7 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance in Germany

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.