• Holidays >
• Flights >
• Hotels >
• Car hire >
• Travel insurance >
• What to do >
• Nightlife >
• Dining >

Why do I need travel insurance in Turkey?

Medical treatment abroad can be costly regardless of where you are, and Turkey is no exception. Even routine treatment and procedures can rack up eye-watering costs and, if something serious happens, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’re going to pay for treatment.

Besides medical costs, you can also cover yourself in the event of cancellation and lost baggage with a cheap policy.

Having a comprehensive travel insurance policy will not only give you peace of mind while you are away, it will help you deal with any unwanted incidents that may occur during your holiday.

Can I use my EHIC in Turkey?

What a lot of people don’t realise is that although the EHIC entitles you reduced-cost emergency medical treatment within the European Union member states, it does not cover all aspects of your medical treatment.

For example, if you needed to be repatriated to the UK or had to have a relative stay by your bedside while away, EHIC would not cover this. You should always take out holiday insurance alongside your EHIC.

As Turkey is not in the European Union, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not apply, so a valid travel insurance policy is even more important.

Is Turkey included in Europe for travel insurance?

Some insurers do consider Turkey as a part of Europe for insurance reasons, while some don’t; the important thing is to check yourself before booking a policy.

If you are looking to book a non-world-wide policy, check that Turkey is covered as a part of Europe otherwise you may end up going on holiday without adequate cover. 

What kind of Turkey travel insurance policy do I need?

If you see yourself visiting Turkey more than once this year (or taking more than one holiday to another country), then it might make sense financially to take out an annual policy. However, if you know you will only be going on holiday to Turkey once, and are not planning another trip anywhere else, then a single-trip deal will suit you better. Cheap policies can also be found for families who are travelling together.

Will I need extra cover for certain activities?

Turkey is renowned for its sublime beaches and stunning coastline, but there is much more to this country than your average fly-and-flop holiday. Whether you’re hang-gliding from the top of Mount Babadag, taking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia or scuba diving in the Aegean Sea, Turkey has an adventurous side to explore.

However, activities like this aren’t always covered by a standard holiday insurance policy so you may need extra cover.

Specifically, scuba-diving can be a tricky thing to cover; some standard policies do cover it, some don’t and those that do offer cover might only provide insurance to a certain depth.

As always, read the fine print so that you understand the terms of your holiday insurance policy completely before you purchase.