Saudi Arabia Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia

Home of shifting sands of the Arabian Desert, and a country where futuristic urban projects like NEOM collide with the ancient settlements of the Bidah Valley, Saudi Arabia is surely up there with the most intriguing of Middle Eastern destinations.

If you're planning an adventure to this less-trodden corner of the region this year, be sure to check out this guide. It's essential reading for US travelers, revealing the ins and outs of buying travel insurance for Saudi Arabia.

What should your Travel insurance cover for a trip to Saudi Arabia?
How does Travel Insurance work for Saudi Arabia?
Do I need Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia?
How much does Travel Insurance cost for Saudi Arabia?
Our Suggested AXA Travel Protection Plan
What types of medical coverage does AXA Travel Protection plans offer?
Are There Any COVID-19 Restrictions for Travelers to Saudi Arabia?
Traveling with pre-existing Medical Conditions?

What Should Your Travel Insurance Cover for a Trip to Saudi Arabia?

At a minimum, your travel insurance should cover trip cancellation, trip interruption and emergency medical expenses. When it comes to international travel, the US Department of State outlines key components that should be included in your travel insurance coverage.
AXA Travel Protection plans are designed with these minimum recommended coverages in mind.

Medical Coverage – The top priority is making sure your health is in order. With AXA Travel Protection, you can have access to quality healthcare during your trip overseas in the event of unexpected medical emergencies.
Trip Cancellation & Interruptions – Assistance against unexpected trip disruptions can dampen the mood, AXA Travel Protection offers coverage against unforeseen events.
Emergency Evacuations and Repatriation – In situations where transportation is dire, AXA Travel Protection offers provisions for emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Coverage for Personal Belongings – AXA offers coverage for your belongings with assistance against lost or delayed baggage.
Optional Cancel for Any Reason – For added flexibility, AXA offers optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage, allowing you to cancel your trip for non-traditional reasons. Exclusive to Platinum Plan holders.

In just a few seconds, you can get a free quote and purchase the best travel insurance for Saudi Arabia.

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How Does Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia Work?

Saudi Arabia is hot! Temperatures in the Red Sea resort city of Jeddah have been recorded in excess of 125 Fahrenheit. Imagine walking around the salt-washed corniches and shopping districts there only to suddenly get a hit of sun exposure. Dizziness, tiredness, and even hyperventilation are all possible symptoms. If you're covered by a travel insurance plan, then you'll likely get instant support and help, to put you in contact with the relevant medical professionals right away.
Here’s how travelers can benefit from an AXA Travel Protection Plan:

Medical Benefits:

Emergency Medical Expenses: Should you fall ill or have an accident during your trip, your policy may offer coverage for medical expenses, including hospital stays and doctor's fees.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In case of a serious medical emergency, your policy may include provisions for evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or repatriation.
Non-Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In non-medical crises (e.g., political unrest), your policy may cover evacuation or repatriation, subject to policy terms.

Pre-Departure Travel Benefits:

Trip Cancellation: You may be eligible for reimbursement if you cancel your trip due to a sudden illness or injury.
COVID-19 Travel Insurance: Coverage is available for trip cancellation and medical expenses related to COVID-19, subject to policy terms and conditions.
Trip Delay: If your flight faces delays due to unforeseen circumstances, you may have coverage for additional expenses such as meals and accommodations.

Post-Departure Travel Benefits

Trip Interruption: In case of an unexpected event, you could be eligible for reimbursement for the unused portion of your trip.
Missed Connection: If you miss a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations, this coverage may help with expenses like rebooking fees and accommodations.

Baggage Benefits:

Luggage Delay: If the airline delays your checked baggage, your policy might offer reimbursement for essential items like clothing and toiletries.
Lost or Stolen Luggage: In the unfortunate event of permanent loss or theft of your luggage, your policy may offer reimbursement for its value, assisting you in replacing your belongings.

Additional Optional Travel Benefits

Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver): Exclusive to Gold & Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit gives travelers extra coverage on their rental car against damage and theft.
Cancel for Any Reason: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders; this optional benefit gives travelers more flexibility to cancel their trip for any reason outside of their standard policy.
Loss Skier Days: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit offers reimbursement to mitigate some costs associated with pre-paid ski tickets that you or your traveling companion cannot use due to specified slope closures.
Loss Golf Days: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit offers reimbursement to mitigate the expenses linked to prepaid golf arrangements that you or your travel companion are unable to utilize due to specified golf closures.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia did have a compulsory travel insurance requirement in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that's since been lifted, so there's no overarching need to get insurance before you visit the KSA from the USA. However, most people would recommend you do get insurance for Saudi Arabia.
Why? There are several reasons:

Medical Emergencies: One of the main priorities of any travel insurance product is health coverage, and specifically coverage for medical emergencies, so that you have support and help if things suddenly go wrong.
Lost Baggage: Airlines sometimes mishandle baggage, and the last thing you want is to be without your essentials in an unfamiliar place. Travel insurance offers to cover the cost of replacing necessary items, allowing you to continue on.
Flight Delays: Travel insurance can help cover the expense of missed flights or delays, which have the power to spoil your travel plans quite considerably.

