Today’s post will provide you with a comprehensive overview of travel insurance in Germany.
We will cover:
- What travel insurance is
- If you need it
- Its benefits and coverage
- And much more
So, if you are planning a trip abroad and are wondering if this insurance is right for you, you’ll love this one.
Let’s begin.
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is an insurance product designed to shield you from the financial risks of traveling outside Germany.
There are usually 4 types of travel insurance:
- Travel cancellation insurance
- Travel cancellation insurance (Insurance professionals call it curtailment or holiday guarantee)
- Travel health insurance
- Luggage insurance
Here’s how they compare from a bird’s eye view:
| Type of Insurance | When does it apply? | Benefits | Rates |
| Travel Health Insurance | If you need medical care during your trip | Reimbursement of outpatient and inpatient treatment costs. | From €1.10 per day |
| Travel Luggage Insurance | If your luggage or its contents are damaged or stolen | Reimbursement of lost/damaged luggage and parietal reimbursements of electronics (e.g., laptop) | From €1.50 per day |
| Travel Interruption Insurance | If you have to stop your trip unexpectedly | Expenses for returning to Germany will be reimbursed, as reimbursements for expenses paid for the days not spent on holiday. | From €4.00 per day |
| Travel Cancellation Insurance | If you cannot start your trip | Reimbursement of cancellation and rebooking fees | From €5.00 per day |
You can choose to opt for only one type or combine them. We recommend the latter because you pay just a little more but protect yourself to a much greater extent. For example, at Feather, when you combine all 4 insurances into one yearly policy, you only pay around €0.30 per day.
Let’s dive into each of them in more detail.
Travel health insurance (travel medical insurance)
Travel health insurance provides coverage for healthcare needed during trips within or outside the EU, where statutory health insurance may not fully cover expenses abroad. Health insurance abroad typically covers immediate necessary treatments, but reimbursements are limited to what would be paid for similar treatment in Germany.
This type of insurance is highly recommended for trips outside Europe, such as to the USA, due to potential high medical costs.
The coverage would include:
- Out-patient medical treatment
- In-patient medical treatment
- Dental pain relieving treatment, like simple fillings and repair of existing dentures
- Medication, Dressing & Aids
- Massages and physiotherapy
- Medical transport, including the cost of transport for an accompanying traveler
- Search and rescue operations
- Repatriation and medical transport back home, if reasonable.
Luggage insurance
Travel luggage insurance covers the loss, damage, or destruction of luggage (and its contents) during trips, including stays at destinations and arrivals or departures.
Coverage specifics, such as which items are insured and reimbursement amounts, vary among insurers, so it’s crucial to review the policy details. Typically, all personal-use items are insured, including what you buy during the trip. Feather’s insurance can cover up to €2,000 in total value for your luggage and €4,000 for groups.
Travel luggage insurance applies in these scenarios:
- Robbery or theft
- Car, bus, flight accidents
- Fire, heavy weather conditions, including floods, earth slides, earthquakes, and explosions.
- Damages and delays caused by a transportation company
- Fees for replacing identity cards, passports, motor vehicle documentation, and other types of ID
Trip interruption insurance
Trip interruption insurance applies when you need to cancel or cut short a trip due to unforeseen and serious reasons after it has begun. The extent of coverage varies based on the insurance provider and the specific policy. However, early return costs (e.g., return flights) and unused travel expenses (e.g., hotel stays) are almost always covered.
Trip cancellation insurance always kicks in if your trip extends unexpectedly (e.g., due to health issues preventing flying). It typically covers additional accommodation and return travel expenses incurred during the additional stay.
Here are some scenarios where our travel cancellation insurance would be applicable:
- Sudden death of a close relative or traveler.
- Illness or serious accidents.
- Missed return flight due to public transport delay of at least 2 hours.
- In case of severe property damage, like fire or burglary.
Travel cancellation insurance
Travel cancellation insurance protects travelers from unforeseen events that could disrupt their plans and result in financial loss. Imagine preparing for a long-anticipated vacation, only to face an unexpected event that forces you to cancel at the last minute. Without travel cancellation insurance, you might lose the money you invested in the trip.
With travel cancellation insurance, you can receive reimbursement for costs resulting from unforeseeable circumstances that prevent you from taking your trip. Many insurance plans also cover the costs of rebooking.
These are the most common scenarios where our travel cancellation insurance kicks in:
- Getting sick: If you or a travel companion falls ill, you can cancel your trip and receive a refund.
- Having an accident: An unexpected injury makes it impossible to travel; you’re covered.
- Losing your job: If you lose your job, you can cancel your trip without financial loss.
- Exam retakes: If they are scheduled during your planned trip, you can cancel or reschedule.
