Schengen visa travel insurance FAQs

At American Visitor Insurance, it's easy to get the best deal for insurance to meet Schengen visa requirements. Simply use our search engine to compare policies and prices. All the plans listed will give you access to a “visa letter” which you can print out minutes after your purchase which shows you have the insurance that is required for your visa. Change in plans? Not sure when your will be traveling? No problem! All plans are very flexible and can either be pushed back, moved forward, or cancelled for a full refund (before they start)! If two people are over 70 years old, you can be quoted together on our website, but some companies require you to fill out separate applications for each person (but the total cost will NOT change). Note that for travelers over 80, it can be cheaper to get a trip cancellation plan like one offered by IMG and they also provide a visa letter for you! Please call us if you have any questions or concerns!

The best travel insurance for a US senior vacationing in Europe are available on American Visitor Insurance. A very economical plan for seniors under 70 years is the Altas International plan which costs about $170 per month. You purchase it for the days you need coverage. For seniors under 80, the Patriot International Lite plan is the most economical which costs about $270 per month. If you are over 80 years of age and want at least $50,000 coverage (which would be required for a Long Term Europe visa), you must purchase the Safe Travels Outbound plan which costs about $670 per month. All of these plans will give you a “visa letter” you can download and print out if you need it for a Long Term stay and all are excellent options for visitor insurance while abroad. Note that prices are for a $50,000 maximum with a $0 deductible imitating the visa requirements, but if you do not need to satisfy those requirements, you can put a higher deductible on the policy and reduce the cost of the plan.

Individuals who are not citizens of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and who plan to stay in Europe for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, business, or family visits need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit Europe. This visa allows travel to Europe and other Schengen Area countries. Exceptions may apply depending on the nationality of the traveler, as some countries have visa exemption agreements with the Schengen Zone.

To apply for a Schengen Visa to Europe, follow these steps:

• Choose the correct visa based on your travel purpose (tourism, business, etc.)
• Fill out the Schengen visa application form.
• Gather required documents, including valid passport, travel insurance, proof of accommodation and financial means, flight reservation.
• Book an appointment with the visa center.
• Submit your application, biometric data, and documents at the consulate.
• Pay the visa application fee.
• Processing usually takes around 15 days.
• Pick up your approved visa from the consulate.

American health insurance plans do not provide full coverage in Europe, as most U.S. based plans are designed for domestic use and do not work outside US borders. While some policies may include limited international emergency care, they do not cover routine medical expenses, extended stays, or repatriation costs. For comprehensive international travel health insurance coverage, it’s important to buy international travel insurance from USA to Europe that meets Schengen visa requirements which is offered on American Visitor Insurance, and includes the required €30,000 in medical coverage.

Green Card holders will need a European visa if the country of their passport requires a Schengen visa for travel to Europe. Travel insurance for a European visa is mandatory when applying for a Schengen visa. Green Card holders must meet common Schengen visa insurance requirements, which can be satisfied by purchasing travel insurance from American Visitor Insurance.

Europe family travel insurance is a policy designed to cover an entire family traveling together across European countries. It typically includes protection for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, flight delays, and more. Many policies meet Schengen visa requirements, ensuring compliance with mandatory travel insurance for certain countries. This type of insurance offers convenience by covering multiple family members under a single plan, providing peace of mind throughout the trip.

While buying Europe family travel insurance, ensure the following:

• Coverage Scope: Ensure the policy covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, delays, and lost baggage.
• Destination Requirements: Verify if the destination, such as Schengen countries, requires specific insurance coverage.
• Pre-Existing Conditions: Check if pre-existing medical conditions are covered or if additional coverage is needed.
• Age Limits: Some policies have restrictions on the age of insured family members.
• Activities Coverage: If your trip involves adventure sports or activities, confirm they are included in the policy.
• Policy Limits and Exclusions: Review claim limits and exclusions to avoid surprises.
• 24/7 Assistance: Opt for insurance with round-the-clock emergency assistance.

You need Europe family travel insurance to protect against unexpected events such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, or flight delays. It ensures your entire family is covered, providing peace of mind and financial security while traveling across Europe, especially in countries requiring proof of insurance for entry under the Schengen visa.

Following are the insurance requirements for Schengen Visa:

• Medical evacuation/repatriation coverage of at least EUR 30,000.
• Insurance must be valid for duration of stay in the Schengen states.

Currently, Twenty nine countries are covered under the Schengen Visa.

Following are the plans satisfying Schengen Visa requirements:
Atlas International Patriot International Travel Select Insurance Travel Max Insurance Liaison Economy Safe Travels International

The plans satisfying Schengen visa requirements are:

• American citizens who are planning to stay in schengen countries for more than 90 days need long term visa.
• The medical expenses covered should be up to $50,000 (or the equivalent in euros).
• The coverage should be valid for the entire period of stay in Schengen countries.
• The insurance provider will give the visa letter with the details of coverage for medical expenses, emergencies and hospitalization for a long stay in Europe.
• The visa letter will also show limitation in the amount of coverage if there is a limit or as "unlimited" if there is no limit on coverage.

The premium depends on different factors mainly the age of the applicant and period of coverage required. Higher the age of the traveller and the risk of expenses higher the premium. Likewise the premium is high for higher duration of coverage and coverage maximum.

Many customers are in a bit of a rush when getting their documents in order for the Schengen visa. For most clients, the visa letter can be obtained either Immediately after purchase or within an hour after purchase.

