Travel plans often paint a bright picture: beaches, cool mountain air, the anticipation of savoring local flavors, and the simple thrill of seeing a monument or artwork in person. Yet travelers may also feel a flutter of nerves about flying, driving, or handling luggage on the road. The unsettling truth is that many people worry less about illness or injury than about the travel glitches that can disrupt a trip. A recent report from Unespa, drawing on data from nine industry organizations and analyzing 170,734 incidents from the past year, confirms that health concerns account for a large share of mishaps, even though travelers rarely acknowledge this risk before departure.
Insurance coverage extends well beyond medical and hospital assistance. It protects travelers’ assets too, such as locating lost baggage, covering damage or theft, and easing financial strain. It also helps with trip budgeting by covering cancellation costs due to illness, accidents, job changes, or other unforeseen events while abroad. These protections often translate into a safer, more predictable travel experience and greater peace of mind for the insured traveler.
According to the Unespa report, illness is the leading category of insured events, representing about 61% of claims. Trip cancellations account for roughly 9.3%, and accidents about 8.8%. In other words, seven out of ten insured incidents relate to a traveler’s health. Other common issues include lost or misplaced luggage, early returns, extended stays, and the need for legal assistance.
Geographically, a portion of the incidents occurred within Spain, while the remainder happened abroad. The United States tops the abroad list, accounting for around 7.28% of total incidents. Other notable international destinations include Mexico (4.14%), Andorra (4.06%), Italy (3.96%), and France (3.47%). The Caribbean destinations Dominican Republic (2.39%) and Thailand (2.31%) are also highlighted as frequent points of risk in travel claims.
Cost considerations
The report also evaluates the cost of health incidents covered by insurance. The top two most expensive destinations are in Asia: Cambodia leads with an average expense around €1,187 for medical care, followed by Nepal, the Himalayas nation, at about €975. In the Americas, the most costly places are Venezuela (€955), the United States (€925), and the Dominican Republic (€783).
Unespa notes that the insurer’s payout varies by country, reflecting local medical costs and the complexity of care. The United States and Mexico rank high on the cost spectrum for claims, with figures approaching or exceeding €134,000 in certain scenarios, followed by Cambodia and Thailand, which also show substantial costs (Unespa data).
Return-related expenses are another focus of the report. The highest costs for emergency repatriation involve distant locations, with Guinea at the top of the ranking (€15,212). French Guiana and Mali follow, with €12,776 and €10,461 respectively. Martinique (€9,496) and Puerto Rico (€8,806) come next, underscoring that travel situations far from home can incur significant outlays. In some cases, costs in nearby but still remote destinations, such as Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, or France, may range between €1,800 and €2,300 depending on the services required.