There's no single 'average' because travel insurance is priced based on your specific risk profile. A short European trip for a 30-year-old without activities might be quite affordable, while a month-long USA trip for a 68-year-old with skiing and cancellation could cost significantly more. The best way to know is to get quotes based on your exact trip details: destination, dates, ages, activities, and whether you need cancellation.

There's no single biggest factor—it depends on your trip. For many trips, destination (especially USA vs elsewhere) is the primary medical cost driver. But if you're adding trip cancellation for an expensive booking, cancellation coverage can dominate the premium. Age is another major factor, especially 65+. Activities like skiing or diving increase cost too. The premium reflects the combination of all these risks.

The USA has some of the highest healthcare costs in the world. An emergency room visit can cost thousands, a hospital stay tens of thousands, and complex treatment or evacuation can reach six figures. Insurers price this risk into premiums. If you're traveling to the USA, expect to pay more—but the coverage is essential because the bills you're protecting against are proportionally higher.

Yes, typically. Medical claim risk increases with age, so insurers charge higher premiums for travelers over 65. Some policies have additional pricing tiers at 70, 75, and 80. It's important to compare not just price but policy quality—some cheap plans for seniors have stricter exclusions or lower coverage that may not provide adequate protection.

Longer trips generally cost more because you're exposed to risk for a longer period. However, pricing isn't always linear—some insurers offer better rates for long-stay products (30-90+ days) compared to stacking short-trip policies. For trips over 30 days, it's worth exploring dedicated long-trip or backpacker policies which may be priced more efficiently.

A deductible (called 'excess' or 'franchise' in some markets) is the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Higher deductibles reduce your premium because you're taking on more risk yourself. Lower deductibles (or no deductible) increase premium but mean the insurer pays from the first Euro. It's a straightforward lever to adjust price.

Often yes, especially for expensive trips. Cancellation coverage is tied to your prepaid trip cost—the more you've paid that could be lost, the higher the premium. For flexible or refundable bookings, cancellation coverage may not be worth the extra cost. For expensive, non-refundable trips (flights + hotels + tours), cancellation can make sense but will meaningfully increase your premium.

It varies by insurer and activity. Adding ski/snowboard coverage typically increases premium. Scuba diving may or may not be included depending on depth. Motorbike/scooter coverage is often an add-on or excluded entirely. The increase is usually modest compared to the risk of being uninsured for an activity—but you must actively check that your activities are covered.

If you travel frequently (2-3+ trips per year), annual multi-trip policies are often more cost-effective than buying separate single-trip policies each time. However, annual policies have maximum trip length limits (often 30, 45, or 60 days per trip), so make sure your travel patterns fit. For one long trip, a single-trip policy is usually better.

Not necessarily—prices don't usually go up as your trip approaches. However, some coverages (especially cancellation) may require you to buy soon after booking to be valid. If you want cancellation protection, buy early. For medical-only coverage, timing is less critical, though buying early ensures you're protected if something happens before departure.

Pre-existing conditions can increase premium, limit eligibility, or change which policies are available to you. Some insurers exclude pre-existing conditions entirely. Others offer coverage with stability requirements (e.g., 6-12 months symptom-free) or medical screening. Accurate disclosure is essential—undisclosed conditions can void claims.

Smart cost reduction without sacrificing protection: (1) Use a reasonable deductible to lower premium; (2) Skip cancellation if your bookings are flexible or refundable; (3) Don't over-insure baggage if you travel light; (4) Only add sports coverage if you'll actually do those activities; (5) Consider annual multi-trip if you travel often. The goal isn't 'cheapest' but 'best value' for your actual risk profile.