Few things can ruin a vacation faster than an unexpected visit to the hospital.
Getting sick or injured abroad is unpredictable, but can leave travelers with a costly medical bill. If it’s a serious injury and someone needs to be medically evacuated, like to a specialized facility for treatment, the costs can skyrocket into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Nearly one in four Americans experience medical problems while traveling internationally, although 52% said they travel with an “it-won’t-happen-to-me attitude,” according to a 2023 survey of 2,086 people sponsored by GeoBlue and conducted by Harris Poll. When asked how they plan to pay for medical treatment abroad, 46% said they plan to use their existing domestic health insurance plan, though that’s not always possible.
Most U.S. health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, don’t cover medical expenses abroad, considering them out-of-network.
Travel insurance for cruising?Her $5,500 infirmary bill was higher than the cruise itself. How she got it covered.
Learn more: Best travel insurance
However, there is a saving grace for travelers who encounter the unexpected: travel insurance. For an average cost of $5 a day, travel insurance policies that include medical coverage will cover the costs of an emergency medical visit, including transportation, urgent dental care, doctor and hospital visits and medication.
To show how travel insurance can come in handy on trips, U.K.-based medical insurance provider AllClear analyzed its data from 2022 and 2023 to identify the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical emergency expense claims.
It found that some of the most popular destinations also came with the most travel insurance claims, with most being in Europe. “For the most part, these rankings are straightforward and make a lot of sense when compared with visitor numbers,” Letitia Smith, Head of Communications at AllClear, told USA TODAY in a statement. “For instance, Spain, which tops the list, is also one of the most visited countries worldwide.”
The company also examined the most common reasons for claims, which were injury and fractures, followed by respiratory illnesses.
“These insights highlight the unpredictable nature of travel and the importance of being covered for any situation, whether you're exploring ancient ruins in Athens or soaking up the sun on a Spanish beach,” Smith said.
Learn more:Best travel insurance
Here are the top 10 countries with the most medical emergency travel insurance claims.
10. Thailand
Although Thailand ranked 10th for the most medical emergencies, it placed second for the highest claim costs in 2022 and 2023. Travelers should ensure they have adequate coverage before visiting this Asian country so they’re not bringing home an expensive medical bill as a souvenir. The majority of claims in Thailand were for gastroenteritis, heart problems, and fractures.
9. Australia
The Land Down Under offers beautiful beaches and heart-pumping adventures, but it also ranked ninth on AllClear’s list for the most medical emergency claims. The most common claims in Australia were stroke, fractures and injury.
Curious about Tasmania?Here's what travelers should know.
8. Portugal
With beaches that have some of the bluest water in the world, Portugal is beloved by travelers, but it’s also a destination that sees frequent medical emergency claims, according to AllClear. Travelers to this destination filed claims for kidney issues, injury and pneumonia in 2022 and 2023.
7. France
From Paris to Bordeaux, France is one of the most popular overseas destinations for Americans, with 3.1 million U.S. travelers in 2019. It’s no wonder why the European country scored a spot on AllClear’s ranking. Travelers to France filed medical emergency claims mostly for issues such as fractures, respiratory illnesses and accidents such as falling or breaking a limb.
6. Egypt
Travelers flock to Egypt to explore its ancient pyramids, temples, and rich historical heritage along the Nile River. Scoring sixth for having the most medical emergency claims, Egypt’s travelers sought medical attention for gastroenteritis problems, injury and fractures,
5. The United States
The U.S., with its diverse national parks and cities, scored the fifth spot on AllClear’s ranking for the most medical emergency claims. However, the U.S. is the country with the most expensive medical costs on AllClear’s rankings. Americans traveling within the country should check if their healthcare insurer covers out-of-state medical costs before embarking on their trip. The most common reasons for claims in the U.S. were respiratory illnesses, injury and fractures.
4. Turkey
From the ancient ruins of Ephesus to the bustling bazaars of Istanbul, Turkey is a vibrant destination for travelers. The transcontinental country ranked fourth in medical emergency claims reported to AllClear, mostly for fractures, gastroenteritis issues, and injuries.
3. Cyprus
From archaeological sites to charming beach towns and sunny weather, Cyprus has earned a reputation as a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean. The island nation also scored the third-highest spot for the most medical emergency claims by travelers, according to AllClear. The most common type of medical emergency for Cyprus travelers were respiratory illnesses, injury and ear, nose and throat issues.
2. Greece
Another Mediterranean destination popular for its beautiful islands and rich history, Greece is beloved among American travelers. Injury claims were the most common medical emergency claims by travelers to Greece, according to AllClear.
1. Spain
Spain reigns as one of the most popular destinations for Americans, with about 2.8 million U.S. visitors in 2022, so it makes sense that the European country also scored the top spot on AllClear’s ranking for the most medical emergency expenses claims. In Spain, unforeseen medical emergencies were most frequently due to respiratory issues, fractures, or injuries.
