Archive

Archive for the ‘Holiday Plan’ Category

Things To Do Before Buying Travel Insurance

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

Going back to Roman times, risks have been shared during times of tragedy and unforeseen circumstances, such as earthquakes, floods and the like. The first formal and recorded insurance company, Lloyd’s of London, was formed in 1769 and their founding principal remains intact today – to gather the premiums of clients as a pool of resources in order to return to clients who experience unexpected and unforeseen but covered events. So, that is the secret really, plan for the unexpected and unforeseen and make sure you’re covered, especially when you’re travelling. Whether your trip is a quick one or a round the world cruise, there are many good reasons for travel insurance. Here are just 7 things you should do before you buy your travel insurance: Whatever you do, please explore the market and educate yourself with all the terms and terminologies of the travel insurance cover that will help you to avail the best travel insurance. Certainly check what is included in your travel insurance policy but most importantly, check what is EXCLUDED from your travel insurance policy. Research the area you are going to. What is the weather likely to be like? Is there any danger of hurricanes or tropical storms? Floods? How about Mosquito borne disease? What is the crime rate like? Whatever the perceived dangers your research uncovers then make sure that your travel insurance covers you for that eventuality. It is no good after the event to find out that you are not covered for rabid dog attacks (because there are so many in that particular area). Discuss Your Existing Medical Conditions and Requirements – You need to carefully assess your likely medical requirements and make sure that these are declared to the travel insurance company. If you intend to drive make sure that you are adequately covered. Many hire companies charge astronomic excesses in case of an accident. Make sure that you insured for that excess (and it will be a lot cheaper than paying the hire company’s rates for that same cover). Make sure you have the necessary documentation for travel in that country. Take Spain for example which is part of the European community and will offer free health care say to a UK citizen on holiday or living there. There are certain conditions, one of which is that you must have a UK E111 form, if you don’t have that, you will not be treated. You must also go to a national health hospital, which are not in abundance in certain areas of Spain. If travelling in Europe, it may pay to get a EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) as this will remove a lot of worry should you need any emergency treatment. Okay, so there you have it. 7 things to do before buying travel insurance for the next trip you make. The other alternative of course is to not take out travel insurance, or to stay at home. Now, there’s an idea. But seriously, as always when taking out insurance, especially travel insurance, read the fine print first. Importantly, find out before you go what is excluded, not just included. So, always read the fine print. For example, accidental coverage is not provided in case of drunken driving, driving under the influence of narcotic substances etc. Exclusions are also provided for accidents during risky sports like bungee jumping, car racing, (insert for your favourite potentially dangerous sport here), scuba diving, white water rafting, flying (except as passenger in regular airliners), gliding, skiing, bike racing, diving, mountaineering, windsurfing etc. The list goes on. That means in case of accidents in these situations the insurance company is not liable to pay any amount to the insured.

Finding Cheap International Travel Insurance

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

Traveling to another country is no joke because you can get exhausted easily as it requires lots of high spirits to make it lively. The first and foremost thing you should do is to get an affordable travel insurance policy. Although the travel insurance policies are quite expensive, you have to choose and finalize a secure one.
When traveling abroad, travel insurance is very important. Although there are many providers with good reputations, you need to choose the one that offers the most suitable cover. The travel insurance policy that you will ultimately select should cover all your needs whilst you are traveling abroad. Selecting the right travel agency for your flights also requires some consideration. You need to be clear on your budget and if your resources are limited, you need to choose your options appropriately. For example, opting for a cheaper economy flight rather than more expensive first class one. You may be able to make some savings by taking fewer pieces of luggage when traveling. However, no matter how limited your budget may be, you should never leave without appropriate international travel insurance.
If you are traveling abroad and you do not want to end up making expenses like paying huge medical bills, you should go for a travel insurance that not only fits your pocket but also allows you to be carefree while enjoying holidays or attending to business. There are a number of policies available in the market that provides you with a variety of options to choose from. Due to the increasing competition in the insurance market, there are a number of low cost insurance policies that not only meet the expectations of customers but also give attractive offers to the customers to stay in business. Hence, all you have to do is to find an insurance that serves you the best and offers you just the right amenities for your purpose.
Before you pick out an insurance policy, you must investigate or at least search around for the current cost of travel insurance that is available. For instance, pick the best five well-known insurance companies and get in touch with them individually to request the various costs of their policies. This might require a lot of time so you can look on the Internet and compare them online. You will notice, that you can look at various estimations of insurance policies’ prices on the Internet at the same time. Everything that is important and what you should know can be found on the internet like the costs of the policies, the amount of protection, what is excluded, the advantages, and additional necessary details. .
Various types of travel insurances quotes exist. Unless you go to different agencies, you cannot compare which is cheaper and which is costlier. After visiting all the agencies and conducting negotiations, you should make a comparative statement to find out and take a decision which travel insurance is cheaper. You should see whether they provide all your coverage needs abroad as well.
Choosing a travel insurance policy is something that should be done well in advanced and should be though of carefully before making a decision. So if you follow the tips outlined above, you will be well on your way to finding the perfect policy that will fit your budget and needs.

