Travel Insurance is protection against anything bad which will happen while on the road, from losing your luggage to losing your life. Insurance is one of those things that you simply never need until you are doing.
Start with what Travel Insurance covers. The basic categories are:
1. Medical Insurance
2. Emergency Evacuation; Accidental Death and Dismemberment
3. Travel Protection
4. Baggage Protection
Travel Insurance Plans typically combine coverage from these categories, therefore, thanks to economizing are by knowing what you are doing and do not need.
1. Medical Insurance:
Now, this is often getting to cover any bills you would possibly have from getting to a hospital abroad. But first, you need to think about where you’re going. In Europe or Canada, you might not need it because health care is mostly free, even for foreigners. But not so in the United States, where even a quick visit to a hospital or doctor could run you thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. Remember that travel insurance isn’t a substitute for the health care that you simply have back reception. It’s just protection against accidents overseas. You can’t use it to get your teeth cleaned, but it will cover you if you get hospitalized for malaria. If you are American, or if you are already paying for health care back home, there are global health care plans. So, if you travel regularly, find an idea with global coverage.
2. Emergency Evacuation and Accidental Death and Dismemberment:
Nobody likes to believe dying or serious injury, but when “shit hits the fan,” you would like this type of coverage. Emergency evacuation insurance can pay for you to fly home so, you’ll get proper treatment in your own country. Imagine that you’re backpacking somewhere remote, like the Canadian Rockies. You fall off a cliff. And you would like a helicopter ride to travel back to the hospital and save your life. Helicopter rides to the hospital are not cheap. Or you could get in a serious accident in a developing country where there’s not a great health care system. Emergency evacuation insurance can pay for you to fly home so, you’ll get proper treatment in your own country. Without insurance, these situations can bankrupt you and your family. There are countless bars in Southeast Asia with collection jars for backpackers who got in a motorcycle accident, are brain-dead, but too broke to fly their comatose bodies back home.
3. Travel Protection:
Travel protection will reimburse you the value of your trip if, for a few reasons, you have to cancel at the last minute with travel protection; you get back the money from your flights, as well as any other reservations you made in advance. So do you need this? If you’re a traveler who likes to book everything in advance, then it probably makes sense to buy this. But, if you favor to reach a destination and wing it, you probably don’t need it. Also, keep in mind if you buy your airfare on your credit card, you could be insured through your credit card, so just double check before you make a purchase.
4. Baggage Protection:
This covers anything lost or damaged on your flight. Airlines are liable for any baggage lost or stolen you almost certainly don’t need it. Up to a particular amount, and if you purchased your ticket together with your MasterCard, that ought to have some coverage as well. Just confirm you check the bounds and obtain insurance for love or money over that. You can also ensure your possessions against theft, loss, or damage, which is really smart if you carry around laptops and camera equipment. Again, you might already have coverage if you have renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance, so just check your policy to make sure.
In all seriousness, whichever plan you choose, make sure that it includes the following:
Coverage in the countries that you’re visiting. Obvious, but crucial. The adequate protection for your valuables, 24-hour assistance. Medical coverage for injuries and illnesses, and protection from natural disasters, civil unrest. War, or anything else that might turn your holiday into a hell-a-day.
Finally, remember that most plans do not cover the following:
Extreme sports, skydiving, hang gliding, Bungie jumping or snowboarding off peaks. Any accidents that happen when you were drunk or high. And finally, car accidents that involve a third party. Basically, if you are doing anything dumb or reckless you’re out of luck. So be smart. If anything does happen, you’re going to have to file a claim to get reimbursed. No matter which companies you chose, your insurer is going to do everything it can not to pay you. So remember to keep track of your receipts, tickets, hotel booking, or whatever electronics you bring with you. It’s going to take a lot of time, and there’s a ton of paperwork, so make sure you’ve double- checked everything before you send it in, or else you’re going to need to roll in the hay everywhere again.
Tags: Insurance, Protection, Travel, Need, Coverage, Health care, Travel insurance, Medical insurance
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