Travel vs. Health Insurance
What's the Difference?

Ever felt confused about the differences between travel insurance, travel health insurance, and health insurance? It’s easy to get lost in the terminology, especially when planning a trip. Let’s break down these concepts to ensure you’re adequately covered for your next adventure.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is like a safety net for your entire trip. It provides coverage for various unexpected events, including:

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption: If your trip is canceled due to illness, injury, or unexpected events, travel insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable expenses.
• Lost or Stolen Baggage: If your luggage is lost or stolen, travel insurance can help replace your belongings or provide a cash allowance.
• Emergency Medical Expenses: In case of a medical emergency while traveling, travel insurance can cover your medical costs, including hospital stays and doctor’s fees.
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment: This coverage provides financial compensation in the event of accidental death or injury.
• Rental Car Insurance: If you’re renting a car during your trip, travel insurance may include rental car insurance to cover accidents or theft.

Average cost: Typically ranges from 4% to 6% of your trip cost. For example, a $2,000 trip might cost around $80 to $120 for travel insurance.

Factors affecting cost: Trip duration, destination, age, pre-existing conditions, and coverage level.

What is Travel Health Insurance?

Travel health insurance is specifically designed to cover your medical expenses while traveling. It’s particularly useful for:

• Long-term travelers: If you’re planning to stay abroad for an extended period, travel health insurance can provide comprehensive medical coverage.
• Individuals with pre-existing conditions: Many travel health insurance plans can cover pre-existing conditions, ensuring you’re protected even if you have underlying health issues.
• Emergency medical evacuation: In case of a serious medical emergency that requires evacuation to a specialized facility, travel health insurance can cover the transportation costs.

Cost: Can vary widely depending on factors like age, destination, and coverage level. However, it’s generally more affordable than domestic health insurance plans.

Travel and Travel Health Insurance Provider

Tenzing has partnered with leading travel insurance providers worldwide to bring you the most suitable plan for your needs. We’ve curated a selection of the best options, allowing you to easily compare plans and purchase directly from the provider with just a click. Visit our travel health insurance page to get started

What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance is a broader term that refers to coverage for your ongoing medical needs. It typically includes:

• Doctor’s visits: Routine check-ups, consultations, and specialist appointments.
• Prescription medications: Coverage for prescribed drugs and treatments.
• Hospitalization: Costs associated with inpatient and outpatient care.
• Preventive care: Services like vaccinations, screenings, and annual check-ups.

Health insurance generally has more conditions and requirements than travel insurance. This often involves an underwriting process and a waiting period before benefits take effect. Additionally, health insurance typically requires a minimum coverage period of a year. However, health insurance offers more comprehensive benefits and a smoother claim process compared to travel health insurance.

Key Differences