Discover the Basics of Travel Insurance

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

BasicsIf you’re planning to travel this year in business class, economy class or first class, go armed with travel insurance. While arranging your flight, you may be offered travel insurance along with the complete package. Take some time out to find out whether it is a better deal and better insurance coverage for the money you have spend. 1.     Before starting find out how often you will travel this year. A single trip policy may be the best choice if you’re making two to three trips in a year. Annual policies are also convenient if you’re traveling quite often. 2.     Items that are covered in travel insurance include stolen or lost baggage, jewelry, cash, travelers check. Pay attention to the listed limits on the coverage you select and keep them in mind when packing your trip. 3.     Medical coverage will include cost of basic care and cost of air ambulance. 4.     In ‘New for Old Coverage’ option, insurance carrier will pay the entire cost for replacing items that have been lost or stolen or entire cost of repairing an item that has been damaged. Take some time out to research your best travel insurance options. By doing a little planning you can select the right holiday insurance based on your needs and at a price you can afford.   Along with business class, economy class or first class, travel insurance can be purchased. Travel insurance is not purchased based on the class. Tips First thing you have to look for is price. In addition to price, compare benefits that each policy offers, exclusions and other product features. Always choose insurance during cooling off period. Find out whether or not the policy meets your needs. If you are dissatisfied with what you purchased, then just cancel it and claim a full refund. If you’re a frequent traveler then you can save money by buying an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. Credit card companies provide insurance coverage, if you buy tickets using their card. Save money Single or Annual policy:Single trip policies can cover only one trip. But annual travel policies cover the traveler for every trip he or she takes in a year. Europe or Worldwide cover:If you’re planning to take a trip to Europe then it is cheaper not to get worldwide cover and Europe only insurance cover is significantly cheaper. Specialist policies:People who are going in for long periods like “gap year” trip, then the best thing would be to look in for a specialist policy, because annual insurance policies have certain limit on the length of each trip which is generally 30 days. Travelers going in for adventurous activities like skiing or hang gliding, specialist policy may work. Check for previous coverage of insurance:Certain banks offer travel insurance facility with certain accounts, so those who have one of these need not pay again. Traveler can go safely to the required destination once he has adequate insurance cover, knowing that if anything goes wrong he or she doesn’t have to pay those expensive bills.

