Your bags are packed, your passport ready, and itinerary decided on, but did you remember everything? Do you have travel insurance? Travel insurance is like the spare tire in your car: you don’t think about it until you really need it. Having travel insurance can be the difference between an adventure and a disaster. Whether trip cancellation, a minor injury or a major medical emergency, travel insurance is essential for you and your loved ones’ peace of mind. So, what do you need to consider when securing travel insurance?
What to Consider First
What type of plan will be suitable for you? There are various travel insurance options available and knowing what they are can help in determining the right plan for you. A few of your options include flight insurance, cancellation insurance, evacuation insurance, medical insurance, and baggage insurance.
While these are the most common types of insurance plans available, there are also individualized plans tailored to meet your needs. If mountain climbing, snowboarding, or skydiving is your thing, then extreme sports travel insurance is what you need. A key benefit of this kind of plan is the unlimited medical coverage it provides. If you live life less on the edge, then there may still be other things to consider.
Travel insurance for medical conditions
If you have a medical condition, then do not give into the temptation to provide false information to enable you to get a cheaper policy. It is possible that in case of a medical emergency, the insurance company would deny your claim for giving false information.
There are various types of medical travel insurance that depend on the kind of travel. It can be a single-trip, multi-trip, or long-term plan. It usually covers any accident while travelling, the cost of any unforeseen medical expense, and emergency payments to medical facilities.
TOP TIP: If you are planning on going skiing or any other winter sports with a high associated risk, it is essential you take out winter sports medical travel insurance so that both your medical condition and the high intensity sport is taken into account. Most people claim one of the two, when in fact they need both types of cover together and get caught out. Don’t let yourself become a statistic!
Fine Print and Other Considerations
When getting a travel insurance, there are some factors you should consider to avoid some common pitfalls and also any unforeseen additional fees.
Avoid buying travel insurance from your tour operator or travel agent. Insurance from the tour operator is often for the time you are on the airline or the boat and would not cover all situations. Buying from your travel agent likely costs more because they often get a commission.
Check what your current insurance plan offers. Some health insurance plans provide coverage around the world. It is a good idea to call your insurance company to tell them about your travel destination and ask if your insurance plan extends to this location.
Do your research. Compare prices from various companies but make sure you only pick a company that is widely recognized and check out the reviews.
Travel insurance is often easy to overlook, but if you ever need to cancel a trip either for safety or medical reasons, or trip over that log on the beach and need crutches, the coverage you receive will be worth every penny.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
