What You Should And Shouldn’t Get With Travel Insurance
There is no mandatory requirement for travel insurance when heading off on a grand foreign adventure. Many travelers do without to save themselves money for more exciting things. However, you never know when the insurance will help because you can’t plan for every single thing that happens on vacation.
A solid travel insurance policy will provide plenty of coverage for all the most important needs. Yet, there is a limit to what insurers can offer. They’ll only pay out in fair circumstances for things agreed upon in your plan. So, here’s a quick introduction to what is and isn’t covered.
What Should You Get With Travel Insurance
When searching for the best travel insurance provider, you could look for a company with a positive record regarding the following points. Check their policy plans to see what clauses are mentioned, check the reviews from current and past policyholders, and talk to customer support if you have any questions. The provider should be reliable enough to pay out promptly in line with the plan’s terms. They should also have various plans available at different rates. You can either go for a general plan that covers the basics or for something more specialized if you need to.
Medical Coverage
An important part of travel insurance is medical insurance. This means that people who experience accidents or sudden illness while abroad can receive help to cover the expenses and disruptions to their vacation. Examples can include slip-and-fall accidents while out sightseeing, car accidents that were someone else’s fault, or illnesses such as food poisoning. In some cases, the plan may even cover the cost of repatriation home. You need to check all the fine print to be sure.
Trip Cancellation Or Disruption
Travel insurance companies can also pay out if something beyond your control leads to a disrupted or canceled trip. Some of the more common examples here relate to issues with flights, such as airports experiencing cancellations and delays due to the weather. This part of the policy can also help with accommodation issues or if you have to return sooner than planned for a family emergency.
Baggage Problems
This is another area where insurance companies see frequent claims. Whenever we fly out to another country or even to another state, we’re putting our belongings in the hands of a very busy service provider. Items often end up damaged or lost entirely, causing problems for the rest of the trip.
Lost Or Stolen Documents
Travel insurance is also a good idea to help offer protection for your travel documents and foreign currency. Getting around without a valid passport and/or visa can be nearly impossible, so losing them is a nightmare. Insurance companies can help travelers reclaim the costs of getting emergency documents in these foreign countries.
Personal Liability Insurance
A final part of travel insurance that you may not have considered is personal liability insurance. What this means is you are covered if you’re liable for an accident that you didn’t cause on purpose. It’s something you can find with car insurance policies, but it’s sometimes on offer here, too. You’ll probably never have to use it, but it’s nice to know it’s there, just in case.
What Don’t You Get With Travel Insurance?
Having great travel insurance coverage from a trusted brand doesn’t mean you are covered for everything that may happen. You still need to be cautious and sensible as you travel, as you can’t assume you’ll get a payout in extreme circumstances. For example, you could fail to claim for any of the following situations on vacation.
High-Risk Activities
Generally speaking, your travel insurance provider isn’t going to cover you for anything that comes with a risk to your well-being. They don’t want to have to pay out a claim because you decided to go base jumping on your South African adventure, bungee jumping in New Zealand, or swimming with sharks off some tropical island.
Accidents Due To Negligence
Travel insurance companies will pay out for the costs related to some accidents and emergencies, but not all. The decision can depend on your actions leading up to the incident. Falling off a rock on the Spanish coast after a few too many drinks might not be covered. The same goes for any accident where drugs are involved. So, if you’re going out to enjoy the European nightlife, keep that in mind.
Illegal Activities
It should also go without saying that a travel insurance provider isn’t going to help you out if you’re dealing with anything related to criminal behavior. That goes against the idea of protecting you from something that wasn’t your fault. Therefore, if you’re injured in a car accident that’s someone else’s fault, you could get help. If you were speeding or knowingly breaking local driving laws, you probably wouldn’t.
In addition to these issues of high risk and negligence, there are other factors that can work against travelers. One issue that isn’t a surprise is pre-existing medical conditions. As with other types of insurance, providers typically don’t like to provide cover for any long-term issue you already have. That stops them from having to pay out when someone with heart failure has a cardiac event overseas.
Another consideration is that some travel companies won’t offer insurance plans for certain types of trips. In those cases, it’s best to look for a company with specific plans. A common example of this is cruise insurance. Some providers offer plans specifically tailored to cruises, with coverage for medical emergencies, interrupted plans, damaged luggage, and even evacuations.
Get A Plan That Suits Your Trip
Travel insurance is worthwhile because you can get some very helpful coverage for highly stressful emergencies. You might not get help when you only have yourself to blame, but you can travel safely with the knowledge that general medical expenses, cancellations, and baggage problems are covered. Compare providers to see what works best for you, and then plan your trip with full peace of mind.
