Insurance for Argentina and Antarctica

Why you even need insurance if no visa is required

Since 2009, Russians travel to Argentina visa-free for up to 90 days. Formally, immigration doesn't ask for an insurance policy at the border. But that doesn't mean you don't need one.

First, airlines themselves require it when purchasing tickets for certain routes and when boarding a cruise. Second, healthcare in Argentina is formally free for everyone, including foreigners, but that applies to state hospitals with lines and language barriers. A private clinic in Ushuaia or Buenos Aires will bill you $800-2,000 for an appointment with a CT scan, and a day in intensive care will run you $3,000-5,000.

Third, if we're talking about an Antarctica cruise — insurance with medical evacuation coverage isn't just desirable, it's mandatory. Without it, they won't let you board the vessel: operators like Quark, Hurtigruten, Albatros, Aurora require a policy with an evacuation limit starting from $100,000 and written confirmation of coverage for the zone south of 60° south latitude.

Minimum coverage amounts — what to aim for

• Medical expenses: from $50,000 for city programs, from $100,000 if there's trekking or a cruise
• Medical evacuation: $100,000-500,000. A medevac flight from Antarctica costs $80,000-200,000, helicopter evacuation from deep Patagonia — $20,000-50,000
• Repatriation of remains: $25,000 minimum
• Trip cancellation: up to 100% of tour cost
• Trip interruption: up to 150% of cost
• Baggage: $1,500-3,000
• Baggage delay: $300-500

Riders without which your policy is useless

Active sports. Trekking up to 4,000 m, horseback riding, kayaking, sailing, rope-assisted climbing — all of this in most policies is classified as extreme and isn't covered without a special rider. Climbing Perito Moreno glacier with crampons formally falls under mountaineering.

Altitude. In Northwest Argentina, routes pass at elevations of 3,500-4,500 m. Many policies exclude altitudes above 3,000 m.

Polar rider. This is the key point for Antarctica. A standard policy ends at 60° south latitude, but the cruise starts further south. You need separately specified coverage for polar regions/Antarctica with the route and dates indicated.

Pre-existing chronic conditions. If you have hypertension, diabetes, arrhythmia, asthma, any cardiovascular issues — this must be declared when purchasing the policy.

What do Russian insurers offer for Argentina and Antarctica?

Russian insurers — Tinkoff, Sber, Alfa, Sogaz, Ingosstrakh — only cover mainland Argentina: 14 days with $50,000 coverage costs 3,500-5,000 rubles ($40-55). Antarctic coverage isn't included in standard programs for almost anyone now, sea evacuation is absent, and assistance works through Russian call centers. For urban Argentina the policy works, for cruises and serious trekking — no.

Pitfalls:

• Polar regions are practically not covered by any Russian insurers under standard programs now
• Sea evacuation in Antarctica as an option is absent from most
• Assistance works through Russian call centers
• Due to sanctions, some international partner clinics may refuse service

For an urban Argentina program, a Russian policy works. For Antarctica and serious trekking in Patagonia — practically no.

International options

World Nomads — popular with backpackers, covers most activities. Price for Argentina for 14 days with activities — around $80-130.

Allianz Travel — Europe's largest player, has separate programs with polar coverage. More expensive than average, $150-250 for 2 weeks for Antarctica.

IMG Global (Patriot Travel) — American insurer with good evacuation limits.

SafetyWing — relatively inexpensive subscription model.

Cap Travel Insurance, GeoEx Trip Protection, Anesco — narrowly specialized providers with full polar coverage. Price $200-400 for a 12-14 day cruise.

How much does insurance to Argentina and Antarctica cost in 2026?

For ages 65+ multiply by 1.5-2.

What to look for in the policy itself

1. 24/7 assistance in English or Russian.
2. Direct billing to the clinic.
3. List of included activities. Must be specified: trekking, hiking up to X meters, kayaking, horseback riding, zodiac landings.
4. Polar regions. There should be a line like "coverage includes Antarctica/polar regions south of 60°S".
5. Waiting period. Some trekking policies activate after 24-48 hours.
6. Age restrictions. Many international programs limit coverage to ages 64-69.

Typical insurance cases in the region

• Twisted ankle on the trek to Laguna Esmeralda. $3,000-8,000.
• Acute appendicitis on a cruise in Drake Passage. Emergency ship return or medevac flight — $80,000-200,000.
• Altitude sickness in Jujuy at 4,200 m elevation. $2,000-5,000.
• Lost baggage with expedition clothing. $1,500-3,000.
• Acute hypertension in a 70+ passenger on board. Evacuation to Punta Arenas — $30,000-80,000.

Declaration of pre-existing conditions

This is the most common reason for claim denial. If you have diagnosed hypertension, diabetes, any cardiac condition, past stroke, or surgery in the last 6 months — you must specify this when purchasing.

Yes, the policy price will increase by 20-50%. But in case of an incident, assistance will request your medical records, see the chronic condition not indicated during purchase, and won't pay for the exacerbation.

Practical algorithm

1. Determine your itinerary precisely
2. Clarify requirements with the airline, cruise operator, tour organizer
3. Gather 2-3 quotes
4. Compare not just price, but: limits, list of activities, direct billing availability, reviews of assistance service
5. Buy the policy in advance — minimum one week before departure
6. Print the policy and assistance number
7. Save contacts in an SOS card along with blood type and allergies

What does Magellania do with client insurance?

For clients who book through Magellania, we help select a policy for the specific itinerary: we advise what should be in coverage, which operators accept which insurance, and which clauses typically become problematic when a claim occurs.