Travel Insurance from Germany: Which Policies Does a Tourist Need

For trips from Germany, people most often consider four types of protection: trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption insurance, international health insurance, and luggage insurance. You do not need every policy at once: the choice depends on the cost of the trip, the destination, travellers’ health, the type of holiday, and which risks are already covered by a credit card, club membership, or existing policies.

The main rule is simple: expensive non-refundable bookings are best insured against cancellation, treatment abroad requires separate Auslandskrankenversicherung, and sports and mountains should be covered only after checking the exclusions in the contract.

Types of travel insurance

Type of insurance	German name	When it is particularly useful
Cancellation before departure	Reiserücktrittsversicherung	An expensive trip, non-refundable tickets, travel with children, elderly people, or people at risk of illness
Trip interruption	Reiseabbruchversicherung	A long or expensive trip, when returning early could be costly
Health insurance abroad	Auslandskrankenversicherung / Auslandsreisekrankenversicherung	Almost any trip outside Germany, especially outside the EU or where transport home may be needed
Luggage	Reisegepäckversicherung	Expensive luggage, equipment, sports gear, or complex flights with connections
Active sports	Zusatzschutz, Unfallversicherung, Wintersportversicherung	Skiing, snowboarding, diving, mountaineering, cycling tours, trekking, and other higher-risk activities

Before buying, check whether similar cover is already included with a credit card, premium banking package, club card, or family policy. Double insurance rarely produces a double payout: compensation for one loss is usually limited to the actual damage.

Reiserücktrittsversicherung: cancelling a trip before departure

Reiserücktrittsversicherung helps if you have to cancel a trip before it begins and the tour operator, airline, hotel, or booking platform charges a cancellation fee. It is especially useful for package holidays, cruises, expensive flights, and bookings without free cancellation.

An insured event usually has to be sudden and serious. Contracts often list reasons such as:

an unexpected serious illness;
an accident;
the death of a close relative;
pregnancy complications;
significant damage to the home, such as a fire or flood;
job loss or unexpected new employment;
a compulsory resit exam, if this is expressly included in the tariff.

The insurer assesses not merely whether an event occurred, but whether it genuinely made the trip unreasonable or impossible. Simply not wanting to fly, fear of flying, a poor weather forecast, or traffic jams on the way to the airport are generally not sufficient reasons.

What may be reimbursed

Cover depends on the contract, but it most often concerns costs that cannot be recovered in another way:

cancellation fees for the trip;
non-refundable plane or train tickets;
hotel, apartment, cruise, or car rental costs;
prepaid excursions, courses, and events;
part of the costs paid with bonus miles, if the tariff provides for this.

Important: insurance does not replace the seller’s rules. First, check what can be refunded by the airline, hotel, or tour operator; only the remainder may be considered by the insurer.

When to take it out

Purchase deadlines differ. Many insurers require the policy to be bought soon after booking or no later than a set period before the trip begins. The safe approach is therefore to arrange cover immediately after buying an expensive trip, rather than waiting for the first signs of illness or another problem.

If the trip is already at risk, new insurance will usually not help: a known risk is not considered an unexpected event.

Reiseabbruchversicherung: when a trip has to be interrupted

Reiseabbruchversicherung applies after the journey has already started. It is needed when a sudden event forces you to return early, remain abroad longer, or change your itinerary.

Typical situations include:

the traveller becomes seriously ill or is injured;
an emergency occurs at home that requires their return;
a close relative dies;
the trip cannot continue because of an event specified in the contract;
the return journey has to be changed urgently and new tickets bought.

This policy is often sold together with Reiserücktrittsversicherung. It may be unnecessary for a short, inexpensive trip, but useful for a family holiday, cruise, or long-distance trip.

What it usually covers

If a trip is interrupted, the insurance may reimburse:

unused days of accommodation and meals;
new tickets for the return journey;
additional costs caused by a forced delay;
unused prepaid services;
organisational assistance through the insurer’s service centre.

Example: a family goes on holiday, but one parent suffers a serious injury. Health insurance deals with the treatment, while Reiseabbruchversicherung may cover part of the family’s costs for an early return and unused services if the case is covered by the contract.

Auslandskrankenversicherung: health insurance abroad

Travel health insurance is the most important policy for most trips. German GKV through the EHIC helps in EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, and some countries with agreements, but it is not the same as comprehensive travel insurance.

Important points to understand:

the EHIC provides access to medically necessary care under the rules of the country you are visiting;
local co-payments and restrictions may apply;
private bills may not be reimbursed in full, or at all;
medical transport back to Germany is generally not covered by GKV;
outside countries with an appropriate agreement, GKV cover can be very limited.

Separate Auslandskrankenversicherung is therefore particularly important for travel outside the EU, expensive destinations, trips with children, elderly people, pregnant people, and people with chronic conditions.

What travel health insurance usually covers

The exact list depends on the tariff, but good policies usually include:

outpatient and inpatient treatment for sudden illness or injury;
medicines and dressings;
emergency dental treatment, such as pain relief or a temporary filling, if provided for in the contract;
medically necessary transport to a clinic;
medically justified transport to Germany;
organisational assistance and contact with the clinic;
repatriation in the event of death.

Routine dental treatment abroad is generally not covered. Insurance is intended for sudden care, not medical tourism.

