Travel insurance typically consists of three different levels of coverage: Emergency medical, trip protection, and a comprehensive or inclusive plan that combines both.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRAVEL INSURANCE
Emergency medical travel insurance protects you if you get sick or injured during your trip. Without medical insurance, you could be stuck paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars. This coverage includes:
Travel Medical Insurance for emergency – Most health plans offer little to no coverage outside the country. That means you have to pay for your medical care if you get injured or become ill during your trip—and if you think it’s not likely, or that it’s not a big deal, think again. Travel medical insurance covers costs for doctor and hospital bills, ambulance service, medicine, X-rays, and lab work, up to the limits in your policy.
Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance – Imagine needing to be airlifted off a mountainside or requiring a flight off of a cruise after suffering a stroke. Medical evacuation travel insurance covers the expense of being taken to the closest healthcare facility overseas that’s equipped to treat you, and it also may pay for you to be flown back home if you need advanced medical attention. Along with medical evacuation, this coverage pays for repatriation, or transfer, of a traveler’s remains.
Emergency Dental and Other Medical Coverage – Your medical insurance may also offer coverage for emergency dental.
Trip Protection Travel Insurance – Trip protection insurance compensates you for trip costs due to unforeseen events before and during your trip.
This may include: Trip Cancellation Travel Insurance, “Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance, Trip Interruption Insurance, Travel Delay Insurance, Baggage Insurance.
ALL IN ALL, TRAVEL INSURANCE IS A SMALL COST RELATIVE TO THE TRIP COSTS YOU CAN PROTECT—ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING UNCERTAINTIES AND SURPRISES ABOUND.
WHEN IS TRAVEL INSURANCE WORTH IT?
Generally, travel insurance is worth considering if:
- Your trip cost is much more than you can afford to lose.
- You are traveling internationally.
- You are traveling to a remote area with limited nearby healthcare facilities.
- You have lots of pre-paid, non-refundable tours, day trips, and activities planned.
- Your trip involves connecting flights or multiple destinations.
- You want to be partially reimbursed if you decide to cancel your trip or return home early for any reason.
WHEN IS TRAVEL INSURANCE NOT NECESSARY?
You generally don’t need trip protection travel insurance if you’re not putting down large non-refundable trip deposits or if you’re traveling within your country.
