Travel Insurance for Portugal

​​Travel Insurance for Portugal: Essential Coverages & Must-Know Travel Tips 

​What Should Your Travel Insurance Cover for a Trip to Portugal? 

​How Does Travel Insurance for Portugal Work? 

​What Does Travel Insurance for Portugal Typically Cost? 

​AXA’s Suggested Travel Insurance Plans 

​Are there any COVID-19 restrictions for Travelers to Portugal? 

​FAQs​ 

Is Portugal your next travel destination, and you can’t wait to see everything it has to offer? Of course, with all the stunning views, delicious food, and rich culture, who wouldn’t be excited? But have you thought about what you’d do if things didn’t go exactly as planned in this southwestern area of Europe? We are talking about missing your flights, lost bags, or an unexpected medical issue. Well! That’s where travel insurance for Portugal comes in handy.  

In this guide, let’s explore why it’s worth having and how to pick the right coverage for your trip. 

What Should Your Travel Insurance Cover for a Trip to Portugal? 

When planning your Portugal trip, consider how travel insurance can protect you. According to the U.S. Department of State, travel insurance is highly suggested to travelers during their trip abroad. For Portugal, here are some important coverages to look for your adventure: 

Emergency Health Related Expenses 

This covers unexpected medical expenses if you get sick or injured while in Portugal. This may include your hospital stays, doctor visits, and medication.  

For instance, you are exploring Sintra’s hiking trails and castles, which have uneven paths, rocky terrains, and steep stairs. You might fall over the path and have a sprain. With emergency travel medical insurance, you will be able to get treatment for your hospital visit and other medical assistance like X-rays. This coverage will get you the required medical assistance without affecting your budget. 

Trip Cancellation or Interruption 

You have a flight from New York to Portugal, but it got canceled because of a severe storm. If your trip got canceled or interrupted because of a natural calamity or you got sick right before your trip, then you will be liable to get the coverage.  

Trip cancelation and interruption serve you for all the covered reasons, such as an illness, a family emergency, the death of a close family member, extreme weather conditions, etc. This coverage makes sure that you will get reimbursement for non-refundable flight and hotel bookings as well as other tour costs. 

Lost or Delayed Luggage 

Travel insurance also offers compensation if your important baggage is lost, stolen, or delayed on your way to or from Portugal. Moreover, it also helps you cover essentials while you are waiting for your bags to arrive. 

This means if your luggage is delayed during a layover in Madrid, you can purchase essentials like clothing or toiletries in Lisbon and have those costs reimbursed. 

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation 

While surfing on Cascais beaches, you are very likely to get injured. In such cases, the evacuation costs can take a toll on your pocket.  

Having travel insurance covers emergency evacuation and repatriation, which covers the cost of emergency transportation if you need to be flown home or to a nearby medical facility for treatment while in Portugal. 

Collision Damage Waiver 

This coverage benefits you if you have plans to drive on the roads of Portugal. Suppose you are driving a rental car on scenic roads of the Algarve coast, and you accidentally scrape your rental car against a stone wall. If you have CDW insurance, you will reduce the massive cost of repairs on this foreign land. Apart from accidents, it can also cover theft and vandalism.  

Optional Cancel for Any Reason 

With CFAR coverage, you can cancel your plan due to any obligation, whether it is personal or work-related, right before the beginning of your trip. You will get 75% coverage for your non-refundable prepaid expenses. Other than standard reasons for cancellations, this coverage offers you the security to cancel your planned trip for any reason. 

This coverage is beneficial to you if your plans remain unpredictable till the last moment. It will make sure that your investment in hotel bookings, flights, and our packages does not totally go in vain. 

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How Does Travel Insurance for Portugal Work? 

When you purchase a travel insurance policy, you pay a premium based on your trip details, such as your destination, duration, and the coverage you need. 

For Portugal, you need to be clear about your itinerary before buying the travel insurance. Whether you are going for adventure sports, sightseeing, leisure, or just wandering through the historical areas, you need to be very specific about the coverage that you might need during your trip. 

For example, if something goes wrong while you’re enjoying your time in Portugal, like a medical emergency or evacuation, you can make sure that you have travel medical insurance. Or, if you might need to cancel a flight, you have trip cancellation coverage. This way, you can make a claim for any of the reasons covered by your travel insurance provider. 

For claims, the insurer will guide you through the process, which usually involves submitting any necessary documentation, like receipts, medical reports, or proofs of the reason for your required coverage.  

