Could a hospital visit cost more than your holiday?
TravelArticleSeptember 7, 2026
What travelers often overlook about healthcare abroad – and why preparation matters.
Nobody books a holiday expecting to end up in hospital. Most people spend more time researching restaurants than local healthcare systems.
Yet medical incidents are more common than many might think, accounting for 60% of all assistance cases handled by Zurich Cover-More last year.
Most travelers assume the biggest challenge would be the illness or injury itself. In reality, what happens next can vary enormously depending on where you are in the world.
Here are five things people often discover when they’re dealing with a medical emergency far from home.
1. The same illness can mean very different experiences
Take appendicitis. It’s one of the most common medical emergencies for those on the road – and, in most cases, highly treatable. But where it happens can make a significant difference to both the care you receive and the cost that follows.
An appendectomy in a private-hospital can cost up to USD 55,000 in the U.S., compared with under USD 10,000 in Brazil, South Africa and Turkey.
But it is not just about cost. In some countries, appendicitis is typically diagnosed quickly, treated through minimally invasive keyhole surgery with patients sent home within a day or two. Elsewhere, treatment may involve a more invasive procedure, longer recovery times and more complex aftercare.
That uncertainty can be one of the most stressful parts of a medical emergency abroad. The illness may be familiar, but the healthcare system is not.
2. Getting to the right hospital is not always straightforward
When most people imagine a medical emergency abroad, they picture a hospital visit. But in some destinations, the biggest challenge is getting to the right hospital in the first place.
Not every hospital is equipped to handle every emergency. In remote locations, the safest option may involve a long ambulance transfer, a helicopter evacuation or transport to another city where appropriate facilities are available.
What starts as a relatively clear-cut medical issue can quickly become a logistical one, requiring quick decisions and specialist coordination at a time when travelers are often least equipped to manage either.
For example, one of our surfing customers suffered a neck injury on a remote Indonesian island. With no suitable medical facilities nearby, we had to land a helicopter at a disused mining site before transporting her to Bali. There, local doctors recommended surgery. After reviewing the scans, however, our medical specialists determined it wasn’t necessary, and she was able to return home safely with neck stabilization instead.
3. Expertise can matter as much as cover
While abroad, receiving treatment is only part of the equation.
Travelers may need help understanding local medical recommendations, navigating language barriers, accessing second opinions or simply deciding what to do next. In unfamiliar environments, recommended procedures or medications may differ significantly from what they would be used to at home.
Technology is making that easier. Telemedicine and virtual consultations are becoming increasingly common, but new digital assistance tools can also help people connect with medical and travel assistance teams through an app, even when traditional phone coverage is limited or international calling costs are high. For many situations, expert advice can provide reassurance, help avoid unnecessary hospital visits and make unfamiliar healthcare systems easier to navigate.
4. Costs don’t stop with the patient
When people think about medical emergencies abroad, they usually picture hospital bills. But the financial and practical consequences often extend far beyond the person receiving treatment.
If someone you’re traveling with is seriously injured or admitted to hospital, the rest of the trip rarely continues as planned. Equally, if a traveler is hospitalized overseas, family members may suddenly find themselves traveling to them instead.
In many policies, benefits such as trip curtailment, trip interruption or compassionate visits are designed to help with these wider consequences. Depending on the circumstances, this may include additional accommodation expenses, rearranged travel plans, unused prepaid bookings, or travel for a close family member when their presence is medically necessary.
The illness or injury may affect one person; the disruption often affects many more.
5. The bill is rarely just one bill
Medical costs abroad often extend far beyond the headline treatment cost.
A single hospital stay might generate 40 separate invoices – from surgeons, anesthetists, labs, radiologists and ambulance services. Even relatively minor incidents can generate surprisingly complex bills.
In the past five years, five of the 10 most expensive Travel Guard* claims involved medical treatment and hospitalization in the U.S. – with the largest claim exceeding USD 1.6 million.
The challenge is not only the cost itself but understanding what you are being charged for, what treatment is necessary and what support may be available. In many cases, specialist assistance providers can help patients understand, consolidate and challenge complex medical bills, reducing both cost and administrative burden.
The vast majority of trips will go exactly as planned. But healthcare abroad can vary enormously in cost, quality, culture and complexity. That’s why preparation is about more than understanding what costs might be covered. It’s about knowing what support is available, how to access medical advice and where to turn if something unexpected happens.
*Part of Zurich Cover-More.
