Dave Page asked:

Travel insurance is a relatively new commodity that became popular only towards the end of the 20th century. The current estimate of the cost of travel insurance range between 5% and 8% of the total travel cost.

If the holiday vacation is worth about $10,000, the cost of travel insurance is at most $800. It is a substantial amount, and thus, some travelers are tempted to forego the idea of getting travel insurance at all. Getting such an insurance policy might be considered a luxury. But during the travel, some things are beyond anyone’s control. The luggage may be lost. One of the kids may get sick. The flight may be cancelled. The expenses for these unexpected incidents can be claimed when there is travel insurance. And the travelers will have peace of mind knowing that they have travel insurance.

Different travel insurance coverage

However, not all travelers’ insurance policies are exactly the same. For example, all travel insurance policies state that they cover trip cancellations. But the traveler must be aware that some policies cover only trip cancellations caused by sudden illness or death, airline cancellations due to weather or bankruptcy, jury duty, and emergency military duty. Some, but not all, travel insurance policies may also honor trip cancellations due to travel warnings issued by the US State Department. And few policies have the “cancel anytime” coverage, which allows the traveler to cancel anytime and for any reason.

Obviously, the inclusion of this last type of coverage will drive up the cost of the travel insurance policy. But travelers have different needs. Some may need this “cancel anytime” feature while others may not. What every traveler needs, however, is a travel insurance that is affordable and will provide the coverage needed. Deciding early on the coverage of the traveler’s insurance will allow the traveler to obtain a relatively cheap travel insurance policy. But how do you decide? Research and common sense are needed.

Including medical coverage in travel insurance

For example, one of the most important and pressing concern during travel is the medical coverage. Going to another country is not a walk in the park. You may have a difficult time adjusting to the climate. You may get sick because of the food that you ate. You may be involved in an accident. Or you may have accidentally bumped your head against a solid wall because you were ogling scantily-dressed beautiful women. The question now is this: what type of medical coverage do you need?

For longer travels, the travelers insurance must include doctor visits, as well as hospitalization. If the traveler has no healthcare coverage, it is recommended to have a comprehensive medical coverage included in the travel insurance policy. If a person has healthcare, the HMO must be consulted first on whether they can cover emergency care even when the insured is abroad. And if they do, the traveler must know the maximum number of days that the HMO will provide medical coverage. When the HMO does provide such coverage, then there is no need for a comprehensive medical coverage. Having double coverage on medical expenses is not the best way to get cheap travel insurance.

There are cases, however, that the travel insurance must include the medical evacuation insurance feature. This feature covers the cost of transporting the patient from one emergency facility to another. The patient is assumed to be badly injured or terribly ill. Obviously, this feature is necessary for travelers who will be involved in extreme sports, in which the chances of being injured are high. The medical evacuation insurance is also useful for travelers who have chronic diseases and for travelers whose destinations are remote areas of underdeveloped countries, where medical facilities are insufficient to care for the traveler’s emergency needs.

Carla

Darlene Kaitlin asked:

No one can deny the fact that modern day life has become extremely busy as a result people rarely get time to take enough breaks to recharge their batteries. It therefore becomes important that everyone avail at least one proper leave in a year so that he can go on vacations that would drain all his fatigue, recharge his batteries and make him enthusiastic to take on the world.

Vacations do play an important role in everyone’s life. After all it gives you an opportunity to travel to distant places with your family that surely invigorates you and makes you return with new found energy. Not only does the break but also the new environment does the magic and one feels completely recharged. Vacations to exotic places do have their own charm but they are not without their own share of problems.

The problem gets even more compounded because one is in an alien land away from friends and relative. It is here that travel insurance come to their rescue and give them the assurance that they are not alone in a new place. The biggest advantage that it ushers on people is the fact that it relieves them from the agony of shelling out their hard earned money on any emergency. So if you suffer from any illness health care wold be taken care of by insurance companies. Similarly if your luggage is stolen or you get trapped in political turmoil of any country or some other calamity befall you, if you are protected by travel insurance then you can be rest assured that whatever the circumstances help would reach you within 24 hours.

It therefore would be needless to state that if one opts for travel insurance than one can be rest assured that one would be very nicely taken care of in the time of emergency and that too in an alien land.

Tina

chappy asked:


A friend has had a cancer removed (about 7 months ago) and is due for another check-up in July 2008. We’re travelling to USA in January and need to get travel insurance, but most companies say they won’t medically insure anyone who has had cancer or is awaiting medical investigation. Can she get fully comprehensive insurance from anywhere?

Rosa

Adam Jaylin asked:

While planning a holiday we are more preoccupied making budget for airline tickets, lodging and sightseeing. We are so much worried about maintaining our budgets that, we often neglect our own protection. Like life and medical insurances, travel insurances also has a great part to play in our lives.

Travel insurance covers various risks involved while travelling. Any travel insurance not only gives self protection, but also helps to save money. Travel insurance pays when you fall sick or get injured while on holiday, lose your luggage or are delayed at the airport. It also covers various expenditures associated with aeromedical evacuation during travel and cancellation of holiday, in certain situations.

Therefore, it is always better to have a good travel insurance that offers various coverages which are beneficial for the travellers. There are a number of insurance brokers, agents and institutions that offer various types of travel insurance policies. But before buying a travel insurance one should be aware of the terms and conditions of each insurance policy, the coverages given and other benefits. After proper analysis and evaluation one should go for a travel insurance that can provide maximum benefit.