Prevention with Travel Insurance is Better than Surprise Bills

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

It is really fun going on a holiday trip. You will be so busy strolling around, doing what you do not usually do, like skiing, windsurfing and other activities worth spending your holiday with. Outdoor trip is really fun and entertaining. You are enjoying snow boarding but suddenly you broke your leg. We don’t know when accidents may happen. It is just practical to get a travel insurance plan. Travel insurance plan is a way to minimize the considerable financial risks of traveling. These risks include accidents, illness, and missed flights, canceled tours, lost baggage, emergency evacuation and getting your body home if you die. Each traveler’s risk and potential loss varies, depending on how much of the trip is prepaid, the kind of air ticket purchased, your state of health, the value of your luggage, where you’re traveling, what medical coverage you already have and the financial health of the tour company or airline. For some, insurance is a good deal; for others, it’s not. What are the different types of Travel Insurance?1. Interruption insurance and trip cancellations. It covers financial penalties or losses you encounter when you cancel a prepaid tour of flight for an acceptable reason. These might include you and your family members who can’t travel because of sickness. It might also include you business partner or airline that goes out of business or can’t perform as promised. It is also possible to cancel if you have a family member who is sick. For a good reason such as a car accident or inclement weather, you miss a flight or need an emergency flight. In other words, if you or your travel partner breaks a leg a few days before your trip, you can both bail out and neither of you will lose a penny. And if, a day into your tour, you have an accident, both of you will be flown home and you’ll be reimbursed for the emergency one-way return flight which usually costs far more than your economy round-trip fare and whatever portion of the tour you have not used. 2. Medical insurance cover medical and dental emergencies. Check your health plan before getting a medical insurance because you may be already covered by it. Search for benefits and deductibles and the procedures for reimbursement of the emergency expenses. 3. Baggage insurance is included in the most comprehensive policies, but is rare to buy separately. This actually the insurance for your items such as jewelry, eyewear, electronics and photographic equipments. If the airline checked your baggage, it is already covered by the airlines. Homeowners’ insurance is cheaper and you’ll have coverage even after your trip. 4. Flight insurance is crash coverage, is a statistical rip-off that heirs love. It’s basically a life insurance policy that covers you when you’re on the airplane. Since plane crashes are so rare, there’s little sense in spending money on this insurance. 5. Comprehensive travel insurance it covers all, airfare, car rentals, tour etc. it depends on you age. This can be a better deal for travelers with less of the trip prepaid because coverage is the same regardless of the premium you pay. Some comprehensive policies also cover collision damage, which allows you to avoid paying your car-rental company for collision damage waiver CDW insurance. Never buy travel insurance from companies with no names. Not all insurance companies are licensed. You do not have a case if you claim problems with a licensed company with no license. Most of the licensed insurance companies are open 24 hours. Getting travel insurance is as good as securing your family’s health. It is making sure that everyone is properly protected, including the loss of your passport, money or luggage, travel delays, missed departures and incurring legal expenses. It is like you are sure you are having a safe trip.

Thinking Travel Insurance? Okanagan, B. C. Man Loses Kidney In Costa Rica Hospital!

