7 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance in Germany

Related Articles


How important is it to have travel insurance in Germany? Picture this:

You have the convertible rental’s top down and the wind is blowing through your hair as you speed down the world-famous autobahn at 90 mph (or 130 mph, in my case!). But suddenly, the car in front of you stops and you can’t hit the breaks on time.

What would you do if you suffered an injury in a foreign country? Regardless of how it happened—whether you were driving recklessly or not—that’s a scary thought.

Fortunately, the thought of visiting a hospital is less scary if you have travel insurance in Germany to protect you.

Not only does travel insurance cover your medical bills abroad, but it also protects you in a variety of other unexpected incidents. Missed flights, stolen cameras, and even damaged luggage. These are just a few examples of what could happen during your trip—to Germany or anywhere else in the world for that matter!

With travel insurance, you’ll have peace of mind when traveling. That way, you can relax and enjoy your trip to Germany, or wherever else in the world you want to visit.

What is Travel Insurance?

Dresden, Germany
Church Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany

ravel insurance protects you for a variety of travel and medical-related incidents. Although benefits will vary between different insurance companies, good travel insurance will include the following categories:

  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption
  • Medical emergencies and evacuations
  • Stolen, damaged or lost baggage and property

Your domestic health insurance plan may not cover you when traveling to Germany. It probably doesn’t cover you anywhere besides your home country.

And generally speaking, it probably won’t include protection for your personal belongings or trip cancellation.

That’s why it’s crucial to purchase travel insurance before heading to Germany, or anywhere else in the world. Not only does travel insurance protect your trip. But it could also save you thousands of dollars in bills and expenses.

7 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance in Germany

street corner in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Many people return from their Germany trip with nothing but positive experiences, as it’s very safe to travel to Germany. On the other hand, emergencies can happen at any time. That’s why we call them accidents.

1

Car Accidents Can Happen On the Autobahn

Without an enforced speed limit, cruising down the German highway is either an exhilarating or nerve-wracking experience. If you’re not paying attention to the road, you might rear-end someone.

Or in the worst-case scenario, you could cause a severe accident.

2

Pickpockets Do Exist 

Busy areas like subways, city centers, and tourist attractions are prime locations for pickpockets. If you’re not careful, you might not notice someone stealing your camera or wallet from your bag.

3

Bicycle Theft Is Common

Cycling is one of the best ways to explore a city in Germany. However, thieves are often lurking around for unlocked bikes. If you forget to lock it up, you might find the entire thing gone by the time you return.

4

Cycling Itself Can Be a Danger Too

Every year, it’s estimated that over 7,000 people get into bike-related accidents in Germany.

While renting a bike makes it easy to get around, you need to watch for pedestrians and cars. One wrong move and you might land yourself in the hospital.

5

Some Foods May Make You Ill

When you’re surrounded by juicy pork knuckles and deep-fried schnitzel, it’s hard not to indulge in unhealthy foods while in Germany. You may not be used to such a meat-heavy, caloric diet. As a result of overeating, you might need to see a doctor during your trip.

6

Long-Distance Trains Can Be Cancelled

Germany’s railway system is fast, efficient, and for some routes, expensive and non-refundable. You may lose money if your train is canceled due to strikes or bad weather.

Not to mention, you’ll need to purchase another ticket for a future journey.

7

Germans take football (or soccer to us Americans) very seriously, and attending a live game in Germany is an exciting experience. But despite a significant police presence, you may notice clashes and fights between fans of the rival teams. If you get caught in the middle, you may even get injured.

What Travel Insurance in Germany Covers

Travel insurance benefits depend mostly on the policy. However, the best travel insurance in Germany should include coverage for everyday travel and medical situations.

1

Trip Cancellation

Traveling through Germany can be expensive between your flights and hotels. And what happens if you need to cancel your trip before you leave? You’ll most likely be stuck paying for those non-refundable costs entirely out of pocket.

However, trip cancellation coverage will provide reimbursement if you are unable to go to Germany. Compensation only covers reasons like illness or death of a family member.

Are you looking for full protection? It’s recommended that you purchase a policy that covers the entire cost of your trip.

2

Trip Interruption

Trip interruption will cover the unused expenses if you need to leave Germany early for a certain reason. Covered reasons include family emergencies, natural disasters, and illness.

