What Should Your Travel Insurance Cover, And What Is Included In That Cover?

Travel is an exciting opportunity to discover new places and learn more about the world. Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the more interesting aspects of a trip while neglecting some of the essentials. However, thoroughly planning the financial and safety details of your vacation is imperative.

After you have secured financing for a travel loan, if necessary, then it is important to acquire good travel insurance for your trip. Since there is a wide range of different travel insurance providers offering different levels of service, it is important to know what absolutely must be included in coverage to make a decision that will keep you safe. 

Let’s look at some of the specific things that your travel insurance must cover and what needs to be included in that cover.

Medical Evacuation

There is always the possibility that you will be involved in some kind of accident or encounter personal medical troubles while on vacation. Simply being out of your normal routine exposes you to more risks than you would usually encounter in your daily life.

If this happens, it is important that you can rely on your travel insurance to cover the costs of a medical evacuation. While this evacuation may not be to your country of origin, your insurance needs to be broad enough to get you to a reliable medical facility where you can receive the treatment you need.

While the thought may be unpleasant, it is also important that you have coverage that will repatriate your body if you should die during your travels. This will make the process of returning your body to your country of origin easier for your family.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have medical conditions that represent a potential concern during your travels, then it is imperative that you have travel insurance coverage that will account for these factors. Many travel insurance providers are wary of some pre-existing medical conditions and may not include these in their standard coverage. Make sure to read the fine print of your prospective travel insurance agreement. Better yet, ask a representative of the insurance company to ask directly if your condition is included in any package that they offer.

The last thing that you want is to have a medical emergency in a foreign country, where medical care may be more expensive and have to foot the bill entirely out of your own pocket. Do not assume that your condition is covered.

Understand The Deductible

Many travel insurance plans require that you pay a set amount for using the insurance. When you visit a doctor while abroad, for example, you may be required to pay a certain part of the overall cost. Some plans offer complete coverage, but these will usually require that you pay a higher price at the outset. Depending on your risk tolerance and the likelihood of you needing to use the insurance for doctor’s visits, it may be cheaper to purchase such a plan.

Valid For Your Destination

While it may seem laughable, it is important that your travel insurance will provide you with coverage in the destination that you are planning to visit. Some travel insurance providers are limited in their ability to offer coverage in some countries. Make sure to clear this up before you make your decision.

Thoroughly Understand Your Prospective Policy

Ultimately, making an informed decision comes down to knowing what you need from your travel insurance. This will depend on your existing medical conditions and the riskiness of the activities that you are planning to engage in while you are travelling.

Understand any policy thoroughly before you agree to purchase it. It is far better to spend the time sorting through the details while you are still at home than trying to work them out when you actually need them.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels