Travel insurance is something you will need on the road. You never know what problems might occur and domestic insurance plans won’t cover while overseas. Check with your health care provider or insurance company to find out if you are covered for accidents and sickness when you travel overseas. If you aren’t covered, you should buy travel insurance. Moreover, travel insurance cover more than just you but also insures the stuff you take with you while traveling, any accidents that might occur, or trip cancellations that might arise.
A good place should cover the following:
oCovers most countries in the world.
oMake sure they cover your electronics.
oCover injury and sudden illnesses within the country and abroad.
oTwenty-four hour emergency services and assistance.
oCover lost, damaged or stolen possessions like jewelry, baggage, documents, etc
oCover cancellations such as the trip, hotel bookings, flight, and other transportation bookings.
oCover emergencies, strife in the country visited, and other emergencies that cause you to head home early.
oCover hazardous activities such as jet skiing, scuba diving, sky diving, paragliding, etc.
oPolicies should include personal accident coverage.
oCover any legal expenses if incurred.
oFinancial protection if any company you are using goes bankrupt and you are stuck in another country.
You should also be aware of what is not insured and is excluded. Travel insurance policies do not normally cover alcohol or drug related problems, or recklessness in protecting your possessions and baggage. You won’t get money back if the problem happened because you were reckless.
Moreover, travel insurance usually covers health emergencies. Don’t buy a plan that doesn’t. If you get injured while traveling, you want to make sure you are covered, especially if you are injured during an outdoor trek and have to be airlifted somewhere. You do not want to have to cover the costs of that yourself. Make sure your insurance company provides at least 500,000 dollars in accident coverage.
If you make a claim, remember travel insurance companies, no matter how good, are there to make money and will try to avoid paying out as much as they can. Make sure you have all your receipts and necessary forms. Be prepared to wait awhile to receive your money too. Even the best companies drag their feet.
There are many good companies out there. Two of the best travel insurance companies are STA Travel and World Nomads. Depending on your needs and requirements, one of these companies will have what you are looking for. Remember to always read the fine print in any contract and agreement before you sign it because if something does go wrong, you don’t want to be the victim of a legal loophole.
Another way to get travel insurance besides signing up for a specific insurance coverage is via your credit card. Many credit cards offer travel insurance. American Express, Capital One, and Citi all offer various degrees of protection depending on the card you have with them. American Express offers the most comprehensive coverage but if you have a high fee card or good credit, usually any company offers good insurance. Just remember though that this credit card coverage usually won’t include health insurance.
No matter what kind of trip you take, it is important that you buy a travel insurance plan before you go away, especially if you are leaving for a long period of time. You never what could happen while in another country, what could get lost or stolen or who could get ill with what. It is better to be safe than sorry for the few extra dollars travel insurance costs per day. Travel insurance is a advisable expense for some peace of mind.
