Travel insurance for Türkiye
Do I need travel insurance for Türkiye?
If you plan to visit Türkiye (formerly known as Turkey), Smartraveller recommends purchasing a comprehensive policy due to the high cost of health care.1 Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for any medical expenses that may arise.
Travel insurance could be an important addition to any European holiday. Along with emergency medical expenses, travel insurance cover may provide reimbursements for a number of other insured events, including:
- Trip cancellations and delays
- Lost and stolen baggage
- Rental vehicle excess.
We recommend that you read the relevant policy documents such as the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before purchasing any travel insurance policy. The PDS offers more policy details on inclusions, exclusions and limits, while the TMD could help you figure out if the cover is right for you.
What should my travel insurance policy for Türkiye cover?
For a single trip to Türkiye, consider purchasing travel insurance cover with the following benefits.
Medical expenses
Medicare won’t cover you in Türkiye as this country doesn’t have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia. You’ll have to cover all your medical costs on your trip if you don’t have travel insurance, which could cost you thousands.
The following medical cover may be included in your travel insurance policy:
- Medical treatment for illnesses and injuries (including COVID-19)
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Medical care from doctors and in hospitals
- 24/7 emergency assistance.
Cancellation cover
If you purchase a policy before your trip to Türkiye, cancellation cover could provide financial protection if there are disruptions to your travel plans, including if:
- You or the person you’re travelling with can’t travel due to injury or illness
- Important travel documents like your passport are stolen
- Your destination experiences a natural disaster
- The travel advice for your destination changes to ‘do not travel’.
Lost or stolen baggage and personal belongings
Pickpocketing, bag snatching and other kinds of theft may occur in Türkiye and are especially common in popular tourist areas in Istanbul.1 If you’ve purchased travel insurance, it could cover the theft or loss of your baggage and valuables up to a certain limit. Your passport may also be covered if it’s lost or stolen.
What’s usually excluded from travel insurance?
Most travel insurance policies have these general exclusions:
- Pre-existing medical conditions. Medical expenses for your pre-existing condition may only be covered if you inform your insurance provider of your condition and they agree to cover it.
- Unattended luggage. Most insurance providers deny claims of lost or stolen baggage if it was left unattended in a public place.
- Intoxication. Travel insurance companies generally won’t cover claims for losses that occur while you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Illegal and reckless behaviour. Claims based on activities that are reckless or illegal are typically rejected.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As the Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
Want to know more about travel insurance?
1 Smartraveller – Türkiye. Accessed 2 October 2024.