Millions of people worldwide take out a travel insurance policy every year, and for a very good reason – no matter if you suffer an accident or you catch a disease while abroad; this policy will cover all the medical expenses that are associated with the treatments and surgeries, if case. Besides this, a sophisticated policy will also cover the expenses in case of lost baggage, delayed flights, cancellations, emergency evacuations and so forth. However, there are several essential aspects that everybody must be well-aware of before taking out such a policy, just to prevent misunderstandings and unpleasant situations. Here is a brief overview of 10 things you didn’t know about travel insurance:
10. Your Policy May Not Be Valid If You Do Not Declare Your Medical Conditions
If you have a chronic medical condition that you did not declare when signing up for the policy, then this may lead to the invalidation of the premium. Many people tend to omit these conditions simply because they are afraid that this may boost the price of their premiums, but the truth is that most of them are covered at no extra cost on your behalf. It is surely better to be honest than to realize that your policy has been invalidated when you need it the most, just because you omitted a medical condition.
9. Your National Health Insurance May Not Apply Abroad
Another common misconception many people have these days is that if they have a domestic health insurance that covers them back home, they can use it while traveling abroad as well. This is false, as most premiums do not cover you internationally or if they do, certain conditions and situations are excluded from the coverage. For instance, high-risk activities such as winter sports or mountaineering are typically not covered, and neither are pre-existing medical issues. Either way, it is highly recommended to consult with your insurance provider prior to leaving the country.
8. Understand Which Pre-Existing Conditions Are Not Covered By Your Travel Insurance
Generally speaking, travel insurance companies do not cover issues like diabetes or hypertension – and they will not give you a refund or a reimbursement if you need to cancel your trip due to these two pre-existing medical conditions.
7. Understand What Emergency Evacuation Stands For
In some cases, you may need to leave the country you are visiting, on a very short notice – either because of a natural disaster that strikes the area or because of an unexpected medical condition that no longer allows you to enjoy your holiday (the latter being referred to as medical evacuation). In case of medical evacuation, your travel insurance company will cover the costs associated with plane transportation or even helicopter, if you are in a critical condition and you need to be transported to the nearest hospital, for urgent treatment.
Emergency medical evacuation can cost up to several thousand dollars or even more, not counting the price for the medical treatment – this is why taking out a travel insurance policy is crucial when traveling abroad. Besides this, another benefit of urgent medical evacuation is that your vendor will arrange an immediate transport on a 24/7 basis.
6. Travel Insurance Is Very Affordable
One of the main reasons why so many people avoid to get travel health insurance when traveling abroad is that they are afraid of the high costs the policy may involve. The truth is that the premium may indeed be expensive if you suffer from certain medical conditions but, on the other hand, if you are healthy and you do not expose yourself to high risk activities such as scuba diving or mountaineering, then you can get a 14-day travel insurance for as little as $50. No price is too high when it comes to your health and your family’s well-being – besides, you can easily find a wealth of vendors who are willing to give you an online quote or estimation within seconds.
5. Trip Cancellation Covers A Variety Of Causes
If you thought that trip cancellation can result only as a following of unfavourable weather conditions, think again – nowadays, many travel insurance companies have started to include terrorism on their list of potential reasons for trip interruptions as well. In other words, if you plan to travel to a foreign country and a terrorist incident takes place while you are there, you will get a reimbursement for the trip interruption.
4. Understand That Reimbursement In Case Of Trip Interruption Is Rarely Complete
Generally speaking, if you take out a travel insurance this does not cover trip interruption, as this can be added as an optional feature to your policy (along with a variety of other features). However, what all tourists must understand is that the reimbursement is seldom complete, and that most companies will offer you a partial reimbursement for the unused portion of the trip. For instance, if you planned a two-week trip and you only enjoyed one week, your travel insurance company will offer reimbursement for the unused week. In some cases, they may cover the costs of the flight back home as well, although this depends on the policy.
3. Airlines May Not Fully Reimburse Your Lost Luggage
If you travel a lot by plane, then you surely know that bags get lost all the time. While the most reputable airlines do reimburse you for your lost luggage, in some case they may only offer a limited reimbursement after one month or so – which is very inconvenient, especially if you go on holiday. This is where the travel insurance agency steps in and offers you full reimbursement for the lost baggage, especially if you have lost any expensive gear.
2. You Need To Prove That You Lost Your Documents Or That Your Bag Was Stolen
One very important benefit of travel insurances (and a strong reason why so many people opt for them) is that they will reimburse lost documents and stolen bags. If you are the victim of hijacking or burglary while you are in a foreign country, you are entitled to compensation – however, you will need to have solid proof of every item in your bags, as well as of your legal documents. This is the only way to get reimbursement for your lost or stolen belongings; otherwise you are not eligible for it. Nobody will take your word for it!
1. Travel Insurances Cover Cruise Ship Vacations As Well
Last, but not least, most travel insurances cover your trip on cruise ships. These versatile premiums surely come in handy if you plan to go on a month-long cruise ship around the world and you are looking for additional health protection.
Kelly Smith is a travel insurance expert from Sydney, Australia.
