If you are a Canadian or U.S. citizen you'll need travel insurance when travelling outside of the country. The same holds true if you are a citizen of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and every other country in the world. Travel insurance is big business yet one must have it if travel is planned. Edit - sunniebgi - If you’re wealthy you don’t need travel insurance. If you travel outside of Canada or the U.S. for any destination without travel insurance you are taking a HUGE risk. God forbid if you become ill or have an accident even with travel insurance but I guarantee you it would be a worse situation not to carry this type of insurance. Many private health insurance plans especially from USA cut off coverage when outside of the U.S. The question is about NEED not about what country will accept you without travel insurance. Many foreign countries will not accept you without this and if the NEED is to get home you will be out of luck without additional health care travel insurance. Your general health insurance plan has fine print and I suggest you read it before travelling anywhere.

These days you definately need travel insurance to traveling to most if not all countries in Europe. Most countries would tell you that you need this to even apply for a visa to enter that country. Not all countries require it, and there is no law that says you must have it to travel. Each country is different. to Alatea.. where is it written that US Citizens are REQUIRED to have Travel Insurance before they can travel. If you are an insurance agent then of course you would tell everyone they need insurance. I don't need travel insurance unless I decide to have it, or I'm going to a country that requires me to have it for Visa purposes. If you can produce the documentation that makes is a requirement then I'd appreciate directing me to that info. again to Alatea... Recommend and required are 2 totally different animals. Some Cruise lines require me to take out travel insurance before I cruise, but most do not. The Airlines do not require that I purchase Travel Insurance before I fly. My medical insurance covers me for illness abroad.. of course I pay for it and they reimburse me for it or a portion of it. but in the end.. the question is.. What Countries do I NEED Travel Insurance in. not.. Am I required to have Travel insurance to travel.

I'm a travel agent, thus far I have never seen any disclosure of specific countries requiring travel insurance. Check the u.s state dept web site for visa regulations. Travel insurance is usually used to cover lost luggage, trip interuption i.e., illness, death in family, missed flight... I do recommend for overseas travel, any extended trips, or packages- Disney, cruises