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

For all the future travelers that have the opportunity to read this story, I would hope that after you finish this article, you would highly consider Travel Insurance!As a former travel Agent, when I read sad stories about travelers that have bad medical experiences abroad, it starts to make my stomach turn because I would quickly check all my client files to make sure they have all purchased some form of medical and/or cancellation policies from me prior to their travel. However, when he awoke in the Costa Rica hospital where he had admitted himself, he quickly found out that his kidney was removed! This young man’s jaw was never fixed and the medical doctor in Costa Rica claimed several of his internal organs were damaged, and out of all the organs that were injured, they had to remove one of his kidneys. Makes you go Hmmm!Now in my professional opinion, I would classify Costa Rica as a popular destination that I would recommend to many of my past clients to visit for their ecotourism and exotic vacation appeal. The problem is that when we suggest these destinations that are glorified as paradises, we sometimes forget to tell them that these vacation destinations don’t have medical facilities that are comparable to North American standards, and also not all facilities operate in the best faith. All the facts about this incident are not proven yet, but the truth of the matter is in this incident, having the proper travel medical insurance coverage could have been the difference in this gentleman coming home safely with a fixed jaw and his kidney intact. How Does Medical Travel Protection Policies Eliminate Situations Like This, You Ask?Keep this in perspective due to the nature of the incident. The facts are still coming in about this mans occurrence Costa Rican hospital, and I’m not totally certain he did not have travel coverage, but in my professional opinion, if he did have a reputable comprehensive travel medical policy, I truly believe this situation would not have happened. Here is my explanation that you can apply to having quality medical coverage. When you visit your travel agent, or decide to book your vacation online, many of the agencies and online companies will offer you an insurance policy that is designed specifically for your travel protection while away from your originating country. Due to a large percentage of your medical costs that may not be covered by the country you live in, travel medical emergency policies are there to protect you from the additional costs that your country will not be covering. Let’s take this one step further. While you’re away on vacation, the Travel Medical/Cancellation Company you purchased your policy from now has a vested interest in your physical and financial protection. However, they also have a reputation and a financial interest in their company! By saying this, they must make sure that claims that are paid out are legitimate, and are not abused by many of the un-regulated foreign medical facilities that treat patients for emergency situations. To control these illegal practices, most, if not all, travel insurance providers (including online Insurance companies) establish worldwide relationships with a great number of medical facilities in the tourist areas, and in this relationship, the selected Travel Insurance Company regulates them with very strict rules and guidelines. This is why it’s important to read the policy terms and conditions, and understand what is required as the policyholders must follow these terms for their own protection under emergency situations. What many conditions state are that the people who get injured due to an unexpected situation, must contact the insurer prior to admitting themselves to a hospital, or a large percentage of their claim may not be paid. Now I know many of you may be saying that if you were not conscious at the time you were admitted to a hospital, that’s beyond your control, and you’re right! However, upon becoming aware, you must at your earliest opportunity advise the Insurance Company where you are, and if it’s not a regulated hospital on their list, they will make arrangements to remove you to their preferred medical facility. Why Does A Travel Insurance Company Go To All This Trouble? This is where we continue from the story about the young man that had his kidney removed. Again, I’m going by my own opinion and no one else, and like I mentioned prior I don’t have all the facts, but in my profession I strongly believe that if this person had coverage with a reputable Travel Insurance Company, he would have more than likely contacted their toll free worldwide number, and talked to professional staff that are trained in the medical field. He would have been directed to the correct hospital, and when he arrived, upon the instructions of the Insurance staff, he would have passed this information on to the medical staff at the Costa Rican hospital. This does one of two things, it gives the Insurance Company the power to regulate and make sure that only the necessary surgeries are taking place, and because they’re paying the bill, they will ensure that every situation is medically documented for any future liability. I can’t guarantee that having the medical coverage would have avoided this situation, but I have to say when you eliminate all the risks by working with the Medical Insurance provider, you have a better opportunity in walking out of that foreign hospital with the peace-of-mind that you’re not going back home without all your valuable functioning organs.

