Getting ready for a trip?
It’s an exiting time with so much to look forward to and much to prepare for. Getting ready for any trip involves not only figuring out how much to bring and what to pack, but also protecting what matters most to you with travel insurance. The most seasoned travelers know an emergency can happen anytime either to themselves or to someone back home. When you’re in a foreign country and unfamiliar with your surroundings, you need assistance you can depend on especially when you may not know where the best hospital is or how to replace a stolen passport.
Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere and medical costs can often be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Credit cards sometimes only cover a certain number of days or limit the amount you can claim. Employment benefits may not cover all medical emergencies and may have limited benefits. If you travel two or more times in a 12 month period, choosing a multi trip annual plan is the most cost effective way to purchase coverage for a full year. It’s important to include your family members on the plan. Affordable family pricing is available for many travel insurance plans.
Travel Insurance is intended to cover medical expenses, financial default of travel suppliers, and other losses incurred while traveling, either within one’s own country, or internationally. Temporary travel insurance can usually be arranged at the time of the booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip, or a “multi-trip” policy can cover an unlimited number of trips within a set time frame. Coverage varies, and can be purchased to include higher risk items such as “winter sports.”
The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance plans are:
Medical emergency (accident or sickness)
Emergency evacuation
Repatriation of remains
Return of a minor
Trip cancellation
Trip interruption
Visitor health insurance
Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
Overseas funeral expenses
Lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal effects or travel documents
Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
Flight connection was missed due to airline schedule
Travel delays due to weather
Hi-Jacking
Medical Expenses coverage can be Per Occurrence or Maximum Limit.
Some travel policies will also provide cover for additional costs, although these vary widely between providers.
In addition, often separate insurance can be purchased for specific costs such as:
Pre-existing conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)
Sports with an element of risk (e.g. skiing, scuba diving)
Travel to high risk countries (e.g. due to war, natural disasters or acts of terrorism)
Additional AD&D coverage
3rd party supplier insolvency (e.g. the hotel or airline to which you made non-refundable pre-payments has gone into administration)
Acute on-set of pre-existing conditions – This term is very different from Pre-existing conditions. It means a sudden and unexpected occurrence of pre-existing medical conditions without any prior warning from a medical professional. Travel insurance companies, especially in USA, do not offer coverage for pre-existing coverage but they do offer coverage for acute on-set of pre-existing conditions. If you have pre-existing conditions, make sure to get this coverage to protect yourself against any emergency situation that arises due to pre-existing conditions in spite of taking care.
Common exclusions
Pre-existing medical conditions but a lot of companies now cover for “acute on-set of pre-existing conditions.”
War or terrorism – but some plans may cover this risk, and some do cover for acts of terrorism.
Injury or illness caused by alcohol or drug use.
Usually, the insurers cover pregnancy related expenses, if the travel occurs within the first trimester. After that, insurance coverage varies from insurer to insurer.
Travel insurance can also provide helpful services, often 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that can include concierge services and emergency travel assistance.
Travel insurance can bring expensive surprises http://t.co/fIK33y6iwM
— MythicJourneysTravel (@MythicJTravel) November 25, 2014