What is travel health insurance?
Travel health insurance covers emergency medical expenses that occur while travelling abroad — hospital stays, surgery, ambulance, and medical evacuation when local treatment is not available. Your Turkish health coverage (SGK or private) is generally not valid outside Turkey.
Schengen visa requirement: Entry visas for the Schengen Area (26 European countries) require a travel health insurance policy valid in all Schengen countries and meeting the minimum coverage threshold set by Schengen consulates. Verify current requirements with the consulate or visa centre you are applying through.
Difference from long-term resident insurance: Travel policies are designed for short-term trips. Foreign nationals planning to reside in Turkey long-term need a separate long-term residents' health policy, not a travel product.
Coverage
Core benefits
Emergency inpatient treatment
Surgery, intensive care, and unexpected hospitalisation abroad.
Ambulance and emergency transport
Ground or air ambulance within the destination country.
Medical evacuation
Repatriation to Turkey or transfer to a suitable medical centre when local treatment is unavailable.
Emergency outpatient
Emergency polyclinic visits, prescriptions, and diagnostic tests.
Optional add-ons
Baggage loss and delay
Compensation for lost, stolen, or delayed baggage by the airline.
Flight cancellation and delay
Accommodation and rebooking costs from unexpected cancellations or significant delays.
Adventure sports cover
Skiing, diving, and other adventure activities — not included in standard plans.
Schengen requirements: Your policy must be valid across all Schengen countries and meet the minimum coverage amount set by the consulate. Requirements may be updated; confirm with the relevant consulate or official Schengen visa guides before application.
Pre-existing conditions: Emergency flare-ups of chronic conditions may be excluded. Declare your health history accurately when purchasing — incomplete disclosure can invalidate a claim.
Exclusions
Note: The following are typically excluded from standard policies. Always read the policy wording carefully.
- Routine treatment of pre-existing chronic conditions (emergency flare-ups may be policy-dependent)
- Planned medical tourism (travelling abroad for a scheduled procedure)
- Adventure sports (without specific add-on)
- War, conflict, or civil unrest zones
- Accidents caused by alcohol or substance use
Who is it for?
- Schengen visa applicants: Mandatory for EU/Schengen entry visas.
- All international travellers: Strongly recommended even for visa-free destinations.
- Tour and group travel participants: Package tours may include minimal cover — check the scope carefully.
- Frequent business travellers: Annual multi-trip policies are often more cost-effective.