However, most travel insurances cover the costs of changing or cancelling travels, and the cost of any medical and dental care and emergency assistance during the period of travelling. As regard to medical care and emergency assistance, most of us are not aware that the personal medical insurance may not cover medical expenditure everywhere in the world and also the medical expenses are very high in most of the places. Again, in some in home medical insurances the medical treatment is covered, but related costs like transportation etc. are not covered. And in case of cruise goers even though the ships have on-board doctors, their services are not free. That is why it is always beneficial to go for travel insurance before going for a trip.

Again, who knows if you have to fly back home winding up the trip at an early date or cancel it due to terrorism or other related issues. This again will be quite expensive. So to avoid such circumstances, one should opt for a travel insurance policy that also includes cancellation, terrorism and emergency coverages.

Whatever may be the returns a careful selection and comparison of various travel insurance policies can help out to find the best travel insurance.

Jamie

Shahid Mahmood asked:

Travel insurance is insurance that is intended to cover financial, medical expenses and other losses incurred while traveling, either within one’s own country, or internationally.

Travel insurance can usually be arranged at the time of booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip or a more extensive, continuous insurance can be purchased from (most often) travel agents, travel insurance companies or directly from travel suppliers such as cruiselines or tour operators.

Travel insurance often offers coverage for a variety of travelers. Student travel, business travel, leisure travel, adventure travel, cruise travel, and international travel are all various options that can be insured.

The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are:

• Cancellation

• Curtailment

• Delayed departure

• Loss, theft or damage to personal possessions and money (including travel documents)

• Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)

• Medical expenses

• Emergency evacuation/repatriation

• Overseas funeral expenses

• Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit

• Legal assistance

• Personal liability and rental car damage excess

Some travel policies will also provide cover for additional costs, although these vary widely between providers.

And in addition, often separate insurance can be purchased for specific costs such as:

• high risk sports

• travel to high risk countries

• pre-existing medical conditions

Travel insurance can also provide helpful services, often 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that can include concierge services and emergency travel assistance.

www.travelinsuregenie.com

Emma

saren asked:


World travel insurance for Canadians without provincial health insurance

I am looking for an international backpacker medical travel insurance provider that doesn’t let the fact that my MSP (or similar provincial health insurance) is no longer valid. I have been out of Canada for 3 years and certain insurance providers require a provincial plan from the home country of the traveler to be in effect before providing insurance. I need to find a reasonably priced alternative catering to backpack travel (without the requirment of needing to return home withing a period of time). My MSP is no longer valid. Thx.

Julio

Angelique asked:


I am going to France through a study abroad program through my college. In order to apply for a visa, I need a letter from my medical insurance company stating that I will be covered in France, but I think it would be faster to get coverage through an international travel insurer. I’m racing against the clock. I’m searching on the web, but I have no idea what I’m doing really. . What companies are most reputable?

Joyce

William Catherine asked:

According to the latest report by the UK travel analysts, “In the past three four years people in UK have taken travelling as the basic requirement for them round the year. Earlier it was only once a year when people step out to have the holiday bash. Due to the sudden drop in air-fares and the mounting work pressure, people now await more eagerly for the outings.

Huge Mark, a Sales executive comments on the same, “I usually take on a holiday trip several times in a year in order to make an escape from the hefty work schedule”. With the fast growing travelling needs among the people, the concept of travel insurance policy has also made its foray hugely into the market. People now are not willing to take risks with their holiday plans as it is the only time during the year when one can relax without any impediments on the way. It has also been revealed that nearly 60% people in UK opt for travel insurance.

But taking a travel insurance policy is not enough; one must make a thorough study of all the policies available in the market to get the appropriate choice. It takes only few minutes to make a comparative study between the various offers available in the market. Inapt travel insurance cover may increase the problem instead of providing help whilst the trip. Cheap travel insurance cover is not that tough to find as people assume about it. Through a proper navigation online one can also get to know about the new policies and about their exact requirements.

Commenting on the same Rudy Jennson, a regular traveller added, “Initially I used to get cover on each of my single trips through out the year. Actually I wasn’t aware the provision of multi-trip policies which not only saves the money but also offers an apposite coverage for the regular travellers.

Sometimes the travel agents in the market also mislead the customers, as they earn more commission by selling in various individual policies. Naturally a travel will look for his/her benefit instead of taking care of your specific requirements. Usually, buying a policy costs to a person much more than the actual rates in most of the cases.

Following are the few noteworthy points which must be considered while taking any policy:-

1) You must be fully aware about the kinds of coverage offered within your travel insurance policy. Usually most of the travel insurance policies cover the change and cancellation of trips, emergency medical assistance, etc. But there are various situations when you require more than it, like coverage for loss, damage of important belongings, flight delays and others. So it is very important to get to know about all kinds of coverage and for that you also must specify all your exact requirements to the travel insurer.

2) Compare the shop for the best insurance cover. The best way to compare the policies in on internet.

3) Read the small prints properly.

4) Check out for the cover confines and also for any prohibition if there are any.

Check out for the websites like insurancebookers.co.uk, saga, insure and go and thus compare their vibrant policies.

Gail

impyface asked:


I’m about to go on holiday for 31 days and have been looking everywhere for travel insurance. The problem is I am 17 and will not be 18 until halfway through my holiday. I also would like to get annual insurance as I shall be going on holiday again (!) not long after and it would probably work out cheaper. However I can’t find anywhere which does not class me as a child and is willing to insure me! I am traveling with two others over 18 but unfortunately they have bought insurance allready. I don’t know what to do, please help!

Carrie

Lotty asked:


I’m going to the South of France for 1 week and need to protect my bike against damage on the plane/abroad. My travel insurance can not be upgrades and the best deal online is £69. Please help, I fly on Thursday…. UK companies only please.

Kurt