Travel Insurance – Bringing You House

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

Overseas travel is one thing that people all over the world aspire to. Whether cruising around the Greek Islands on a luxury yacht, sipping brandy by the fire in a Swiss chalet after a day of skiing; or elephant spotting in Kenya, an overseas trip can be the adventure of a lifetime. Unfortunately, though, it can also be the disaster of a lifetime unless due diligence is carried out prior to setting off. Along with passports and plane tickets, one of the most important things to remember before travelling overseas is to arrange Travel Insurance. Not just any “cheapest-you-can-find” travel insurance, but a policy that will take good care of you should the unforeseen occur. Types of travel insurance vary from company to company and it is well worth your while to spend some considerable time shopping around before committing to one policy. Remember, what is considered an acceptable risk by one insurer, may be excluded by another. Definitions of terms may also vary. Take terrorism, for example. Most insurance policies will exclude acts of terrorism from being claimable events, however, the definition of what constitutes a terrorist act can vary between insurers. What one insurer may deem as an act of violence and therefore claimable, another insurer may deem terrorism and deny any claim. In this age of terrorism threats and war-torn nations, travellers should always heed governmental advice as to whether or not travel to certain regions is recommended. If deciding to travel to a country despite government warnings, it may be difficult to obtain travel insurance at all. If it is obtained, it will probably be very expensive and its cover fairly limited. It is crucial that you understand exactly what is and isn’t excluded from the policy before you sign on the dotted line. Indeed, being aware of the exclusions is, arguably, even more important than knowing what is covered. Get clear in your mind the insurer’s definition of claimable and non-claimable events. If at all possible, endeavour to get those definitions in writing. Get the language right. Ask as many questions as it takes to know exactly where you stand. Remember, the only dumb questions are ones that haven’t been asked yet and given a voice. If going through a broker or agent, double check with the insurer if uncertain of their answers. It’s wise to remember too, that no insurance policy is going to cover you for every single thing that could possibly happen on your holiday. The prudent traveller will ensure, however, that what he or she needs to be covered for will be. For example, does the policy allow you to participate in “adventure activities”? If you’re going bungee jumping in New Zealand or white-water rafting in Canada, make sure your insurer knows about it and will cover you for accidents occurring during such activities. Is your luggage excluded if left unattended? What does “left unattended” mean? What if you leave it in a taxi? What if you walk two metres from it to buy a chocolate bar from a vending machine?It’s a good idea to also familiarise yourself with claims procedures before departing so as to avoid the “paper frenzy” in the event of an accident. Some policies have a time limit for reporting claims. In some cases, the incident must be reported to local authorities within twenty-four hours in order to claim. Be aware too that some countries may not recognise all insurance companies. This could pose a problem if hospitalisation is required. If the insurer isn’t recognised in that country you may not get hospital treatment. Make sure that the insurer has a global reputation. It’s very expensive to be injured overseas. For instance, medical evacuation from the United States to Australia can cost anything from $80,000. 00 upwards. If a stay in hospital is required, the bill could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. And you thought shopping in Beverly Hills would be fun. . . . It’s also dangerous to be injured overseas, particularly in countries where medical facilities may not be as well equipped as at home. Again, the evacuation costs can run into many thousands of dollars – and no insurance means a lifetime of debt. Travelling without the right travel insurance is like walking a tightrope without a net. Sure, it can be done, but one tiny slip and it’s too late for “If only”s. And chances are, it will be your loved ones at home who will mortgage their houses, cash in their superannuation and face considerable financial hardship in order to bring you back to the fold. All in all, travel insurance is one thing you should definitely not leave home without!

Categories: Holiday Plan Tags: , , ,

Do You Really Need Travel Insurance?

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

You have probably heard about travel insurance but may not really know what it is or whether you need it. Perhaps a travel agent recommended that you get travel insurance, or maybe it was offered online at a travel web site. Either way you have a decision to make, and we will try to help you understand whether you really need travel insurance or not.

First of all, travel is not cheap. When you add up airfare, hotel reservations, and any other arrangements that you make for a trip, it can be a pretty hefty sum. So if you had to cancel your trip for any reason, you could stand to lose a lot of money. Travel insurance was created to help protect you in those cases where your trip becomes canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Some of the situations that would be covered are perhaps your airline unexpectedly going out of business just before your trip, or maybe you get sick and are unable to travel during the dates you had selected. In both of those cases, if you had purchased travel insurance in advance, your money would be refunded and you would not lose anything.

Traveling abroad can have its own set of concerns these days too. Ever since September 11th, terrorism has become a concern around the world. And it’s quite possible that an act of terrorism could break out in an area where you plan to visit. If that should happen, the airline is not required to refund your ticket simply because you choose not to travel due to terrorism. However, if you had purchased travel insurance, you would be covered and would lose nothing.

Another advantage of travel insurance abroad is that it can cover you for medical expenses that may become necessary on your trip. Very often, your medical insurance policy will not provide coverage outside of your home country. If your policy is like that, then travel insurance makes a lot of sense. It means that if any medical emergency arises while you are on your trip, you will be fully covered for the medical expenses incurred. That is a great peace of mind to have when you travel on foreign soil.

Sometimes airlines cancel flights for any number of reasons too, including bad weather conditions or emergency repairs. In such cases the airlines may not reschedule the flight and refunds are not given. Once again, if you have travel insurance you receive your money back no matter what the reason is for the flight not taking off.

Travel insurance can also cover lost luggage. Airlines try to locate and return all missing luggage if possible. But sometimes luggage is never found. Or perhaps it is found, but items have been removed. Travel insurance will help replace all of your lost items and luggage.

