Travel Insurance For Turkey

From bustling Istanbul to the beaches of Antalya and Bodrum, from ancient sites such as Ephesus and Göbekli Tepe to the stunning scenery of Cappadocia, you’ll want to enjoy what Turkey has to offer without worrying about the potential cost of something going wrong.

That’s where travel insurance for Turkey comes into play. It’s there to protect you financially should something unfortunate happen, such as falling ill and needing treatment while away, losing your luggage or needing to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen emergency.

Here’s everything you need to know about travel insurance for Turkey and how to find the best policy for you.

What types of travel insurance are there for Turkey?

You can find various types of travel insurance for Turkey. The main ones are: 

• single trip insurance for Turkey: covers a one-off trip.
• annual insurance for Europe/worldwide/worldwide excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean: covers more than one trip in the space of 12 months to various destinations, including Turkey.
• backpacker insurance: covers longer trips (of up to 365 days with some insurers) to multiple destinations including Turkey.

Does annual travel insurance for Europe cover Turkey?

Turkey’s status as part of Europe but not a member of the EU means that certain insurers include it in their European cover, while others include it in their worldwide and worldwide excluding the USA, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean cover.

Policies for worldwide travel, and worldwide travel excluding the USA, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, tend to be more expensive.

If you already have an annual policy in place, you should check the small print or contact your insurer, to find out if it covers Turkey specifically.

What does travel insurance for Turkey cover?

As with other types of travel insurance policy, travel insurance for Turkey should include cover for medical treatment and repatriation while you’re away and cover for cancellation of your trip before you depart due to a reason such as illness, divorce, losing your job, or a family member dying. 

It should also pay out for loss or theft of your baggage and belongings, and towards legal expenses should you accidentally injure someone or damage their possessions while away.

Depending on your policy, you may also be able to add other types of cover, typically at an additional cost. If not included as standard already, this can include:

• missed departure: compensates you if an emergency such as your car breaking down causes you to miss, depending on the policy, either or both your outward and inward connections
• travel delay: pays out a set amount if your flight is delayed by 12 hours, and an additional sum for every 12 hours after that.
• end supplier failure: pays out should a company you booked with go into administration.

Remember to check the policy details for exclusions and limitations before purchasing.

Does travel insurance for Turkey cover adventure activities?

If you’re planning on going donkey trekking, bungee jumping, paragliding or even quadding, it’s likely a standard travel insurance policy for Turkey won’t cover you.

Your insurer may give you the option to add the necessary cover on to your policy, or you may have to find a specialist insurer who will provide it as a separate standalone policy.

Will my travel insurance for Turkey cover Covid-related risks?

Nearly all insurers now cover emergencies associated with the pandemic. 

Financial information business Defaqto found that 99% of policies pay out should you fall ill with the virus while away and need medical treatment, while 95% will cover you for cancellation if you contract the virus before departing.

Valid reasons for claiming differ between insurers. You can find accepted and rejected scenarios in the policy documents.

What doesn’t travel insurance for Turkey cover?

You shouldn’t expect your travel insurer to pay out if your claim is a result of intoxication from alcohol or drugs, or the result of disorderly behaviour, terrorism or a natural disaster.

You can find all limitations and exclusions to your cover in the policy details.

Can I use a GHIC card in Turkey?

GHIC (Global Health Insurance Cards) and their predecessors EHICs (European Health Insurance Cards), if still in date, can only be used in EU countries. They are not valid in Turkey.

It’s therefore vital that you take out travel insurance with an adequate level of medical cover when travelling to Turkey. The government’s Money Helper’s suggestion of at least £2 million for travel worldwide is the minimum, to be on the safe side.

What else should I consider when buying travel insurance for Turkey?

Make sure to check the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s advice page for emergencies, such as threats of terrorism, natural disasters and health risks in Turkey, before travelling. 

A limited few policies will cover you if you travel to areas in Turkey where the FCDO advises against travel.

Requirements to enter Turkey have changed throughout the pandemic for UK travellers. You should check for updates before travelling.

How do I find the best travel insurance for Turkey?

Using a site such as ours to run quotes, allows you to make side-by-side comparisons.

Enter a few details about yourself and your holiday including your destination, into our travel insurance comparison tool and you will be shown the cheapest deals to meet your requirements.

You should then compare deals based on price and excess – the amount you will be required to pay on each claim.

Most importantly, make sure that the policy you pick provides sufficient levels of cover for your trip. The government’s Money Helper suggests at least £2,000 in cancellation cover and £1,500 in baggage and belongings cover in addition to £2 million for medical cover.

If you opt for cover such as gadget insurance, make sure it covers the total value of the devices you’ll be taking on holiday with you.

---