Types of travel insurance
It is hard to foresee when health is affected, but the risk is higher when we travel abroad visiting countries in different climates, with different diseases, and – even more importantly – different healthcare systems. That is why, when planning holidays abroad, you should also remember about medical travel insurance that covers all the expenses you may encounter when having troubles with your health. The travel insurance can provide coverage for medical expenses such as: the services of a physician, charges for drugs and medical supplies, emergency transportation and your stay in the hospital as well as costs of treatments, exams and tests. A good travel insurance policy will also provide trip cancelation coverage. It is a reimbursement for lost travel expenses if you have to cancel your trip (for example if you or your family member gets ill). You can also insure your luggage in case it is lost, damage or delayed. If you want to take some sports equipment, you should indicate it in advance as it will probably cost extra to insure. There is also an option to include missed connection in your policy to avoid additional expenses if you miss your flight.
Things to remember
If you are an adventurous traveler you may need to ask for a special policy. For example if you enjoy extreme skiing or snowboarding or you plan to scuba dive, you should make sure it is all covered. You may also need to pay additionally if you want treatment of pre-existing medical conditions to be included in your policy as well. When travelling abroad, especially to a country with different language, you should always have the number of 24/7 emergency assistance hotlines of your insurer. The operator will take care of arranging medical care or transportation, and handle the payment procedures. Last but not least, when arranging a trip for a group of people, you should ask for group travel insurance to get a discount.