Basically, travel insurance protects you from any unforeseen occurrence that could interfere with your trip. It can work very well not only for air travel but also cruises too. If you travel a lot, getting a long-term travel insurance policy may make sense for you also. As with any consumer decision, be sure to do your homework and shop around to get the best deal. Make sure you know what your policy does and does not cover before you pay for it. But by getting the right travel insurance you can make sure that you are protected from unforeseen circumstances whenever you travel.

Categories: Holiday Plan Tags: , , ,

Travel Insurance – Traveler Investment or Waste of Money?

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

You’re already paying thousands of dollars planning the trip of a lifetime, who wants to add yet another expense for travelers insurance? For many travelers, the added expense of travel insurance seems like a big waste of money. But is it? If you’re struggling to decide whether or not you need that extra policy, remember this: failing to buy travel insurance can ruin your trip and cost you money!
According to the U. S. Travel Insurance Association, only a fraction of travelers actually think of the benefits of purchasing insurance policies t cover those unexpected emergencies when traveling. Why is it so important?
The three most important reasons to purchase travel insurance include:
-Peace of mind – you’ll know that no matter what happens while you are away from home, there will be help available.
-Protection against the unexpected – people get sick; accidents occur and storms roll in causing havoc while on vacation.
-Protection against financial loss – you’ve spent a fortune planning your trip, insurance can help you recoup lost planning costs if you need to cancel due to illness; terrorism or natural disasters.
So, what types of travel insurance should you consider?
That depends on where you’ll be traveling (domestic or abroad) and how much your trip costs. The most common types of travel insurance include: flight and trip cancellation insurance; travel health insurance; baggage coverage; and even medical evacuation insurance, which can mean the difference between life and death if traveling to areas with primitive medical facilities.
Is it really necessary to add ye another expense onto your travel bill by obtaining these policies? It can be!
Consider these important reasons to buy travel insurance:
1. Cancelled flights.
2. Lost medication. Travel medical insurance will help get you a refill quickly and easily.
3. Theft. What do you do if your passport and wallet are stolen? Travel insurance will help you get emergency cash and a replacement passport.
4. Medical Evacuation. Whether you fall ill, or are in an accident, evacuation insurance can help you get to the medical services you need.
5. You need to cancel your trip due to illness.
6. Bankruptcy. If your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt, insurance will help you recoup those non-refundable expenses.
8. A terrorist incident occurs in the city where you’re planning to visit and you want to cancel your trip.
9. A hurricane forces you to evacuate your resort, hotel or cruise.
Still think hat you don’t need travel insurance? Think again. In today’s world of travel, it can help make the emergencies experienced on vacation a little easier to handle.

Annual Travel Insurance: Simplifying Cover for Frequent Travellers

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

Travel insurance is essential for every trip, no matter how long your getaway or how far you plan to travel. But if you’re like countless travellers out there, thinking about and actually sorting your travel insurance arrangements is not at the top of your to-do list – primarily because it’s not the most exciting thing to think about with regard to your travels. Nevertheless, travel insurance is important and you should make time to arrange cover well before your date of departure. But, as if it weren’t hard enough to consider insurance for individual, once-a-year holidays, frequent travellers need to think about cover all the time. And if destinations vary greatly, getting a suitable insurance policy for each place of travel can be time consuming, costly and confusing. However, those who travel frequently throughout the year have a better option than to secure seperate policies for each trip. The answer is in annual travel insurance – a product that combines comprehensive cover, convenience and value, all under one policy. Annual travel insurance policies will often cover travellers for an unlimited number of trips within the span of twelve months. However, you might find that insurers will place a limit on how many days a singe trip can last – so if you tend to take extended trips, you’ll want to look out for this restriction. Some policies will also include a limited number of days’ cover for winter sport activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, at minimal or no extra charge. However, not all insurers will offer this, so it’s essential to compare annual travel insurance policies before committing to any one product. Another advantage to annual travel insurance is that buyers usually obtain better value by buying one policy that covers them for the entire year, rather than multiple policies for individual trips. Moreover, certain annual travel insurance policies will offer money-saving perks such as free cover for under-18s travelling with their family. No matter how you look at it, annual travel insurance ends up a better bargain for frequent travellers. Generally, if you travel more than two times a year, an annual travel insurance policy will be of value to you, in terms of the money you’ll save. But it’s also a big time saver, as you won’t have to compare and secure policies for each and every trip you take – so you’ll have more time to think about and plan all the fun aspects of your trips.

