The last thing anyone wants to think of when they are travelling to another country is the possibility that they will be injured or fall ill. Many people vow to travel even if they break their leg or contract the flu. The reality is, if you get injured or sick while on vacation, you may be stuck paying enormous medical expenses for many years to come. Travellers often do not realize that in a foreign country, suitable medical treatment can be scarce and expensive.
Even if you have a health insurance plan in place, you still may want to look into a travel insurance policy. There is a real possibility that your regular health plan will not extend coverages outside of the country. If you do get injured or contract an illness in a foreign country, how do you know which facility employs adequately skilled physicians or offers quality heath care? This can be a very frightening thought when visiting a remote area in a less developed country.
While some people may be content with paying for a physician visit or prescription out of pocket, there are also many other situations that are simply not considered. It is these expenses that we must be concerned about covering.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment – If you are in a serious accident that results in the loss of an arm, leg, or eye, this coverage will pay a pre-determined amount to the insured. This is also the case if death results from the accident. In effect, it is a life insurance policy added in to the travel insurance.
Medical Evacuation – As stated earlier, medical facilities and expertise may not be up to American standards in other countries. Insurance companies often prefer to bring the insured home for treatment rather than keep them abroad, if possible. This way, they can be more closely monitored and the expenses will be kept down.
Repatriation – If an insured person happens to pass away while out of the country, the remains will have to be brought back. This expense can be extremely high. No one wants to worry about dishing out this cost on top of the grief suffered by the loss of a loved one. Travel insurance will pay for the remains, even if they have been cremated, to be returned home.
Bedside Visit – If an insured is injured or falls ill while abroad, there is a chance that they may be hospitalized for an extended period of time. If the insurance company opts not to bring them home for treatment, they may pay for a companion to be flown to their side instead.
Many people tend to travel out of the country several times a year. This may be for business purposes, they may be retired and have a lot of extra time, or they may just simply choose to take several weekend trips across the border. In any event, the more often a person travels, the higher the risk of being injured or getting sick.
Although a person may have a health insurance plan in place, there is a chance that the insurance company will not extend these coverages if you are out of the country. Even the smallest of medical emergencies can end up costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Insurance companies offer a choice for travellers, who fit the above criteria, of purchasing multi-trip travel insurance. This extends coverage for several different trips within a year, and is much less expensive than purchasing insurance each time they travel.
The same coverages apply as with a single trip travel insurance policy, but the insured doesn’t have to worry about purchasing a new policy every single time they leave the country. This is especially beneficial to those who chose to travel at the spur of the moment. They do not need to advise their insurance company that they are leaving; they are automatically covered.
Travel insurance gives travellers peace of mind while they are away from home. This way, they can sit on the beach and relax without having to worry about paying for medical expenses. A vacation is supposed to be a time for relaxation, enjoyment, pleasure, and escape from the everyday burdens of life.
Of course, as with any insurance policy, there are exclusions to keep in mind. If an insured finds himself or herself in one of these situations, he or she may be denied coverage and have to pay out of pocket. Such situations include:
• Travelling against the government’s recommendation. If there is a medical emergency – for example, a cholera outbreak, and the government has advised citizens not to travel to the affected area. If a person decides to travel and contracts cholera, they will not be covered.
• If the insured is injured while committing crime.
• If the insured commits or attempts to commit suicide.
• If the insured participates in certain activities, such as professional sport, competitions, or speed races and is injured or killed.
• If the insured seeks medical attention or is injured due to a mental or nervous disorder he or she suffers from.
Travel insurance is designed only to cover any sudden and accidental injuries, sicknesses, or death. It is not to be used to cover ongoing treatment, or cosmetic medical services.
Sometimes no matter how careful you plan, the many variables associated with traveling can spoil an otherwise perfectly planned trip. Lost baggage, delayed flights, illnesses or theft can all wreak havoc. Travel insurance can put your mind at ease when faced with these risks.
Travel insurance cannot work miracles so your lost baggage will not magically re-appear, nor will the flight become un-delayed by invoking some spiritual policy provision. What it can do is offer financial protection from the ills that may befall the unlucky traveler.
Protection is available for various types of disasters that may occur during a trip. The most common type of travel insurance covers major medical. Illnesses and injuries are common during trips due to unprepared immune systems, and strenuous (or downright hazardous) vacation activities. This section of coverage will pay for doctor’s visits, hospitalization, emergency services, medications, ambulance and even surgery. This type of policy is designed to cover sudden and accidental medical issues so there are commonly provisions that exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, long-term health issues, or any routine medical exams.
Other types of problems may crop up to spoil your trip and travel insurance can cover more than just medical bills. Travel insurance can be purchased to cover things such as missed reservations when your tour company goes out of business, or inclement weather that delays a flight or prevents you from reaching your destination. You may also obtain coverage that will reimburse you if a trip needs to be cancelled due to an illness or injury.
Cancellations are a problem, but so are simple delays. This is especially so if a delay causes you to miss a connecting flight, or some other pre-paid event. Coverage for flight delays can be obtained and is usually available for 2-hour delays or sometimes 5 hours of delay or more.
Lost baggage is a common problem among the traveling public, which can be due to either to theft or simple error on the part of the transporter. Coverage for baggage can be obtained that will reimburse you for your baggage and your lost or stolen personal belongings. You may also be reimbursed for damaged luggage if you find that it has been mangled during the trip.
Clearly, you have many options when considering travel insurance. Be sure that you are getting the most value for your dollar when comparing policies, and be sure to work with an agent that you can trust. J.C. Lewis Insurance Services has been helping people for 30 years and will gladly assist you in finding the right Travel Insurance that suits you!
Travel insurance can cost as much as 5% to 7% of your travel budget for a particular trip, but this percentage can be higher for inexpensive trips. Be sure to carefully consider the cost vs. benefit factor of travel insurance for your next adventure.
