The Best and Worst Countries to Fall Ill While Traveling

Poland is another one that caught us off guard. On the one hand, the country has 108 health professionals per 10,000 residents. But it struggles with a lack of clean water and higher risk of disease than most European countries, landing at number two on the dangerous list.

Estonia is rapidly rising as a tourism and expat destination, but still requires a number of recommended vaccinations. It’s a requirement to have the tetanus vaccine for entry into the country.

The most expensive destination for travel insurance claims is Japan, where you can plan on paying about $2,500 for medical care should you fall ill with an infectious disease. Before you cancel your travel plans to Japan, however, keep in mind that the US isn’t far behind. Travelers who fall sick in the US pay an average of over $2,100. The lack of serious disease is low, clean water is often available, but healthcare costs are incredibly expensive.

If you must catch a serious bug while abroad, you’d better hope it’s in Finland — the average claim cost there is only about $150. In the United Kingdom, the average claim cost is about $313, not a drop in the bucket but not necessarily anything to write home about, either.