Reykjavik Travel Insurance
Everything you need to know before your trip
Healthcare Cost Level
Free Reciprocal
Avg. ER Visit
Free (EHIC)
Recommended Coverage
$100,000
Evacuation Risk
Moderate
Healthcare in Reykjavik
What to expect if you need medical care
Reykjavik offers excellent healthcare quality with outstanding English availability, making communication with medical providers straightforward. If you're from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland/Liechtenstein, your EHIC card covers emergency care, though you'll need insurance for repatriation and private treatment. Some services may require upfront payment even with EHIC. For non-EU visitors, you'll pay out-of-pocket: expect around $800 for an emergency room visit and $1,200 per day for hospital stays. While these costs are lower than some destinations, they can accumulate quickly, especially if complications arise or you need extended care. The healthcare system is modern and efficient, but without proper coverage, you'll be responsible for all expenses immediately.
Reciprocal Healthcare Available
Citizens of AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, LI may have partial coverage through reciprocal agreements.
EHIC covers emergency care only, not repatriation or private treatment. Some services may require upfront payment
What Your Policy Should Cover
Country-specific considerations for Reykjavik
Your policy should address Iceland's unique risks. Prioritize medical coverage that includes helicopter evacuation from remote areas—essential given the moderate evacuation risk in highland, glacier, and volcanic zones. If you're planning adventure activities, verify your coverage carefully: glacier hiking may require specialized high-risk activity coverage, while ice climbing is often excluded from standard policies entirely. Weather-related cancellation coverage is valuable for Northern Lights tours, as conditions frequently disrupt plans. If you're driving F-roads in the highlands, ensure your policy includes comprehensive vehicle coverage for these challenging routes. Given the high risk of extreme weather conditions (especially in winter) and year-round volcanic activity, trip interruption coverage protects you if conditions force itinerary changes.
Volcanic Activity
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Extreme Weather Conditions
High Risk
Peak: winter
Glacier-Related Accidents
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Geothermal Hazards
Low Risk
Peak: year-round
Activity-Specific Coverage
Glacier Hiking: May require specialized coverage for high-risk activities
Ice Climbing: Often excluded from standard policies
Highland Driving: Vehicle coverage important for F-road travel
Northern Lights Tours: Weather-related cancellation coverage recommended
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Our recommendation based on Reykjavik's healthcare costs
The recommended $100,000 coverage level accounts for Iceland's specific challenges. While basic healthcare costs are moderate ($800 ER visits, $1,200 daily hospital stays), the real expense comes from potential helicopter evacuation from glacier regions, highlands, or volcanic zones. Weather complications can extend rescue operations significantly, multiplying costs. The $50,000 minimum covers standard medical emergencies, but $100,000 provides crucial buffer for evacuation scenarios, extended hospital stays, and repatriation—particularly important given Iceland's remote location and the moderate evacuation risk level throughout the country.
Minimum
$50,000
Basic emergencies only
Recommended
$100,000
Full protection
Making a Claim in Reykjavik
Tips for smooth claims processing
Documentation Required: Medical reports, receipts, proof of travel, incident reports for adventure activities
- Keep all medical reports and receipts immediately—Iceland's healthcare system is well-organized, and documentation is straightforward to obtain with excellent English availability
- For adventure activities like glacier hiking or ice climbing, obtain incident reports from your tour operator at the time of any accident, as these are required for claims
- If using EHIC for emergency care, save proof of any upfront payments you make, as some services require immediate payment even with reciprocal coverage
- Document weather conditions if they affect your plans—Iceland's meteorological office provides official reports that strengthen claims for weather-related cancellations
- For highland or remote area incidents, request detailed rescue operation reports from emergency services, as these justify evacuation costs in claims
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