The best Germany travel insurance will provide trip interruption coverage for the entire cost of your trip.

3

Medical Emergencies

From car accidents to food poisoning, medical emergencies can happen at any time during your trip to Germany.

If you need to go to the hospital, then medical emergency coverage will reimburse the cost of your medical bills. Some Germany travel insurance companies will also have emergency dental coverage.

You should consider purchasing a policy that comes with at least $100,000 in medical emergencies. This is an acceptable level of comprehensive coverage.

Medical bills are expensive after all. Without travel insurance, you may have to pay the entire amount yourself.

4

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Travel insurance should also cover transportation to the nearest medical facility. Medical Evacuation coverage will pay for your trip to the hospital, via ambulance or helicopter.

What if the hospital cannot treat your injury? Medical repatriation will cover the cost of sending you back to your home country.

As a rule of thumb, the further you need to be transported, the more it will cost. For this reason, your travel insurance in Germany should include at least $100,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.

5

Lost, Stolen or Damaged Property

Travel insurance will cover any items that get stolen or broken. Electronics, clothing, and other personal belongings are usually included with your Germany travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance should provide coverage if your luggage is lost or delayed by the airline carrier.

However, there may be a maximum reimbursement amount. For example, travel insurance may only reimburse $500 for your stolen laptop, even if the laptop originally costs $2,000. And in many cases, you won’t have protection if you lost the item due to negligence.

How to File a Claim if Something Goes Wrong in Germany

Eibsee, Grainau, Germany

If you need to use your travel insurance while in Germany, you should familiarize yourself with the claim filing process.

We put together a set of guidelines to help you file a claim with your insurance provider. However, the exact steps will vary depending on your policy.

1

Take Precautions Before You Travel

There are some steps you can take to protect your trip before you ever step foot in Germany.

Make sure you print and pack your travel insurance information. If you need to use your travel insurance during your trip, you’ll be thankful to have the customer service number and your policy number at hand.

Along with travel insurance information, you should also make copies of your passport. You’re required by German law to have a form of identification on you at all times. It’s easier (and safer) to carry a copy of your passport rather than the original document itself.

Then, make a list of in-network providers in Germany that accept your travel insurance. In dire emergencies, you’ll know the names of hospitals that you can visit.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to tell your family and friends about your Germany itinerary. Include your flight and train information, hotel dates, and any other information about where they can reach you in case of an emergency.

2

Call the Insurance Provider’s Hotline

If something goes awry on your trip, you can always contact the 24/7 hotline provided by your travel insurance company. The customer service representative can advise on next steps, or where to locate the nearest hospital or police station.

In severe emergencies, contact the police or go straight to the hospital. As always, you can call your travel insurance provider after.

3

Document the Incident or Accident

You’ll need to provide your travel insurance company with documentation of the incident to make a claim. The more information you have, the more likely it is that your claim will be approved.

Let’s say your camera gets stolen while riding on the subway. Your travel insurance provider will need an incident report from the policy, as well as the receipts showing the cost of the camera.

4

File the Travel Insurance Claim

The best Germany travel insurance will allow you to file your claim online or through an app. But depending on the company, you may be required to submit everything through the mail instead.

In addition, it’s essential to file your claim on time. If you file past the date, you might not be eligible for any reimbursement from your travel insurance company. The timeline differs between companies but is between 10-60 days on average.

5

The Reimbursement Process

Finally, your Germany travel insurance will need to process the claim. If it’s approved, you’ll get reimbursed anywhere from a few days to several weeks. However, they may require further information, which could delay your approval.

 

Always Purchase Travel Insurance in Germany

Whether you’re hiking the Bavarian Forest or train-hopping through the idyllic countryside, Germany has an adventure for every type of traveler.

We all seek adventure in our own unique ways. But travel insurance is important no matter where you go in the world. Even the smallest accident can change your life forever.

Travel insurance protects you from these kinds of accidents. With this peace of mind, you’ll feel comfortable enough driving down the autobahn, skiing through the Alps, and drinking your way through Oktoberfest without any accidents or mishaps disrupting your trip.

Just remember to have the best Germany travel insurance there to protect you!

 

GET A QUOTE TODAY

More on this topic

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Popular stories