- Public transportation delays: If a delay makes you miss your flight, you can get reimbursed.
- Unexpected court summons: if you’re legally required to appear in court, you’re also insured.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Travel insurance premiums in Germany can vary between providers. Most providers offer dynamic pricing based on:
- Age: Older individuals generally face higher costs.
- Coverage limits: coverage is proportional to the amount you will pay for travel insurance.
- Duration of the policy: yearly policies are cheaper than trip-specific ones.
At Feather, however, we price our policies only on coverage and the number of people insured:
| Basic | Premium | |
| Cost per year | €25 – €44 | €119 – €195 |
| Medical health insurance | ✅ | ✅ |
| Trip cancellation and partial cancellation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Luggage insurance | ❌ | ✅ |
When should you get travel insurance?
Medical health insurance is highly recommended for all of your trips, even those in Europe.
This is because your German statutory health insurance does not have great coverage abroad. For example, public health insurance would not cover search and rescue operations, which can cost thousands of euros.
Moreover, it will only cover the price of the procedure in Germany. For example, treating a bone fracture in the USA could cost up to €40,000, but in Germany, only around €10,000. This means that without travel health insurance you would pay the difference out of pocket.
For these reasons, we recommend getting medical health insurance if you plan to travel.
Travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance is recommended for expensive or frequent trips
Travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance is highly recommended for costly or frequent trips.
It’s particularly important if you have booked an expensive trip because it protects you from paying hefty cancellation fees if life forces you to cancel your plans. This is especially crucial when traveling with older adults or children, as they are more susceptible to unexpected illnesses.
In the end, the more expensive your trip is or the more people are involved, the more beneficial this insurance becomes.
Plus, if you travel frequently, the likelihood of travel disruptions increases, making this insurance even more valuable. Therefore, if you travel often or have planned an expensive trip, consider our yearly travel insurance plan to protect yourself and reduce your financial exposure.
Luggage insurance for those who want complete peace of mind
While airlines and tour operators typically cover up to €1,500 for damaged luggage, luggage insurance offers additional protection. This type of insurance is especially useful if you’re traveling with expensive items like musical instruments, as it covers your bags for the entire journey.
Still, you should keep your most valuable possessions either at home or in your carry-on to keep them safe.
How to purchase travel insurance
- Research and compare coverage:
Look into different travel insurance options. We recommend Feather’s travel insurance for German residents but use comparison websites to confirm which policy best suits your needs.
- Compare prices:
Decide what coverage you require. You can either request a quote or, like Feather’s insurance, get an instant price. Ensure the cost matches your age, desired coverage, and number of people covered.
It’s worth mentioning that single-trip plans are more affordable than annual plans, starting at 10 euros. However, if you plan to travel more than twice a year (or for more than two weeks), annual plans offer far better value.
- Check reviews:
It’s important to check the reputation of your preferred company. You want one that’s on your side when you need it the most, not one you need to fight against.
- Complete the application:
Once you’ve chosen a provider, fill out their application form. Submit any required documents as instructed.
- Get covered:
If your application is accepted, your provider will issue a policy outlining your coverage, premiums, and terms. Carefully review and understand the policy details.
Travel Insurance FAQ
In the event of an accident or illness, you are fully covered to visit any doctor you choose. Just make sure to keep all the documents that you are given, including invoices (correctly named and addressed), referrals, prescriptions, and anything else.
There is an emergency phone number for events that might be too expensive to pay upfront. Your insurance company will pay the hospital directly if needed.
To make a claim, head to your Feather account and click on the claim button.
You must apply for your travel insurance policy on the day or before you travel. You cannot sign up after you have left the country or once you have determined that you need medical treatment abroad. If you need travel insurance for a visa abroad, you should also apply at least 4 working days before your visa appointment.
You must purchase your policy either more than 30 days before the trip or within three days after booking the trip.
Travel medical insurance policies often cover your family members who are traveling with you. They may also allow a family member to join you if you’re hospitalized.
“Family” usually means spouses, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents. However, Feather’s policy is much more flexible: our family plan covers two adults and up to 7 children. These individuals don’t need to be related or live in the same place; they just need to be named in the policy.
Feather’s plan is an annual policy. You can cancel anytime, up to one month before the end of the contracted year. The pending amount for the full yearly premium will be charged, and your policy will stay active until the end of the year. It will not be renewed for the next year.
Conclusion
We hope you liked this guide to travel insurance.
Now, we want to know your feedback:
Have you ever signed up for travel insurance, or will you?
If so, how did it go?
Or you might have a specific topic or question you’d like to discuss?
Either way, post your comment below or book a call with one of our experts!
