When you book your next vacation, you should also buy travel insurance. The cost of a plane ticket or an excursion to some exotic location might seem like an expense you can afford to take without protection.
After all, what are the odds that something bad will happen? Unfortunately, statistics show that those odds aren’t so slim after all. On average, almost one in every 10 travelers experiences a covered travel-related incident on their trip.
Some people never get a second chance to book the that perfect vacation. But with the right coverage and precautions in place, you can protect yourself from unforeseeable circumstances and stress-free travels ahead instead.
With the right knowledge, you can confidently plan your next trip with peace of mind knowing it’s protected by travel insurance benefits...
All The Things You Didn’t Know Travel Insurance Covers
Your travel insurance policy should cover you for many more incidents than you might realize.
Some standard travel insurance benefits include medical evacuation and repatriation, cancellation coverage, lost or stolen luggage coverage, and emergency dental coverage.
Here are a few other types of travel mishaps that your policy should cover: - Lost or stolen travel documents - Whether your passport is lost or stolen, a travel insurance policy can help you get it replaced in a hurry.
Be careful not to leave your passport behind in a hotel safe! - Emergency transportation expenses - If you get injured and need to be rushed to a doctor, an ambulance ride can be incredibly expensive.
Your travel insurance can help cover the cost of this and other types of emergency transportation (e.g. a flight home). - Costs associated with a death in the family - You never know when a loved one may pass away.
If you’re traveling when it happens, you may have to pay for the cost of transporting their remains back home. Travel insurance can help cover these expenses.
What to look for in your travel insurance policy
You should always read the fine print of your travel insurance policy. However, you should also find a reliable company with a solid reputation.
Use these guidelines to help you choose the best travel insurance: - Choose a reputable company - Don’t just go with the cheapest company you find. Make sure the travel insurance company you choose has a proven track record.
- Find out what it doesn’t cover - This can help you identify any potential red flags in your chosen policy. - Consider how long you’ll be covered - There are typically two types of travel insurance policies: short-term and long-term.
Short-term policies usually cover you for 30 days, while long-term policies can last up to one year. - Choose a policy that offers emergency assistance services - In emergency situations, every minute counts. Make sure your travel insurance provider offers emergency assistance services 24/7.
Medical Reasons for Traveller’s Insurance
Unfortunately, there is always a chance that an emergency medical situation might occur while you’re traveling abroad. Travel insurance can help cover the cost of medical expenses, medications, and medical evacuation if you become ill or injured while traveling.
Some travel insurance companies are actually required to offer medical coverage by law. In general, travel insurance companies offer medical coverage in two ways: a policy-provided medical plan or a third-party insurance company.
Policy-provided medical plans are typically offered by the travel insurance company. This means that if you’re ever injured or ill while traveling, you have to rely on the assistance of the travel insurance company.
Third-party insurance travel insurance can be purchased as additional coverage. This gives you a third party to turn to for assistance. The best way to protect yourself from costly medical bills is to purchase travel insurance with medical coverage.
Lost or stolen luggage coverage
Lost or stolen luggage isn’t an uncommon travel mishap. To minimize the risk of your bags going missing, you should keep them with you at all times, keep your eyes peeled for suspicious individuals and vehicles, and keep your bags in plain sight.
If something goes wrong, your travel insurance will help replace your lost items. Depending on the type of policy you have, you may also be covered for misdelivered or damaged luggage.
Emergency dental coverage
If you ever break a tooth while traveling, you may need to visit a dentist who can fix the problem right away. But finding a dentist who speaks your language can be difficult, and finding one who can handle your dental insurance claims can be even more challenging.
Luckily, many travel insurance policies come with emergency dental coverage. This provides you with funds to cover dental treatment if you get a toothache or other dental problem while traveling.
Reimbursement for lost or stolen items
Items are lost or stolen on every trip. While you can’t control when or where this might happen, you can take steps to minimize your risk of losing or having your items stolen.
Some travel insurance policies will reimburse you for the cost of replacing lost or stolen items. This can be helpful if you lose a valuable item like your wallet or passport.
Evacuation and repatriation
Evacuation is the medical transportation of a sick or injured person from one country to another. Ideally, you won’t ever find yourself in a situation where you need to be evacuated. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
If you become seriously ill while traveling, your travel insurance company may be required or decide to evacuate you. Your coverage for evacuation and repatriation should be listed in your travel insurance policy.
Reimbursement for travel costs (including flights) and lost wages
If you get sick or injured while ttraveling your travel insurance policy may cover some or all of your travel costs and lost wages.
This is particularly relevant if you are traveling for work and something happens to keep you from attending work-related activities.
Cancelation Protection
If you get sick or injured while traveling, you may want to cut your trip short and return to the comforts of home. Unfortunately, many travel insurance policies won’t cover cancellation costs.
Some travel insurance policies will reimburse you for cancellation fees if you become ill or injured while ttraveling Check your policy to see if it covers cancellation protection.
Evacuation and Repatriation Protection
If you get sick or injured while traveling, you may want to return to the comforts of home. Unfortunately, many travel insurance policies won’t cover cancellation costs.
Some travel insurance policies will reimburse you for evacuation and repatriation costs if you become ill or injured while traveling.
This can be helpful if you require immediate medical attention and don’t have the proper health coverage.