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost for Saudi Arabia?

In general, travel insurance costs about 3 – 10% of your total prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses. The cost of travel insurance depends on two factors for AXA Travel Protection plans:

Total Trip cost: The total non-prepaid and non-refundable costs you have already paid for your upcoming trip. This includes prepaid excursions, plane tickets, cruise costs, etc.
Age: Like any other insurance type, the correlation is rooted in increased health risks associated with older individuals. It's important to note that this doesn't make travel insurance unattainable for older individuals.

With AXA Travel Protection, travelers to Saudi Arabia will be offered three tiers of insurance: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each provides varying levels of coverage to cater to individual's preferences and travel needs.

Our Suggested AXA Travel Protection Plan

AXA presents travelers with three travel plans – the Silver Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan, each offering different levels of coverage to suit individual needs. Given that Saudi Arabia hospitals often do not accept U.S. health insurance or Medicare, we genuinely recommend travelers to consider purchasing any of these plans, particularly for the crucial coverage they offer for emergency accident and sickness medical expenses.

The Platinum Plan is your go-to choice if you want all the extra coverage options for your trip to Saudi Arabia. It has the highest coverage limit of any of our plans, plus additional features like "Cancel for Any Reason" which covers up to 75% of trip expenses if you choose to cancel. The Platinum Plan also includes "Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver)", which means you'll get support in the event of an accident in a hire vehicle in Saudi Arabia.

What types of medical coverage does AXA Travel Protection plans offer?

Axa covers three types of medical expenses:

Emergency medical expenses
Emergency evacuation & repatriation
Non-medical emergency evacuation & repatriation

Emergency Medical: this covers the unexpected incidents, such as sudden illness, broken bones, or emergency treatment.

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: can cover your immediate transportation home in the event of an accidental injury or illness.

Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: this offers support in the event that you need to be evacuated for a non-medical reason, such as sudden civil unrest, for example.

Are There Any COVID-19 Restrictions for Travelers to Saudi Arabia?

No. All COVID-19 restrictions have now been lifted in Saudi Arabia. Travelers no longer need to show proof of a negative test, a vaccination certificate, or undergo tests once they're in the kingdom.

Traveling with pre-existing Medical Conditions?

Traveling with preexisting medical conditions can complicate your plans, but with AXA Travel Protection, we're here to support you during your trip.

Our Gold and Platinum plans offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. The Platinum plan, in particular, is our highest-offered choice for travelers who want our highest coverage limits and optional add-ons,

What does this mean for you? If you've got a medical condition that's been hanging around, you can qualify for coverage under our Gold and Platinum plans with a pre-existing medical condition, so long as it’s within 14 days of placing your initial trip deposit and in our 60-day look-back period. We're here to ensure you travel easily, no matter your health situation.

FAQ

1.Can you buy travel insurance after booking a flight?

You can buy travel insurance even after your flight is booked.

2.When should I buy Travel Insurance to Saudi Arabia?

It's advisable to purchase travel insurance for your trip as soon as you have made your initial trip deposit (prepaid and non-refundable trip costs.)

AXA Travel Protection offers coverage as soon as you purchase your protection plan. We can give coverage against unforeseen events before you leave for your trip.

Additionally, our policies offer coverage for preexisting medical conditions and Cancel for Any Reason if you purchase your protection within 14-days of making your initial trip deposit.

3.Do Americans need travel insurance in Saudi Arabia?

You do not have to get travel insurance to visit Saudi Arabia, though most people would highly recommend it.

4.What is needed to visit Saudi Arabian from the USA?

All US passport holders will need to apply for a Saudi Arabian Tourist e-Visa before they travel. To get that, you'll need a valid passport, a digital photograph of yourself, and a working email address.

5.What happens if a tourist gets sick in Saudi Arabian?

If you become sick in Saudi Arabian, travelers with AXA Travel protection can contact the AXA Assistance hotline 855-327-1442. Contact information is typically provided within the insurance documentation. Please ensure to read through your policy details and information.

Disclaimer: It is important to note that Destination articles are for editorial purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional. Specifics of travel coverage for your destination will depend on the plan selected, the date of purchase, and the state of residency. Customers are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of their policy. Contact AXA Travel Insurance if you have any questions. AXA Assistance USA, Inc.© 2023 All Rights Reserved.