Travel Insurance – What to Choose? EHIC, Private Policy, or Credit Card?

"Travel insurance? Why would I need that – I'm only going to Croatia for a week." That's what many Poles think – until they break a leg on a rocky beach, end up in hospital, and receive a bill for 15,000 EUR. A true story, and there are thousands like it every summer.

Travel insurance is one of those expenses that feel unnecessary – until you need it. In this article we explain what options you have, how much they cost, and what to watch out for so you don't buy a pig in a poke.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a policy that protects you financially against unforeseen events during a trip. It can cover:

• Medical expenses (KL) – the most important element. Covers doctor visits, hospitalisation, medication, surgery, medical transport.
• Personal accident (NNW) – payout in case of permanent injury or death.
• Baggage – compensation for lost, damaged, or stolen luggage.
• Third-party liability (OC) – covers damage you cause to other people.
• Assistance – organising help (transport to hospital, interpreter, legal aid).
• Trip cancellation – reimbursement when you must cancel for serious reasons.

Option 1: EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)

What is it?

The EHIC (known in Poland as EKUZ) is a free card issued by the NFZ (National Health Fund) that gives you access to public healthcare in EU/EEA countries and Switzerland on the same terms as residents of that country.

How to get it?

1. Apply online through IKP (Internet Patient Account) or PUE ZUS
2. In person at an NFZ branch
3. By post – sending a completed application

The card is issued immediately (online) or within 7 business days. It is valid for the period indicated on the card (usually 6–36 months).

What does the EHIC cover?

• Doctor visits in the public healthcare system
• Hospitalisation in public hospitals
• Prescription medication (with local co-payments)
• Emergency care

What the EHIC does NOT cover

And here's where the problems start:

• Private medical care – in many countries (e.g. Greece, Croatia) the public system is overloaded and tourists end up at private clinics
• Medical transport back to Poland – the EHIC does not cover repatriation, which can cost 10,000–50,000 EUR
• Co-payments – in many EU countries the patient pays part of the cost (e.g. in France ~30% for a doctor visit)
• Dentistry – except emergencies
• Mountain rescue – in Austria or Switzerland helicopter rescue costs 3,000–15,000 EUR
• Baggage, liability, trip cancellation – the EHIC is health insurance, nothing more
• Countries outside the EU/EEA – Turkey, Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, etc. are not covered

Verdict

The EHIC is an absolute baseline – take it on every trip to the EU. But it is not full travel insurance. Treat it as the first layer of protection, not the only one.

Option 2: Private Travel Insurance

How does it work?

You buy a policy online (takes 5–10 minutes), choose the scope of cover, travel dates, and destination. If something happens, you call the assistance number, which organises help and covers costs.

How much does it cost?

Prices depend on the scope, destination, and length of trip. Approximate costs for a one-week trip to Europe:

That's 4–20 PLN per day. Less than a coffee in central Barcelona.

What to look for when choosing a policy

1. Medical expense sum insured

The most important parameter. The minimum recommended amount is 60,000 EUR for trips within Europe. Why so much? Because:

• One day in ICU in Germany costs 3,000–5,000 EUR
• Knee surgery in Austria: 8,000–15,000 EUR
• Helicopter medical transport in the Alps: 10,000–20,000 EUR
• Medical repatriation to Poland: 15,000–50,000 EUR

In a serious accident, costs can reach hundreds of thousands of euros. Don't skimp on the sum insured – the difference between a 20,000 EUR and a 100,000 EUR policy is often just 20–30 PLN.

2. Exclusions and limitations

Read the fine print! The most common traps:

• Alcohol – many policies exclude events where the insured was under the influence. Some have a threshold (e.g. above 0.5 ‰), others exclude entirely.
• Sports – a standard policy usually doesn't cover extreme sports (diving, climbing, motorcycling). If you plan an active holiday, add the extension.
• Chronic conditions – exacerbation of an existing chronic condition may not be covered by a standard policy.
• Pregnancy – standard policies cover pregnancy complications up to the 32nd week, but not routine check-ups.
• COVID and epidemics – check whether the policy covers treatment costs and quarantine.

3. 24/7 assistance

Make sure the policy provides an assistance centre available 24/7 in Polish (or English). In an emergency you don't want to be explaining yourself to an operator on the other side of the world.

