After saving for a while, you’ve just paid $3,000 for your long-awaited trip to South East Asia. Whew! You know you should probably buy travel insurance, too, but your finger hesitates over the “buy now” button .“Is travel insurance really worth it?” you wonder. “I could spend that money on a nice cruise dinner instead… Why should I buy travel insurance? What does it even do for me?”
The point is: If you’re going to spend your hard-earned money to enjoy your holiday – why not spend a bit more to safeguard it? Below some reasons why you should buy travel insurance:
Because medical emergencies often happen while traveling
Nobody expects to get sick or injured on vacation. Unfortunately, it can be happened. The most common emergencies are:
• Fractures from falls, often to the hip, ankle, tibia, and fibia
• Cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes
• Trauma, often from car accidents and scooter/moped crashes
• Pulmonary/respiratory problems
Without travel insurance, you’re on your own in an emergency. When you have travel insurance, all you have to do is call the 24-hour assistance hotline. The travel insurance company will leap into action to make sure you get the best available care, wherever you may be.
Because it can be really expensive to get emergency medical care overseas
Most hospitals overseas will not accept your domestic health insurance card. They want your credit card instead because they expect payment up front before you receive care. If you’re not prepared to pay all your medical bills out of pocket, you need travel insurance.
When you’re protected by a travel insurance plan with emergency medical benefits, the travel insurance team can work to guarantee payment to doctors and hospitals so you can be treated as quickly as possible following a covered injury or illness. The Assistance team will continue to monitor your treatment, provide guidance and reassurance, and, if necessary, determine how to safely transport you home.
Because it can be really, really expensive to get a medical evacuation overseas
What happens if you get seriously hurt while traveling overseas and require medical evacuation by helicopter or ambulance? Without travel insurance, you may have to pay an enormous sum. These are estimates for emergency medical evacuation in some popular destinations:
• Mexico: $15,000-$20,000
• South America: $100,000
• Germany, France or other developed European nations: $50,000-$100,000
• Russia: $90,000-$150,000 (weather conditions can dramatically increase costs)
• Asia, Australia, and the Middle East: $220,000
These estimates represent just the cost of transporting you to the hospital — not treating you. If you’re in a remote area of a developing nation, or if your injuries are particularly severe, these costs could double or triple.
Travel insurance with emergency medical transportation benefits can pay for you to be transported to the nearest appropriate facility if a covered illness or injury occurs during your trip and our medical assistance team determines that the local medical facilities are unable to provide appropriate treatment. So if you’re just looking at dollars and cents, this is the most compelling reason why travel insurance is worth the cost.
Because you can’t risk losing money on an emergency trip cancellation
A travel insurance plan with trip cancellation benefits can reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs when you must cancel for a covered reason. These covered reasons vary according to the plan you buy, but generally include things like:
• The insured traveler, traveling companion or a family member suffers a serious covered illness or injury.
• The insured traveler, traveling companion or a family member dies.
• Your airline, cruise line or other carrier ceases services for at least 24 consecutive hours due to a strike, natural disaster, bad weather or FAA-mandated shutdown.
• Your destination is rendered uninhabitable because of a natural disaster, fire, flood, burglary or vandalism.
You get the picture. If you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason, trip insurance can save your vacation investment — but if you don’t have insurance, you could lose it all. So if you’re wondering, “Should I buy trip cancellation insurance?” the answer is always yes.
Because your baggage is delayed or lost
Your special day has finally arrived – a wedding at a beach side resort. Unfortunately, the airline made a mistake and your baggage will be delayed. Luckily you’ve got the dress and the rings, but what about your other clothes, shoes, toothpaste, and personal items?
With coverage for delayed bags, you can relax. The service hot-line will help you recover your bags. You’ll also be reimbursed for the essential items you need to start enjoying your trip.
Or, you are required to speak at a business conference in Thailand, but somewhere in transit, your baggage is lost. Your presentation is tomorrow, how will you get ready in time?
With coverage for luggage that is lost, stolen, or damaged, you’ll be reimbursed for new clothes and personal items. You’ll can even get reimbursed for a suitcase so you can take your new stuff home.
Because your passport is lost
You are at a conference in Bangkok, and you realize you left your passport at a local restaurant. With coverage for lost passports, you’ll have help expediting the process of replacing and paying for a new passport.
Because delayed and cancelled flights are common
Nothing will ruin the beginning or the end of your vacation more effectively than flight problems. The next time you’re stuck in the airport because your flight is delayed (again), you’ll be much happier if you have insurance. Travel insurance with trip delay benefits can reimburse you for reasonable expenses , up to the limit specified in the policy for meals, accommodation and transportation expenses incurred because of a covered travel delay of 6 or more consecutive hours. It can also reimburse the unused part of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses like the tour you missed because you didn’t get to your destination on time.
Because peace of mind is priceless
Whether you’re planning a solo adventure or a grand, multi-generational getaway, the whole point is to relax and enjoy the journey. Travel insurance can ease your anxiety because you know you have protection in case of common travel mishaps. Not only that, but you know you’re never alone. No matter how far from home you go, help is a free hotline call away.
For more information and brand comparisons, check out this helpful guide from Consumers Advocate: https://www.