Residents of Maryland (MD), however, need at least one business day (preferably two) because their letters have to be requested. For more information, please see our Informative Blog.

In order to obtain a visa for the Schengen countries of Europe, you are required to show a "visa letter" along with your application. This letter is written by the insurance company delineating the coverage benefits of the policy and signed by them. This makes it easy for consulates to verify that it meets with their requirements.

Obtaining these letters is relatively easy, but the specifics depend on the company from which you purchase your policy. Two companies will send links to the letter in their confirmation email which you will receive immediately after your purchase. For a third company, you have to log onto the company's client website to download the letter (or our friendly agents can do this for you!).

Finally, residents of Maryland, who cannot purchase from any of those companies will need one business day in advance so that we can request this letter from the company. The letters are sent electronically to your email and are considered official documents even though you print them out yourself. For more details, be sure to read our detailed blog on the subject.
SCHENGEN VISA LETTER

Yes. For any of the companies we recommend, you can get a full refund on the policy. (The one exception is the policy available for Maryland residents). However, you must cancel the policy BEFORE the start date AND you must contact the insurance company IN WRITING.

They do accept email notification, so this is a very quick procedure and you can expect a refund onto the same credit card you used for your purchase within 7 to 10 business days. If you cancel after the start date, some companies will only refund full months and they may also charge a cancellation fee.

So it is important to cancel as soon as you realize you will not be going on your trip. For more information, please check out our Informative Blog.

Yes, the Visa letter can be obtained in other languages. The options are available on the company client zones for some companies like International Medical Group and WorldTrips within an hour after your purchase of the plan.

We can also download these and forward them to you. For some companies like Seven Corners and Trawick International the letter will be provided at the time of enrolment which can be used to obtain the Schengen visa letter.

WorldTrips offers visa letter in English and Spanish. International Medical Group (IMG) offers visa letter in English, Spanish and French
For more information, read our Blog on Schengen Visa.

Yes! In fact, all the policies we sell will cover you anywhere outside of your home country. So, if your trip will include other areas of the world besides those Schengen countries, buy your policy to cover your whole trip for the added security of knowing you will be covered in case of sudden illness or medical emergency! Furthermore, you will get some travel benefits like lost baggage and trip interruption as well.

For more details, be sure to read the brochure of the policy you are considering. You can also read our Blog on Schengen Visa.

The Schengen visa consulate haven't made this mandatory. However some consulates like th French consulate has insisted on having an $0 deductible insurance plan to satisfy their visa requirements.

If you have already purchased a plan with a higher deductible and need a plan with $0 deductible. You can cancel the plan and buy a new plan provided the plan coverage has not yet started.

Not all insurance plans pay everything. They may offer coverage to satisfy Schengen visa requirements but may have some limits on specific type of coverage. Do read through the insurance plan brochures to check what is covered and what is excluded.

Some companies pay directly and only if you go to the hospital or doctor included in their Provider Network. Do check the company's list of provider network before you get treated.

The visa letter is applicable for all countries in the Schengen area. The traveller usually applies for the visa in the consulate of the country that you are first visiting within the Schengen area. The visa letter and the Schengen visa is valid in all 25 Schengen countries.

These are broadly the different visas issued for visiting and living in the Schengen states:
Schengen Visa based on the type of traveller:

1. Schengen tourist visa

   Visiting the Schengen area as a tourist or on a visit to meet family members living in the Schengen Zone.

   On a tourist visa travelers are allowed to reside in the designated Schengen country for the maximum of 3 months/90 days. During this time, the traveller is not allowed to work unless explicitly states in the visa differently.

   If the visitor is traveling a lot and not only in one Schengen country it is recommended to fill in the “multiple entry” gap in the application form. This allows the visitor to enter and leave Schengen Zone without constraints during the time allowed on the issued tourist visa. If the traveller desires to stay longer than the allowed period of time, he/she will have to apply again in the embassy to extend the visa.

2. Business visa

   This is issued to persons with the sole purpose of doing business in the designated Schengen country/countries. The business visa is commonly valid for stays no more than 90 days.

   Again, if the traveller is visiting other nations and not only in one Schengen country it is recommended to fill the “multiple entry” gap in the application. This will allow the visitor to enter and leave the Schengen Zone with flexibility during the time allowed on the visa.

3. Student visa

   This is a visa issued to students who are already accepted at a certified educational institution.

   For students planning to study in the Schengen country, it is mandatory to apply for a residency permit with the appropriate authority. Commonly, you apply for the residency permit after you arrive at the Schengen country with the Schengen visa.

   The good part of the residency permit is that it allows students to travel throughout the whole Schengen area, without any additional documents required. The residency permit is stamped on the students passport.

4. Work visa

   For the sole purpose of traveling in the Schengen states to work in a Company inside the Schengen Zone. The work visa goes under the long-term visa type which entitles the traveller to reside in the Schengen Zone for the time he/she is employed in the designated country. Immediately after settling, the traveller is obliged to apply for a residency permit which entitles the same rights as any other EU citizen.

5. Transit visa

   The Airport transit visa allows its holder to travel through the international zone of the Schengen Country Airport without entering the Schengen Country Area. The transit visa itself allows its holder to transit within no more than 5 days through more than one Schengen country by car, coach or plane on the way to a non-Schengen country.