How much travel medical insurance do you need? Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends buying at least $50,000 in emergency medical coverage for international travel. For travelers going on a cruise or to a remote destination, the site recommends at least $100,000 in coverage.

In 2026, the "gold standard" recommendation for travel insurance is a plan with at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 to $500,000 for medical evacuation. This is particularly critical when traveling to countries with high healthcare costs like the US, Canada, or Japan. For short, low-risk trips to regions with cheaper healthcare, a $50,000 medical plan may suffice. Additionally, you should ensure your policy covers 100% of your non-refundable trip costs for "Trip Cancellation" and at least $1,000 to $1,500 for baggage loss or delay. Always check if your destination has mandatory requirements; for example, the 29 Schengen countries in Europe still require a minimum of €30,000 in medical cover to issue certain visas.