Peace of Mind—They Call it Travel Insurance
I remember the time that a group of my friends and I were traveling in Europe when one of the troop fell and hurt themselves. We were in Holland, and while they had very good hospitals and medical facilities there this individual would have been in a very difficult situation if he had not had some type of travel insurance. He made sure that prior to leaving he was covered in the event of any mishap or illness that might happen.
Travel is supposed to fun and enjoyable, however in today’s world it pays make sure that there is something to back you up in case of an emergency. Some people call it “peace of mind” while others call it travel insurance.
All kinds of things can crop up—such as my friend’s unexpected medical emergency or less serious things like lost baggage or travel delays. In our complex world the traveler needs to think about serious political problems that may occur especially when traveling to the Middle East, South America, some parts of Africa and Asia. In some cases no amount of travel insurance is going to make a difference, but it is still good to be prepared.
Travel insurance is supposed to provide protection for the traveler from the time they leave home until they return. A lot of other types of insurance do not have clauses in the policies that cover travel. Some companies may include provisions for medical emergencies at an additional cost. Prior to embarking on a trip one should check with their insurance company to see if they have any travel coverage. Don’t just assume that you have coverage.
Good travel insurance policies will cover financial as well as medical expenses either domestically or internationally. If you use a travel agent to book a trip they usually have pretty good information about travel insurance and you can purchase the insurance directly from the agent, cruise line or tour company. Travel insurance needs to be purchased through an insurance company directly if an agent or other travel company is not used to secure the coverage.
The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are:
- Cancellation
- Curtailment
- Delayed departure
- Loss, theft or damage to personal possessions and money (including travel documents)
- Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
- Medical expenses
- Emergency evacuation/repatriation
- Overseas funeral expenses
- Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
- Legal assistance
- Personal liability and rental car damage excess
Some companies carry coverage where additional costs may be forthcoming while others do not.
Separate insurance can be purchased for:
- high risk sports (e.g. skiing, scuba-diving)
- travel to high risk countries (e.g. due to war or natural disasters or acts of terrorism)
- pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)
Most companies may exclude certain conditions or situations. A few of them are listed below. Check and see what is not covered in the policy. Take time to read the fine print.
- pre-existing medical conditions
- war or terrorism - but some plans may cover this risk
- pregnancy related expenses
- injury or illness caused by alcohol or drug use
Travel insurance may provide other services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These services may include concierge services and emergency travel assistance. The best place to start looking for travel insurance is by looking at an existing health policy which may cover expenses for domestic travel emergencies. The insurance carrier may cover an international trip for an additional cost. If they cannot do it the agent may know where and how it can be purchased. For business travel the company you work for might already have coverage for you, or know where good insurance can be bought, and they will probably help to defray the costs. Talk with friends who have done a lot of traveling. The may or may not have some good information. I traveled for years without travel insurance and had a few close calls. Today, I would probably look into some type of travel insurance prior to any extended trip.
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