The Schengen Visa is one of the hardest visas to get, especially for Filipino travelers. The sheer number of requirements alone can make any nervous applicant think twice about pursuing their application. Some of them are quite hard to secure, but there’s one item that is incredibly easy to get online — travel insurance.
Yes, a travel insurance is required when applying for a Schengen visa. And not just any travel insurance, it should meet the coverage criteria set by the embassies. In this article, we’ll walk you through the insurance details you should check and how to conveniently purchase one online.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
What travel insurance is approved for Schengen visa?
The travel insurance policy you should buy and submit to any Schengen embassy must meet the following requirements:
- It must have coverage of at least EUR 30,000.
- It must be valid for all Schengen member states.
- It must cover the entire duration of the stay. (Note: some embassies like the Italian Embassy requires an additional 15-day coverage beyond the travel dates.)
- It must include medical treatment in case of accident or illness (including COVID-19)
- It must include transportation home for treatment in case of illness or injury, or repatriation in case of death
- It must allow cashless settlements of claims with the toll-free number indicated.
- The insurance company must be accredited and reinsured.
There are a number of insurance companies that are accredited by Schengen embassies, but the one we tried in our most recent visa application is PGA SOMPO, a joint venture of the two of the most trusted insurance companies in the Philippines and Japan, which offers TravelJOY Plus.
TravelJOY Plus’s SUPREME plan is specifically designed for Schengen visa applications, and this is what we availed of. It was one of the cheapest we found and definitely the easiest to book! (We paid for our policy in full, and yes, our application was approved.)
So when PGA SOMPO approached us for a feature, we said yes immediately. Now, The Poor Traveler readers like you can enjoy a special rate when you book on the PGA Sompo website and use the promo code: WORTHIT.
How to Book Travel Insurance Online
1. Visit this page.
The first thing you’ll see is this short form:
Supply the following information:
- Trip type (single or annual multi-trip): If you need a policy for just one trip, select SINGLE.
- Package: Pick INDIVIDUAL.
- Destinations: Enter ALL the countries or territories that you intend to visit. The system will choose the appropriate plan for you, depending on the countries you select. For example, if you enter a country within the Schengen Zone, the system will automatically present the SUPREME PLAN, which meets the Schengen visa requirements.
- Depart Date: the date you’re leaving your usual residence for the trip.
- Return Date: the date you’ll arrive at your usual residence after the trip.
- Number of Travelers: You can select up to five travelers. If you’re a party of more than five, you may book another batch.
- Promo/Product Code: Type WORTHIT to get an affordable rate.
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