How to Buy Travel Insurance for a Trip to Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a place where cultures converge. Considered a holy site by Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, millions of tourists flock to Jerusalem each year to visit its religious and historical landmarks. As one of the oldest cities in the world, you’ll find mosques and churches, 1,000-year-old stone pathways, and ancient ruins all within walking distance.

If you’re one of the lucky visitors with an upcoming trip to Jerusalem, then you’re probably busy putting together an itinerary with such famous destinations as Haram Al-Sharif and the Western Wall. But don’t forget another crucial part of your planning: travel insurance.

In fact, travel medical insurance is mandatory for foreign nationals entering Israel, but it can be very affordable if you know where to look. This guide will help you navigate insurance considerations to make your trip to Jerusalem as safe and stress-free as possible.

Current Travel Requirements for Jerusalem

What travel requirements must you meet in order to visit Israel, especially in today’s COVID-19 era?

First things first: there are no vaccine requirements or negative COVID-19 test results needed to enter the country as of now, but of course, this can change if case counts creep up. There’s also no need to quarantine upon entering. However, it’s worth noting that you are required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to re-enter the United States if you are not an American citizen.

Here is what you do need to enter Israel:

1. Entry form: Whether you’re flying or taking a cruise to Israel, you must fill out an entry statement form within 10 days before entering. The form requires information about:
2. How you’ll be arriving (by air, sea, or land)
3. Personal details (such as your name, citizenship, passport number, and contact information)
4. Itinerary (city of arrival, airline, flight number, departure date)
5. Once you submit this form online, you’ll receive an email with a certificate attesting that you completed the entry form. The email will also let you know how long the certificate is valid and other relevant travel information.
6. Read the entry policy: Non-Israeli citizens will also need to read and ensure they comply with the general entry policy of the Population and Immigration Authority. This contains up-to-date information on entry requirements and COVID-19 policies, which are subject to change.
7. Health insurance: All tourists visiting Israel must have a health insurance policy that covers treatment for COVID-19. Since American health insurance policies typically don’t provide coverage outside of the United States, you’ll need medical travel insurance that offers this benefit.
8. Quarantining: While visitors are not required to report a positive COVID-19 result, you will be required to self-isolate if you test positive with a PCR or authorized antigen test.

Choosing Travel Insurance for Jerusalem

Now that you’re aware of the requirements for entering Israel, let’s take a closer look at how to pick the right travel insurance for your trip. Here are a few different types of coverage to consider:

Medical Insurance

In 2022, the Israeli government began requiring foreign nationals to purchase travel medical insurance with coverage for the treatment of COVID-19 in order to enter the country. Healthcare in Israel is not free and medical treatment can be extremely expensive, so this is a critical safeguard for your health and wallet.

When choosing a plan, it is important to read the fine print to understand what it covers. Some travel medical insurance policies offer a variety of benefits, but they may not include any expenses related to COVID-19.

The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority does not specify the amount of coverage your policy must provide, so as long as your travel insurance comes with some form of coverage for COVID-19 treatment, you should be good to go. Just be sure to double check the government’s website before traveling to make sure you are up to date on the latest requirements.

Trip Cancellation

This is always a popular travel insurance option because it offers reimbursement for prepaid and nonrefundable expenses in the event that you cancel your trip for a qualified reason. You may be eligible to receive refunds for pre-paid tours or hotel accommodations, for example, even if they charge you a fee or the full booking amount for canceling on short notice.

Be sure to read your trip cancellation policy carefully to see what reasons qualify for canceling. The most common are illness, a death in the family, and natural disasters, but some policies may offer reimbursement if you test positive for COVID-19 before departure.

Trip Delay and Interruption

Whether caused by weather, mechanical issues, or medical emergencies, delays are among the most common issues that travelers encounter. They can be frustrating and expensive – especially when traveling long distances, as with flights between the United States and Israel.

Fortunately, with the right insurance, you can be reimbursed for lost pre-paid expenses and new costs incurred during delays. For example, if you miss your connecting flight in London due to a delay in New York, your insurance many cover the cost of meals and a hotel stay while you wait for an alternate flight to Israel.

Once again, always read the fine print of your travel insurance policy because there will be limitations and exclusions. For example, trip delay insurance will not kick in until the delay exceeds the minimum time stated in your plan. The last thing you want to do is make assumptions about what is and isn’t covered.

While trip delay insurance covers unexpected pauses in your travel plans, trip interruption insurance can refund prepaid expenses and new costs if you need to cut your trip short, or if you are forced to stay in Israel for longer than you planned.

Political Unrest and Other Considerations

Although Israel is generally a safe country with low crime rates, there have been terrorist attacks and civil unrest there in recent decades. When planning your trip, it’s important to be aware of any travel warnings or alerts that could potentially affect your safety in Jerusalem and across the country.

Trip cancellation policies often include provisions for civil unrest and terrorism, but not always. Additionally, many travel insurance plans allow you to upgrade to additional coverage for security or non-medical evacuation, so you can be transported to safety, if needed.

What Affects the Cost of Travel Insurance?

The cost of a comprehensive travel insurance plan will generally range from 4% – 8% of the total cost of your trip, but you’ll find that costs depend on a few factors, such as:

• Duration and cost of the trip: A longer and more expensive trip means a higher travel insurance policy cost.
• Destination health care: If you’re traveling somewhere with higher health insurance costs, this can also drive up your policy cost.
• Covering medical conditions: Pre-existing medical conditions can increase the cost of travel insurance.
• Insurance coverage: As you can see from the previous section, there are many types of coverage you can include in your travel insurance plan. The more coverage you opt for, the more your policy will likely cost.
• Your age: How old you are can also affect travel insurance costs. Typically, costs go up the older you are.

Final Thoughts

A trip to Jerusalem requires medical travel insurance, but you may want to consider additional options, like trip cancellation. You’ll also want to stay abreast of any news or travel advisories before departing.

You can get started today and compare quotes from top travel insurance companies using TravelInsurance.com.

To compare and buy travel health insurance online with medical only coverage, please visit our medical.travelinsurance.com website.

To compare and buy travel insurance online with comprehensive coverage (including trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage), please click here.