It is mind-boggling that a large percentage of travellers still make the decision to forgo travel insurance - or maybe they just don't even consider it.
It should be on your 'to do' list, right up there at the top along with checking that your passport is still current, obtaining a visa, and exchanging money.
Unfortunately, many travellers are unaware of the importance of travel insurance until it is too late and they encounter problems.
Here are just three reasons that you may wish you had bothered, but there could be many more scenarios:
1 above, a travel insurance policy would include a Cancellation and Curtailment clause for just such a problem.
Policies do vary, but the cover should include 'unexpected illness' of you, a family member, or travelling companion.
In most cases, a Single Trip policy covers you from the date it is issued.
However, be aware that in most cases with an Annual Multi-trip policy you would need to specify the date that the policy cover begins.
For example, you might purchase the travel insurance in April and the first trip you plan to make is in June.
It might seem logical to delay beginning the coverage on the policy until June when your holiday starts.
However, in this case you would not be covered for Cancellation and Curtailment if anything should happen prior to your first departure.
In scenario No.
2 above, you would be responsible for your hospitalisation, all medical expenses, and the cost of air ambulance to repatriate you - which would be extremely costly.
Contrary to the mistaken belief of some travellers, your consulate or embassy will not take care of these costs, Also, for travellers within the EU, who believe that their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will take care of it all, this is also incorrect.
Although you would be entitled to emergency health care under the EHIC, this does not always extend to every aspect of your care, including ongoing treatment and medical repatriation.
In No.
3 above, a travel insurance policy should cover loss or theft of your luggage and possessions, up to a certain amount.
It is usually required that you obtain a written police report within 24 hours in order to claim.
If any of the above happened to you, you would be very relieved that you had bothered to purchase travel insurance!
It should be on your 'to do' list, right up there at the top along with checking that your passport is still current, obtaining a visa, and exchanging money.
Unfortunately, many travellers are unaware of the importance of travel insurance until it is too late and they encounter problems.
Here are just three reasons that you may wish you had bothered, but there could be many more scenarios:
- A few days before you are due to go to the airport you are finishing your packing and your youngest child breaks out in spots, or you get a fever and symptoms of the flu
- On holiday you decide to take an elephant ride and while trying to dismount you fall and break a leg
- You arrive at your destination, check into your rented villa and unpack all your luggage.
You take a drive into town to explore the area and when you return you find that the property has been broken into and all your luggage and possessions stolen
1 above, a travel insurance policy would include a Cancellation and Curtailment clause for just such a problem.
Policies do vary, but the cover should include 'unexpected illness' of you, a family member, or travelling companion.
In most cases, a Single Trip policy covers you from the date it is issued.
However, be aware that in most cases with an Annual Multi-trip policy you would need to specify the date that the policy cover begins.
For example, you might purchase the travel insurance in April and the first trip you plan to make is in June.
It might seem logical to delay beginning the coverage on the policy until June when your holiday starts.
However, in this case you would not be covered for Cancellation and Curtailment if anything should happen prior to your first departure.
In scenario No.
2 above, you would be responsible for your hospitalisation, all medical expenses, and the cost of air ambulance to repatriate you - which would be extremely costly.
Contrary to the mistaken belief of some travellers, your consulate or embassy will not take care of these costs, Also, for travellers within the EU, who believe that their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will take care of it all, this is also incorrect.
Although you would be entitled to emergency health care under the EHIC, this does not always extend to every aspect of your care, including ongoing treatment and medical repatriation.
In No.
3 above, a travel insurance policy should cover loss or theft of your luggage and possessions, up to a certain amount.
It is usually required that you obtain a written police report within 24 hours in order to claim.
If any of the above happened to you, you would be very relieved that you had bothered to purchase travel insurance!
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