Common exclusions

Before buying, read the Versicherungsbedingungen, not just the promotional table. Restrictions often concern:

chronic illnesses and pre-existing diagnoses;
pregnancy after a certain stage;
psychotherapy and addictions;
treatment that could have been postponed until returning home;
travel to countries subject to an official travel warning;
sports injuries, if the sport is excluded by the tariff;
alcohol, drugs, and gross negligence.

If you plan diving, mountaineering, off-piste skiing, motorsport, or extended trekking, a standard tariff may not be enough.

How treatment abroad is paid for

For a minor case, the traveller often pays the bill themselves, keeps the documents, and submits them to the insurer after returning home. For expensive treatment, hospitalisation, or an operation, call the insurer’s emergency assistance as soon as possible: the insurer may arrange payment directly with the clinic.

Keep:

bills stating the diagnosis and services provided;
prescriptions;
proof of payment;
medical reports;
the claim number;
boarding passes and confirmation of travel dates, if requested by the insurer.

If you have both GKV and private Auslandskrankenversicherung, the reimbursement process depends on the contract. You cannot receive compensation exceeding the actual loss.

Reisegepäckversicherung: luggage insurance

Luggage insurance does not cover the inconvenience itself, but the financial loss caused by lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed belongings. It can be useful when travelling with expensive equipment, sports gear, or on a complex itinerary with connections.

But it is not always worthwhile. The carrier is already liable for checked luggage, and insurance policies often contain limits, excesses, and strict duties of care for belongings.

What to check in the contract

Pay particular attention to:

the maximum sum insured;
limits for electronics, jewellery, cameras, and laptops;
cover for hand luggage and checked luggage;
rules for belongings in a car, tent, boat, or left-luggage facility;
deadlines for reporting theft or damage;
the list of exclusions: cash, tickets, documents, securities, and professional equipment.

If luggage is delayed, the policy may cover necessary purchases for the first days of the trip. However, check the limit and permitted expenses in the specific tariff.

Active holidays, skiing, and sports

For active holidays, ordinary travel insurance may not be enough. For skiing, snowboarding, mountain hiking, cycling tours, surfing, or diving, it is important to check three areas of protection.

1. Auslandskrankenversicherung

It is needed for treatment and medical transport. But not every tariff covers all sports. If the contract excludes competitions, freeriding, mountaineering, or dives below a certain depth, the insurer may refuse cover.

2. Private Haftpflichtversicherung

Private liability insurance is needed if the traveller causes harm to another person or someone else’s property. On a ski slope, this could mean a collision, injury to another skier, or damage to equipment.

3. Private Unfallversicherung

Unfallversicherung covers the consequences of your own accident, particularly where it results in disability or requires additional financial support. It does not replace health insurance, but can help with the long-term consequences of an injury.

Alcohol and gross negligence

Alcohol on the slopes or while operating a vehicle sharply increases the risk of a claim being refused. Some countries set specific blood-alcohol limits for skiers or drivers, but even without a formal limit, an insurer may regard the conduct as gross negligence.

How to choose travel insurance

It is more convenient to start with the trip scenario rather than the product name.

Calculate non-refundable costs: tickets, hotel, tour, rental, and excursions.
Check the destination: EU, a country with an agreement, a distant destination, or expensive healthcare.
Consider the travellers: children, elderly people, pregnancy, and chronic conditions.
Check the activities: beach holiday, mountains, skiing, diving, driving, or a cruise.
Compare not only the price, but also exclusions, the excess, limits, and 24/7 service.
Check whether cover already exists through a bank card or another policy.
Save the policy number and emergency-assistance phone number offline.

When each policy is actually needed

Situation	What is usually a priority
Inexpensive trip within Germany	Existing GKV/PKV and liability insurance are often sufficient
A few days in the EU	Auslandskrankenversicherung is advisable because of co-payments and return transport
Expensive package holiday	Reiserücktritt + Reiseabbruch
Family holiday with children	Health insurance, cancellation, and trip interruption cover
Long-distance travel outside Europe	Auslandskrankenversicherung with high cover and return transport
Skiing or active sports	Health insurance + liability insurance + a check of sporting exclusions
Expensive equipment in luggage	Check Reisegepäckversicherung and the limits for electronics

FAQ

Do I need Auslandskrankenversicherung if I have GKV?

Yes, it is sensible for most trips. GKV helps in a limited set of countries and under local rules, but it does not cover all costs and generally does not pay for medical transport back to Germany.

Can I buy insurance after booking?

Yes, but deadlines for Reiserücktrittsversicherung are often limited. The later you buy it, the greater the risk that the policy will not cover circumstances already known to you.

Is luggage insurance worth it?

Not always. For ordinary clothing and inexpensive belongings, it may be unnecessary. For expensive equipment and complex routes with connections, it can make sense if the limits genuinely cover your belongings.

Does insurance cover chronic illnesses?

Only if this is expressly provided for. Sudden deterioration is often covered, but planned treatment and an already expected risk are not. If you have a chronic condition, read the terms particularly carefully.

What should I do when an insured event occurs?

First minimise the loss and get help, then contact the insurer as soon as possible. For expensive treatment, hospitalisation, evacuation, and an early return, it is best to call before paying major costs if the situation permits.