While traveling in Schengen, do you need Schengen travel insurance if you have a private health insurance from a Schengen country as a resident of that country?
Asking this question to learn the usual recommendation or usual practice
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3Does your private insurance cover medical expenses in the country you are intending to travel to?– Tor-Einar JarnbjoCommented May 6, 2023 at 19:27
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3Does your private health insurance bring you home? Depending on your condition you might need a lot of space on the plane and maybe a nurse.– AndersCommented May 6, 2023 at 19:43
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1As insurance rules differ so much, there might well not be a usual recommendation or practice. (I used to take out insurance with bring home covering but without the usual medical part, as that was covered by the home medical insurance. Others may or may not have different coverage.)– Willeke ♦Commented May 7, 2023 at 12:21
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2@MarkJohnson And you think the visa code applies why?– RelaxedCommented May 7, 2023 at 12:32
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1@MarkJohnson Not really but either way, if you don't think it does apply, you should have stated that right away because your comment was very misleading.– RelaxedCommented May 7, 2023 at 12:38
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1 Answer
While traveling in Schengen, do you need Schengen travel insurance if you have a private health insurance from a Schengen country as a resident of that country?
You don't specifically need Schengen travel insurance. What is usually called Schengen travel insurance is the insurance required under article 15 of regulation 810/2009 (Schengen Visa Code) and it does not apply to you as a resident – or to visa-exempt visitors – but only to people who require a short-stay Schengen visa (which you do not). There is no comparable requirement in the Schengen Borders Code.
Beyond that, you may want to check what your current health insurance covers or if you have some other coverage, e.g. through a credit card or travel insurance of some sort. This may or may not include paying for regular care for chronic illnesses you still require while traveling, primary or emergency care if you have an unexpected accident or health issue abroad, and medical transport back to your country of residence after an accident. Specifically traveling for medical treatment is typically outside the scope of these types of insurance as are search and rescue costs and outdoors activities but there really isn't any rule here, you have to figure out what you already have and decide what you feel comfortable with.
If you do feel you need extra coverage, you are more likely to be well served by some local travel or travel health insurance than a “Schengen travel insurance”, which is really designed to cover the legal requirement and doesn't offer extensive coverage or especially good value. If you go down that route, do check in the fine print that coverage doesn't depend on you being affiliated to the local statutory health insurance system.