How Travel Insurance Can Help Save You Money

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

Many travelers do not know that travel insurance exists. However, insurance policies such as these can save you thousands of dollars in some cases. Travel insurance can be purchased no matter where you are traveling, though it is most common on vacations to foreign countries.

Sometimes travel insurance is offered through a travel agency, tour company, or cruise line with which you have booked your vacation. Other times, travel insurance has to be purchased through a third party. Do you need travel insurance? Well, you can certainly go on vacation without it, but at the end of the day, these relatively inexpensive policies can end up saving you from financial ruin.

Saving Money on Healthcare

One of the primary reasons people buy travel insurance is to ensure that they are covered medically while in another country. Do you already have a health insurance policy, either individually or through your employer? If the answer is yes, that might be fine if you are traveling near home, but otherwise, you are likely going to see a ton of out-of-pocket expenses if you get sick or injured while on vacation.

Most health insurance plans have specific networks of doctors. While you are welcome to see anyone you like, you may have to pay extra money for care from anyone outside of that network, unless you are dealing with an emergency situation. When you travel to another country, the rules surrounding your policy will typically change even more, since foreign doctors may not adhere for the same medical pricing and laws as are used in the United States. Some health insurance policies, therefore, do not cover foreign care at all, only cover a percentage, or have limits as to how much they can cover for a single visit.

With a travel insurance policy, you can be rest assured that your medical expenses will be handled, usually in full or for a very small co-pay price. On occasion, the vacationer may have to pay extra if they want pre-existing conditions or injuries due to risky activities (like scuba diving or parasailing) to be covered, but even then, the price of medical care is staggering compared to what that same vacationer would have to pay for a policy.

Lost Luggage

One of the most frustrating situations in travel is when your luggage is lost. When that happens, the best-case scenario is that it is not actually lost, but rather it was just put on the wrong plane. In many cases luggage is returned within 48 hours. The problem is that your vacation may only be a week long. You can’t spend a quarter of it (or more) sitting at the airport and waiting for your luggage, and replacing your items can be expensive.

This is where travel insurance comes in. If your luggage is late arriving to the destination, you insurance carrier will allow you to make purchase of emergency items that you need to enjoy your trip in the meanwhile. For example, you might need to buy an extra set of clothing, toiletries, and so forth. Without travel insurance, you would have to pay for these things out of pocket.

If your luggage is lost or stolen completely, the expenses are even greater, since you would have to replace everything you packed, not to mention the luggage itself. Buying a travel insurance policy ensures that if this happens, you will have some money to help cover these costs.

Vacation Cancellation

Are you prepared for the expense of non-refundable tickets, should you have to cancel your vacation for any reason? Things happen. Maybe you have a family member who passes away. Maybe you suddenly get a job transfer. Maybe you fall ill or get pregnant and can’t fly. Travel companies don’t care if you have a non-refundable vacation planned. Thousands of dollars will go down the drain unless you have a travel insurance policy that covers cancellation. These policies are usually a little more expensive, but can save you thousands of dollars.

Vacation cancellation as part of your policy can also protect you should a travel company go bankrupt, try to steal your money, lose your reservation, or otherwise cause a delay in your trip.

Legal Help, Evacuative, and More

Domestically, you typically do not have to worry about the need for legal help, evacuation, passport replacement, and so forth. However, if you are in a foreign country and, for instance, you are evacuated due to natural disaster, do you know what to do or who to call? Your travel insurance company does, and not only will they give you peace of mind that someone will take care of you, but they (in most cases) also pay for it. No matter what your needs, the insurance company can make sure you have the funds to handle the problem.

Categories: Holiday Plan Tags: , , , ,