Travel Insurance for Israelis: The Complete Guide for 2026

Choose travel insurance around the travellers and trip: age, medical history, destination, dates and activities. Price alone does not show whether a policy fits. Start with medical cover, check exclusions and add the extensions you need.

What does travel insurance cover?

Core cover concerns emergency medical expenses under the policy. Baggage, cancellation, sports and pre-existing conditions may require extensions. Check the schedule, limits, deductibles and exclusions.

• Medical cover: urgent treatment, hospitalization, medication and evacuation under the policy.
• Baggage: check that cover was purchased and review per-item limits.
• Cancellation and curtailment: only events and reasons specified in the cover purchased.
• Sports and existing conditions: check whether underwriting or an extension is needed.

For example, Harel’s travel FAQ describes separate baggage and cancellation extensions. This is a product example; your own policy documents determine the cover.

How much does family travel insurance cost?

There is no single family price. A quote needs each traveller’s age, dates, destination, medical information and activities. Compare quotes for the same people and cover, including baggage, cancellation, deductibles and any sports extension.

For a family spending a week in Europe, prepare each traveller’s age, countries visited and departure and return dates. Specify skiing, expensive equipment or special medical needs. Compare the total price for the same period, not just an advertised daily rate.

Existing conditions or hospitalization before travel

Disclose the hospitalization and medical condition in the health declaration. The insurer may request documents, offer an extension or special terms, or decline cover. Confirm coverage and exclusions in writing; a doctor’s fitness-to-fly approval is not insurance approval.

• Answer the health declaration accurately, including treatment and medication where requested.
• Prepare a discharge summary and current records if requested by the insurer.
• Get the underwriting decision and any required extension in writing.
• Check what to do if your health changes between purchase and departure.

Skiing, adventure sports and trekking

Tell the insurer the exact activity and check its activity list and exclusions. Winter sports may need a different extension from adventure sports. There is no universal altitude threshold or activity list. For trekking, also check search and rescue, evacuation, altitude, equipment and guide requirements; medical cover does not automatically include them all.

Cancellation, curtailment and infectious illness

Medical cover for illness abroad is different from cancellation before departure or extra accommodation costs. For COVID-19 too, check each benefit separately: the insured event, start date, documents, limit and deductible. There is no universal reimbursement amount, and not every flight change, lockdown or concern about travel is covered.

Credit-card benefits and online purchase

Check the specific benefit: activation, insured people, days, destinations, medical conditions, limits and extensions. A free benefit may not cover the whole trip or family. Compare its documents with your actual needs.

When buying online, check the declaration, extensions and dates before paying, then save the policy. If a medical question is unclear, clarify it with the insurer or agent before accepting the offer.

What if you need treatment abroad?

In a medical emergency, contact local emergency services immediately. Contact the insurer’s assistance centre as soon as possible for guidance and coordination, and keep medical records and receipts. Do not delay urgent care while waiting for an agent or claim approval.

Before-departure checklist

• All travellers, dates and destinations are correct.
• Existing medical conditions have been assessed and extensions appear in the documents.
• Planned activities are included and exclusions are understood.
• The emergency number, policy and documents are available offline.