Insurance for Schengen Visa - FAQ

If you require a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen area of Europe, then you are also required to have compliant Schengen visa insurance. Showing proof of this insurance is part of the visa application process, so it is not optional. Read the FAQ below to learn what you need to know about buying Schengen visa travel insurance. 

Do you have any insurance plans that meet the Schengen visa insurance requirements?

Yes, of course. We have several insurance products that fully meet the Schengen visa insurance requirements.

The consulate has specified strict requirements that all insurance must meet in order to be acceptable for a Schengen visa. Are you sure you know the requirements of Schengen visa insurance?

Yes, of course. We specialize in international travel medical insurance and we are well aware of Schengen visa insurance requirements.

Are you really sure? Yes.

Are you really really sure? Yes, yes, yes.

Will I have any problem getting a Schengen visa if I buy any of your insurance plans?

You should not have any problem getting a Schengen visa, as far as fulfilling the Schengen visa insurance requirements. Of course, getting the actual Schengen visa really depends upon many other factors. Check out the Schengen Visa section for complete details on Schengen visa.

The Consulate is looking for a visa letter in a specific format. Will you provide me such a letter? If yes, how soon can you provide me with such a letter?

Around 30 minutes after you purchase the insurance, you will be able to download the visa letter from MyAccount, for most plans.

How will the downloaded letter satisfy the consulate? Are you sure? Don't I need the original letter?

A downloaded letter is perfectly acceptable. That is the only way for us to provide the letter. What you consider 'original' is subject to your interpretation, but we have been offering Schengen travel insurance for many years and a downloaded (or emailed) letter has always been acceptable at the consulate.

The consulate requires specific language in the letter. Before I buy the insurance, how I can make sure that your letter will be sufficient?

As the visa letters have been prepared by the insurance companies keeping the Schengen visa insurance requirements in mind, you can be assured that the letter you download will have the specific language required for Schengen visa insurance, such as mentioning emergency medical evacuation and medical coverage and repatriation of remains.

Still, for your satisfaction, you can look at the sample visa letters in MyAccount.

I have heard that the consulate requires the insurance with $0 deductible. Can I get that?

Official Schengen visa insurance does not have any such requirement. However, if you have been asked for that, you can certainly buy the insurance with $0 deductible. If you have already bought the insurance with a higher deductible, you can log into MyAccount and make a change request. Please allow two to three business days to process that request. If you can't wait that long, we suggest that you cancel the current policy by making a cancellation request in MyAccount. After you send your request to cancel, you can buy a new plan on this web site. Please don't wait for your money to be refunded before you buy the new one because cancellation is a manual process and it may take up to three weeks to get the refund.

Custom Visa Letters

Many of our customers are stressed over Schengen visa insurance and don't want to take any chances. They hear all sorts of rumors from everywhere regarding what exactly is required in the Schengen visa letter and many of them are not really true. Many customers even try to convince us that those requirements are actually imposed by a particular consulate, and in most cases, there is no truth to it. We will try to clarify some of those doubts.

In any case, if you are very sure or adamant about any such requirements, please contact us, and we would be glad to look into it to see whether a custom letter can be prepared. Please allow at least two to three business days for processing of such requests. If you call late in the evening and your appointment is on the next day at 8 o'clock in the morning, we don't have the time to prepare a custom letter immediately. The department that would prepare such letters would be closed at that time, and requests are processed in the order they are received. We understand that you are in a hurry, but so are so many others ahead of you. Please plan in advance.

I heard that the consulate requires that the visa letter must mention the coverage amounts in Euros and not in US dollars. Is it true?

There is no such requirement.

I heard that the consulate requires that the visa letter must mention the coverage amounts in words in addition to numbers. Is it true?

There is no such requirement.

I heard that the consulate requires that the visa letter must mention that the insurance company must have the claims processing office in the specific country I am visiting, for example Germany or France. Is it true?

There is no such requirement.

I heard that the German (or any other) consulate requires that the visa letter must be written in German (or any other) language. Is it true?

There is no such requirement. A visa letter in English is good enough.

I heard that the consulate requires that the visa letter must mention that the insurance company must guarantee that they will pay all the claims. Is it true?

There is no such requirement. No insurance company covers everything. All insurance companies cover according to the terms and conditions of the insurance policies and there are always certain exclusions.

I heard that the consulate requires that the visa letter must mention that the insurance company must guarantee that the doctors and hospitals will directly bill the insurance company and settle the claims directly. Is it true?

There is no such requirement. It is not up to the specific insurance company whether the specific doctor or hospital in a European country will accept the insurance and bill the insurance company directly, but it is up to that provider. The concept of PPO network, provider directory and direct billing is prevalent in the U.S., but practically unheard of in European countries. Many of the countries in Europe have socialized (government managed) healthcare systems and many providers may not be used to working with the insurance companies and may not have knowledge or know the procedures about dealing with insurance company. Therefore, no matter which insurance plan you buy from any insurance company, it is finally up to the healthcare system of that particular country regarding how the claims would work out. Insurance companies can't really control that or change the healthcare system in a given country.

The online application asked for a primary destination and I entered Germany. However, I am going to France and Italy as well and the visa letter does not mention anything about that. Do I need a letter mentioning each country I am visiting?

There is no such requirement. All Schengen visa insurance plans cover anywhere outside the home country (whether the U.S. is covered or not depends upon the specific plan you purchase.) If you entered Germany as your primary destination, it is mentioned specifically for visa letter purposes to show it to the German consulate. However, that does not mean you are not covered in France or Italy. You don't need a separate visa letter mentioning all the countries.

Making Corrections

As most people are buying Schengen visa insurance in order to get the Schengen visa, it is possible that their plans change and their travel dates change or simply a correction needs to be made in the information provided at the time of application and/or in the visa letter. Please note that making such corrections is not instant. Please allow one to two business days for such corrections.

Please log into MyAccount and request a new visa letter.

If you can't wait that long, we suggest that you cancel the current policy by logging into MyAccount and buy a new one on this web site. Please don't wait for your money to be refunded before you buy the new one because cancellation is a manual process and it may take up to three weeks to get the refund.

The online application asked for primary destination and I entered Germany. However, my plans have changed and I am going to apply to Italian consulate. Do I need to get a new visa letter?

Please log into MyAccount and make a change request to change the destination. Once destination is changed, you can download a new visa letter from MyAccount.

Did you know?

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You cannot find a lower price anywhere for the same product.

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Same Price. Better Service.®

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Visiting USA?

Healthcare costs are very high in the U.S.

Buy U.S. based visitors insurance and enjoy your trip.

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Traveling abroad?

Did you know that your insurance may not cover you abroad or that it may only provide limited coverage?

Purchase travel medical insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation.

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New immigrant to USA?

You are not eligible to enroll in Medicare for the first 5 years.

Purchase new immigrant medical insurance to bridge the gap.

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Going on a vacation?

You could lose your non-refundable trip costs if you had to cancel your trip.

Buy a trip cancellation insurance package plan and be worry-free.

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Are you an exchange visitor to USA?

The U.S. Department of State requires all J visa holders to purchase compliant insurance.

Buy J visa medical insurance to meet your requirements.

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Traveling to Europe?

Schengen countries require most non-US citizens to purchase Schengen visa insurance.

Make an instant purchase online and get instant visa letter.

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Traveling frequently throughout the year?

You don't need to purchase travel insurance for every trip.

Purchase annual multi trip travel insurance for your travels.

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International student in the U.S.?

Most schools require international students to purchase health insurance.

Purchase international student health insurance that meets most school requirements.

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