | Moderate-High | Low | Budget meets Schengen | | Latin America | Low-Moderate | Moderate-High | Budget with high evac | | USA | Very High | Low | $500K+ strongly advised | | Middle East | Moderate-High | Low-Moderate | $250K+ | | Africa | Low-Moderate | Very High | Comprehensive + high evac | | Asia-Pacific | High | Low | $250K-500K |

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily different policies, but you should verify coverage is adequate. A budget policy works for Southeast Asia but may be insufficient for USA. Check that your policy covers your specific destinations and consider higher limits for expensive healthcare regions.

The USA by a significant margin. Healthcare costs in the USA can be 10-50x higher than other developed countries. A serious incident in the USA might cost $100,000-500,000, while the same incident in Thailand might cost $10,000-30,000.

Most travel insurance covers 150-200 countries, but some areas may be excluded. War zones, countries under travel advisories, and specific high-risk regions may not be covered. Always verify your specific destinations are included before traveling.

Schengen zone visas require minimum €30,000 (~$33,000) in medical coverage, including repatriation. All major nomad travel insurance policies meet this requirement. You may need to provide a certificate of insurance with your visa application.

Yes, specifically evacuation coverage. Healthcare facilities in many African regions are limited, making evacuation to better facilities more likely. $500,000+ evacuation coverage is recommended for Africa travel, and standalone evacuation insurance is worth considering.

Yes, altitude sickness is covered as a medical condition under standard travel insurance. However, activities at extreme altitudes (mountaineering above certain heights) may have separate exclusions. Basic altitude sickness from visiting places like Cusco or La Paz is covered.

Your destination mix should influence your coverage choices. Budget insurance works well for Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Higher coverage is worth the premium for USA, Western Europe, and Africa. And evacuation coverage becomes critical for regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Match your coverage to your itinerary, and don't assume one policy fits all destinations equally.