Updated 2026-06-23 · 12 minute read
Travel Insurance Guide
Understand travel insurance basics, emergency assistance, medical coverage, exclusions, claims, and what travelers should save before departure.
What travel insurance usually does
Travel insurance is a contract, not a general promise that every problem will be paid for. Policies commonly cover emergency medical care, evacuation, trip interruption, baggage loss, and delays, but the exact coverage depends on the plan. Adventure activities, alcohol-related incidents, pre-existing conditions, high-risk areas, and unattended belongings may be excluded.
Before buying, compare the policy to your actual trip. A city break, cruise, study term, remote work stay, family trip, and backpacking route all create different risks.
Emergency assistance matters
The assistance number can be as important as the claim form. In a medical emergency, the insurer may help locate clinics, approve treatment, coordinate translation, arrange evacuation, or advise on documentation. Save assistance contacts offline and check time zones before calling non-emergency claim desks.
Keep receipts, police reports, medical notes, airline notices, and written confirmations. Claims often fail because travelers cannot prove what happened or what they paid.
Connect insurance to your country plan
Insurance works better when paired with local emergency numbers and embassy contacts. If you are injured, call local emergency services first. If a passport is lost, contact the embassy or consulate. If money or cards are stolen, contact card issuers. Insurance is one piece of a broader response plan.
Use GlobeSafely country pages to save local numbers, and use checklists to make sure policy details travel with you.
Country planning links
Use these country pages to save local emergency numbers, calling codes, currencies, time zones, plug types, and printable cards.
United States
US · +1
- Police
- 911
- Ambulance
- 911
Canada
CA · +1
- Police
- 911
- Ambulance
- 911
United Kingdom
GB · +44
- Police
- 999
- Ambulance
- 999
Australia
AU · +61
- Police
- 000
- Ambulance
- 000
New Zealand
NZ · +64
- Police
- 111
- Ambulance
- 111
France
FR · +33
- Police
- 17
- Ambulance
- 15
Germany
DE · +49
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 112
Italy
IT · +39
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 118
Spain
ES · +34
- Police
- 091
- Ambulance
- 061
Japan
JP · +81
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 119
Thailand
TH · +66
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
South Africa
ZA · +27
- Police
- 10111
- Ambulance
- 10177