Travel Insurance, a Necessary Evil? |
Posted: August 8, 2011 |
In over two decades in the Tour and Travel Industry, one question I have been asked over and over again is: should I buy travel insurance before leaving on a trip? This is an extremely pertinent question to ask before going any trip and I will never give a yes or no response, instead I will suggest that you answer the following question. Are you independently wealthy with funds available at your fingertips? Travel insurance may not be of interest to you. But if the idea a situation may occur in your trip that could cost you anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars make you break into a sweat, you may want to consider travel insurance. If you fall into the second category and decide to purchase travel insurance, I have a few questions you should ask to ensure you get the best insurance package for you. Travel insurance, for those who do not know, is insurance that an individual would take in order protect themselves against some of the risks that could occur while traveling. In most cases are only valid for a certain time frame or the duration of your trip. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of conducting hundreds of tours even though no one plans to encounter problems while away from home, it does happen. Travel insurance policies cover three areas: · trip cancellation protection · medical coverage and · medical evacuation There is also baggage delay or loss, trip delay and accidental death. Of course, no policy will do everything so it is crucial to be clear on the coverage that you may acquire. A broad range of coverage for a reasonable price is ideal. Another question you may want to consider, is my travel health insurance premiums tax-deductible? This varies considerably from country to country but is worth checking out. Other questions to ask include:· If I get sick while traveling does not the government health plan, credit card or employment benefits pay for all my medical expenses? · Will the travel insurance pay for my expenses if or when I am on a business trip or vacation and am called home for an emergency? · I'm only going to be out of the country for a few days. Do I need travel insurance? · I am over 60 and have a few health problems. Is it possible for me to purchase travel insurance? · When should I purchase travel insurance? · My spouse is traveling with me. Do I need separate coverage for him or her? · I want to read my travel insurance booklet? · I have heard that hospitals and medical bills outside my country can easily run into thousands of dollars, even on traveling on a business trip. Do I need to pay up front if I had an accident or am sick while traveling abroad? · Do I need medical insurance when traveling in my own country? · Why would I need trip cancellation or interruption insurance? By asking and answering these few questions is a start in the right direction. A couple of these questions I've had issues with myself while traveling, I've arrived at location five different times without my luggage. Four of the times I was fortunate in my luggage showed up within a day. The fifth occasion was the beginning of the trip and my luggage did not catch up to me for a week and a half. I was extremely grateful to have insurance coverage in that circumstance. The other issue I had a little more serious. I on tour in the United States when I started to feel considerable discomfort in my chest. I contacted my family doctor in Canada, explained the symptoms, and he told me to get my tail directly to a hospital. I did and was told by the admissions person that I was required to pay $10,000 before anyone would look at me. I know I could have looked for another hospital but to be honest during that research at that time was not high on my priority list. I instead was able to find another tour director to take over my trip in late that afternoon I flew home to Canada. I spent the next 11 days in hospital. It was suggested to me that if I'd stayed in the US hospital, it would have cost to me at least half million dollars, probably more. That was early in my Tour Directing profession, and I did not have the appropriate travel insurance. I'm not saying the United States is the only places happens, I seen similar events take place in Mexico and Chile, and I've heard many other similar stories worldwide. As far as trip cancellation or interruption insurance; remember the Iceland volcano? Two years running. Similar events can happen anywhere. Bottom line, travel insurance is a smart option for people who are traveling and it can protect you against medical emergencies, cancellations, country evacuations and emergencies that may impede your travel plans. In order to obtain the best coverage possible at the most competitive price, it is crucial and beneficial to spend time researching. If you have a trusted insurance agent, contact them and asked them to answer your questions. Another option would be to visit Rhapsody Tours and click on the travel insurance button. This will take it to a Travel Insurance Center where you can use a policy picker to select the items of protection that best suits you, compare with different companies, and receive a quote before making any commitment. If nothing else this gives you an idea of the prices you should consider. No matter how you research; just make sure you do research. This should be close to top of your list of things to do for your trip. If you have any stories or questions about travel insurance would like to share or any travel related themes you would like to discuss or other travel stories you want to share; send them off to us. We will read the all and post our favorites. Well this is all we have for today's post, let us know what you think. If you would like to receive further German posts, your options include: Stay in touch: If you have any comments, we would love to see them.
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