After filing the claim, the reimbursement amount for your covered expenses will be directly received in your bank account or will get settled with the service providers. You might also get additional requests from the insurers if any doubts or queries arise. So, stay in touch with the insurer so that your claim will be settled as soon as possible and you can enjoy having a great time in Portugal. 

What Does Travel Insurance for Portugal Typically Cost? 

The cost of Portugal's travel insurance is influenced by several factors. It usually costs you around 3-10% of your prepaid and non-refundable trip costs. The cost of the premium depends on the following factors.  

While the basic plans cover essential needs like medical expenses, evacuation, trip cancellations, and delays, the higher coverage plans offer protection against situations such as adventure sports, car rental damage, baggage loss, delays, and more. The coverage amount also varies depending on the type of coverage you choose. 

The premium cost is also affected by the length of your stay. Shorter trips, such as a weekend getaway to Lisbon, will cost you less premium, while a month-long exploration will cost you more. 

Your age is also a major factor in deciding your travel insurance cost. Older travelers have increased health risks, some of which might have pre-existing medical conditions. This can result in higher premium prices than those within a young age group without any existing medical condition. 

Lastly, if you are planning activities such as hiking, skiing, surfing, etc., or need additional coverage, such as cancellation for any reason or collision damage waiver, you might need specialized coverage, which can result in increasing your travel insurance cost. 

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AXA’s Suggested Travel Insurance Policies 

We offer three main travel insurance policies for Portugal: AXA Silver, AXA Gold, and AXA Platinum. Each of these policies is curated for different types of travel plans. 
In fact, you can customize your policies according to your travel requirements. 

AXA Silver 

This policy is for basic coverage and is helpful in emergency situations, trip cancellations, interruptions, delays, baggage loss, or delays. The AXA Silver is also pocket-friendly and is very beneficial for those with basic travel itineraries.  

AXA Gold 

The AXA Gold is most suitable for those looking for mid-level coverage. It offers more than the basic coverage. You can get a collision damage waiver if you are going to drive on the scenic roads of this beautiful country. Also, you can get coverage for non-medical emergency evacuation as well as pre-existing medical conditions. However, you must be very clever about buying the travel insurance policy at the right time to get the most out of your coverage. 

AXA Platinum 

AXA Platinum offers additional coverage for canceling the trip for any reason, along with a higher coverage amount for your medical expenses, trip cancellations, interruptions, and all other coverages. You can also get coverage for adventure sports under this plan. The only condition is to buy travel insurance right after you book your travel itineraries or before the particular timeframe from your day of travel. 

Besides, AXA Travel Insurance also offer assistance and support 24/7 and help you deal with all the unforeseen circumstances during your travel insurance. 

Are there any COVID-19 restrictions for Travelers to Portugal? 

Currently, Portugal has lifted the COVID-19 restrictions. There is no need to show proof of vaccinations or negative test results to enter the country. If you are feeling unwell, you can choose to wear the mask, but it is purely an option. However, it may still be necessary in specific hospitals. 

As travel guidelines can change depending on the circumstances, check the official government website of Portugal or monitor local media or advisories given by the Portuguese authorities closer to your travel dates. 

FAQs About Travel Insurance for Portugal 

Q. How many days does it take to clear a claim for travel insurance? 

The timelines related to the settlement of claims vary. Normally, it takes about 1-3 weeks after the submission of other documents, including receipts, medical reports, or any other proof against the requested compensation. 

Q. Are there certain travel insurance policies for backpacking in Portugal? 

There are some travel insurance providers who make plans according to the specifications required by the backpackers, with options such as extended trip durations, adventure travel, and multi-locale. This is the most important thing to consider here because you have to first consult with your insurers to see if they meet all your needs. 

Q. Can writing a travel insurance policy encompass services such as tasting wines or food and wine trails in Portugal? 

In fact, such activity is usually included, but it is recommended that you check it with your travel insurance company. These activities might lead to an eventual mishap during the tours, or they might receive coverage under medical help. 

Q. What happens if my travel insurance expires while I am traveling in Portugal? 

If your stay extends, insurers might allow you to extend your travel insurance policy as well, but you need to apply for the extension before the expiry date. Also, check with your insurer first to understand all important requirements for the process. 

Q. Is travel insurance mandatory for applying for a Schengen visa to Portugal? 

Yes, travel insurance is a mandatory condition for applying for a Schengen visa for medical and health emergencies.