4. Deductible (excess)

Some cheap policies have an excess – an amount you must cover out of pocket (e.g. the first 100 EUR). Look for policies without a deductible.

Where to buy?

• Comparison sites: Rankomat, Mubi, Ubezpieczeniaonline.pl – compare offers from a dozen insurers
• Direct from insurers: Signal Iduna, Allianz, Europa, AXA, Wiener (formerly InterRisk)
• In fintech apps: Revolut (from the Plus plan), N26

Recommended insurers for travellers:

• Signal Iduna – excellent sports coverage, high medical expense limits
• Allianz – solid assistance, good reputation for paying claims
• Europa (Talanx Group) – competitive prices, broad scope

Option 3: Credit Card Insurance

How does it work?

Many premium credit cards (Visa Gold, Mastercard Gold and above) have built-in travel insurance. It activates automatically when you buy a ticket or pay for a hotel with that card.

Pros

• No need to buy a separate policy
• Often covers accompanying persons (spouse, children)
• No additional cost (beyond the card fee you already pay)

Cons and traps

• Low sums insured – often 10,000–30,000 EUR for medical expenses. That's not enough for serious cases.
• Activation condition – you must buy the ticket/hotel with that specific card
• Limited coverage period – usually 30–60 days from departure
• Complicated claims process – bank → insurer → assistance centre. More intermediaries = slower help.
• Exclusions – often more restrictive than in policies bought directly.

Verdict

Credit card insurance is better than nothing, but it should not be your only safety net. Treat it as a supplement to the EHIC and/or a private policy.

Which Insurance for Which Trip?

Weekend city break in the EU (Prague, Berlin, Barcelona)

Minimum: EHIC + basic policy (KL 30,000–60,000 EUR) = 25–40 PLN

Week-long beach holiday in the EU (Greece, Croatia, Spain)

Recommendation: EHIC + extended policy (KL 60,000–100,000 EUR + baggage + liability) = 50–80 PLN

Holiday with children

Recommendation: As above, but with a higher KL sum (min. 100,000 EUR) and trip cancellation insurance. Children get sick more often, and changing plans due to a child's illness is a standard scenario = 80–120 PLN

Active holiday (skiing, diving, trekking)

Recommendation: Policy with sports extension + mountain rescue + KL min. 100,000 EUR = 100–200 PLN

Trip outside the EU (Turkey, Albania, Georgia, USA)

Essential: Private policy with a high KL sum. For the USA minimum 200,000 EUR (one day in an American hospital is 5,000–10,000 USD). The EHIC does not work outside the EU = 100–300 PLN (more for USA/Canada)

What to Do in Case of an Accident – Step by Step

1. Call the assistance number – the number is on your insurance card or in the app. Call BEFORE going to a doctor/hospital (unless it's a life-threatening situation).
2. Provide your policy number – always have it with you (photo on phone + printout in luggage).
3. Follow instructions – the assistance centre will tell you which hospital/doctor to go to.
4. Collect documents – receipts, prescriptions, medical certificates, police reports (in case of theft).
5. Don't pay upfront – if possible, the assistance service should settle directly with the hospital (guarantee of cost coverage). If you must pay, keep all receipts for reimbursement.

How to Save on Insurance

1. Buy online – policies purchased via the internet are 10–20% cheaper than at an office.
2. Compare – use comparison sites; prices for the same cover can vary by 100%.
3. Don't over-insure – if you're not taking expensive equipment, don't pay for 10,000 PLN baggage cover.
4. Annual policy – if you travel more than 2–3 times a year, an annual policy (300–500 PLN) is cheaper than several one-offs.
5. Discounts – some comparison sites offer promo codes. Banks and credit cards also sometimes have discounts with partner insurers.

Insurance and Financial Planning

Travel insurance is part of broader financial planning. It's worth treating it as a permanent element of your holiday budget – not as an optional add-on but as a necessary expense. Financial management apps such as Freenance let you include insurance costs in your holiday budget and plan for them in advance.

Summary

Golden rule: EHIC + private policy with KL of at least 60,000 EUR. Cost: 50–100 PLN per week. Peace of mind: priceless.

Don't skimp on travel insurance. It's one of the best returns on investment you can make – and I hope you never have to prove that to yourself first-hand.