Travel Insurance For a Trip From USA to Ireland (2024) (2024)

Ireland doesn’t require travel insurance for U.S. visitors. But coverage for medical events, trip cancellations and rental cars can save you from losing money to sunk costs and expensive medical bills. The U.S. Embassy warns that U.S. health insurance may not work in Ireland, and you may have to pay healthcare expenses upfront.

Travel to Ireland often requires connecting flights. A delay or cancellation could have a snowball effect, causing you to miss the next leg of your journey or lose hotel reservations. Strong Atlantic storms or ash from volcanic eruptions in neighboring Iceland could halt flights. Trip cancellation insurance accounts for these unexpected events.

Finally, despite good driving infrastructure, Irish roads compared to U.S. roads are narrow and winding, which may challenge many American tourists. It’s a smart reason for taking car rental insurance.

Here are the five travel insurance policy types to consider when planning an Ireland getaway.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

As its name suggests, cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage pays for a trip if it gets canceled without explanation. This is important because standard trip cancellation insurance covers cancellations only if they fall into specific categories.

With a standard policy, insurers offer reimbursem*nt if the cancellation is beyond your control. Scheduling conflicts, such as a family event or a change in relationship status with your traveling companion, won’t qualify for coverage.

CFAR coverage lets you cancel for reasons that are excluded in standard cancellation policies and still receive compensation. It can prove useful for trips to Ireland planned well in advance because it protects against conflicts that come up between your booking date and departure date.

Gear Theft Protection

Travel insurance plans often include a modest amount of coverage for lost luggage or theft. But these policies have limited payouts for gear theft. If you have a valuable phone, camera, computer or other device, insurance may not cover its full value.

According to the U.S. Department of State, theft rates in Ireland have increased in recent years, and tourists are often targets. So adding gear theft coverage could be a good idea.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

Injuries, accidents and illnesses happen anywhere. Medical emergencies are especially stressful when you are traveling in an unfamiliar country. If you are hurt or ill, you will have to seek treatment from a hospital or medical clinic. This type of travel insurance covers those bills.

According to the State Department, Ireland has excellent healthcare facilities capable of providing emergency assistance and quality treatment. Unless your private medical insurance works internationally or you’re eligible for coverage through Ireland’s Department of Social Protection, you’ll pay out of pocket for care.

If you purchase travel insurance for medical emergencies, you might want to seek a policy including medical evacuation insurance. This covers the cost of a medical flight back to the U.S. or another location. These policies usually include coverage for repatriation of remains, should you die abroad.

While Ireland has excellent medical care, the State Department warns that waiting for some procedures can be lengthy, so evacuation insurance could help you get faster access to care.

Rental Car Protection

Auto rental companies in Ireland require car insurance. These agencies provide collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage when you rent the vehicle. This basic policy covers damage after a deductible gets paid. Most companies also have a “CDW excess” option with complete, no-deductible coverage.

While you can choose convenient insurance products when renting, you can waive them if you already have coverage. Some premium credit cards automatically insure rental vehicles that get paid with their card. If you have a single-trip itinerary requiring a significant amount of driving, you can purchase a separate rental car policy or find a comprehensive travel insurance plan with vehicle coverage.

Before you purchase rental car protection, check your policy document for your vehicle insurance at home. Some include coverage for rentals. Take these documents with you to Ireland so that a rental car company can verify your coverage.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance covers 100% of the cost of your trip if you cancel for specific reasons. The insurance provider usually pays claims for travel canceled because of a death in the family, jury duty or a court summons, natural disasters or conflict in your destination, verifiable illness occurring before your departure date or military deployment.

Insurers list exclusions, such as scheduling conflicts, non-emergency appointments or falling out with travel companions. Insurers may also consider excluding pre-existing medical conditions. While coverage applies to unexpected illnesses or injuries, it won’t protect for healthcare issues you already know about or illnesses beginning before you bought the policy.

Because of the cost of international travel, trip cancellation insurance is typically a good investment, and it brings peace of mind from knowing unexpected events won’t cause a complete loss of your travel budget.

Different factors can affect the cost of travel insurance for an Ireland vacation. For many travelers, a comprehensive plan with cancellation, interruption, emergency medical and evacuation coverage provides good value.

We requested quotes from ten travel insurance companies for their most affordable plan for a trip to Ireland. The below quotes are for a 30-year-old traveler from Florida, traveling to Ireland for ten days in September 2024, with a total trip cost of $4,000. Policies include coverage for cancellations, interruptions, delays, medical care and evacuation.

These quotes were collected in April 2024 for a trip in September 2024.

These quotes are from insurer websites, and they’re an average of seven trips outlined in our methodology. These trips have varying numbers of travelers, traveler ages and trip costs.

Other options may be more suitable for some travelers. For example, multi-trip insurance or an annual multi-trip policy could provide better value for frequent international fliers or backpacker-style travelers visiting multiple destinations over a long period.

For a look at the full details of travel insurance costs, go here: How Much Is Travel Insurance?

You can get a travel insurance quote from each insurer’s website. While comprehensive cancellation and medical coverage may be the most convenient choice, you may not need all the elements.

Here are some of the protections you may already have:

• Your private health insurance may cover many medical expenses for international travel. If this is the case, you don’t need medical coverage as part of your travel insurance.
• If you book your flight and hotel with a credit card, you may already have cancellation coverage. Contact your credit card company or look at its FAQs page to find out the full details of any coverage.
• Airlines often offer cancellation insurance when you book your ticket. Also, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) points out that airlines must refund money to passengers for canceled flights that result in the cancellation of an entire trip. However, the compensation only covers the price of a flight and any associated fees. It doesn’t cover fees for canceled hotel reservations or other lost travel costs.

By checking these various coverages, you can avoid wasting money by paying for insurance that you already have through another source.

According to the State Department, Ireland currently has a Level 1 travel advisory. This rating means it is generally safe in the country if you use standard travel tips for safety.

Potential issues to be aware of when traveling in Ireland include crime and safety, problems with day trips and tours and safety from eCOVID-19.

Crime and Safety

Even though Ireland is relatively safe, crime is rising. Ireland’s Central Statistics Office found a 41% increase in theft between 2021 and 2022 and a 17% bump in assaults and harassment.

Thefts of tourists may occur near ATMs, and thieves may attempt to break into rental cars, which have specific identifying stickers. Take common-sense measures to stay out of dangerous situations, such as remaining in crowded areas at night, using ATMs inside banks during the day and not leaving valuables in visible places inside your car.

Day Trips, Tours and Excursions

Some Ireland excursions can be hazardous. For example, 1,435 cyclists were injured on Irish roads between 2016 and 2021. Many of these incidents involved cars hitting cyclists on rural roads. You can avoid dangerous situations by biking with a group or taking a tour with a trusted guide.

Some of Ireland’s most popular hiking trails and mountains have treacherous conditions. For instance, Croagh Patrick, a popular mountain on the western coast, experiences high winds and unstable trail surfaces that can make climbing dangerous.

You should always check weather reports, seek local insights, or travel with a group or guide when attempting hiking or other adventure activities in Ireland.

COVID-19

Ireland today has no COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Arriving passengers no longer need to provide vaccine documentation or coronavirus test results. The Irish government issues guidance related to the virus but has lifted all restrictions.