Travelling can be an exciting experience, but it can also be nerve-wracking. After all, you never know what the future holds. That’s why it’s important to protect yourself before you go on your travels. Fortunately, getting travel insurance is something that everyone can do. In this article, we’ll explore when you should get travel insurance and the types that are worth purchasing.
Why buy travel insurance?
In many ways, travel insurance is like a backup plan, should you need it. It protects you financially and medically if something happens to you or your possessions while you’re travelling. Travel insurance is particularly important if you’re travelling outside of your home country.
While some countries have reciprocal agreements that allow travellers to receive free medical care during their trip, this doesn’t always extend to every part of the world. If you’re travelling to one of these countries and something happens to you while you’re there, you won’t be able to receive any emergency treatment unless you pay out of pocket.
When should you consider getting travel insurance?
There are a variety of situations and circumstances where you should consider getting travel insurance. For example, if you’ve been thinking about travelling to Bali for more than a month, you might want to consider getting travel insurance before you depart because you’ll want to make sure you are protected if something happens during your trip.
Also, you need to seriously consider getting holiday insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition that could be aggravated while you’re travelling abroad. This could include anything from allergies to chronic pain to mental illnesses. The following are some typical scenarios that you should consider getting travel insurance for:
If you’re going on a long holiday
If you’re travelling for a long period of time, you might want to consider purchasing travel insurance. This is particularly important if you’re travelling to a country where medical treatment is expensive. Most travel insurance policies will cover common medical claims like hospitalisation and medical expenses, although they’re often designed for shorter trips.
If you’re going to be gone for a long stretch of time, you should look into getting comprehensive insurance. This will allow you to be protected against mishaps and accidents no matter how long your vacation is, giving you greater peace of mind.
If you’re visiting multiple destinations
One of the great things about travel is that you’re able to visit all sorts of places and experience different cultures. If you’re planning on visiting multiple destinations and want to ensure that you’re protected if something happens while you’re there, you should consider getting worldwide travel insurance.
Most travel insurance providers will provide insurance coverage for almost everywhere in the world under a single insurance policy. This means if you’re visiting five different countries and want to make sure you have the appropriate coverage in each country, you don’t need to take out five different insurance policies. Worldwide travel insurance can be purchased for a single trip to multiple destinations or as an annual policy. In some cases, travel insurance companies may carefully review your itinerary to make sure that you’re covered appropriately.
If you have pre-existing medical conditions
You might think that travel insurance is only necessary if you have an accident or get sick while you’re overseas. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If you have a pre-existing medical condition that could be affected by your travel, you should consider getting travel insurance. This can be anything from a heart condition, diabetes, or any other health condition that might need emergency treatment or medical care while you’re away from home.
If you’re an elderly or solo traveller
Elders and solo travellers are often at a greater risk of getting into accidents or mishaps than group travellers. As a result, it is definitely worth considering travel insurance for both of these groups. Solo travellers might want to get travel insurance because they don’t have anyone that can look out for them in case something goes wrong, like having their luggage or possessions stolen. As a solo traveller, you might also want to avoid certain areas, such as if you’re going somewhere where theft and tourist scams are common.
Similarly, if you are over 50, it is likely that you have a medical condition or require a prescription for a health disorder. In this case, it is a good idea to purchase travel insurance that covers specific conditions, whether life-long or temporary, giving you better peace of mind when travelling.
When can you avoid getting travel insurance?
Getting travel insurance may not be for everyone or for every occasion. Below are a few common scenarios where you might be able to avoid getting holiday insurance:
- If you’re going on a short trip, usually less than a week
- If your employer provides one.
- If your have a credit card or participating bank that offers some form of travel insurance. My credit card hacking regiment has led to me opening many cards with sometimes complementary travel insurance.
- If you have access to free emergency medical care and treatment while travelling within your own country.
Travel insurance is something that should be on everyone’s radar. It protects you financially and legally in case something happens to you while you’re travelling. This is especially important for those who are travelling abroad for extended periods of time or to multiple destinations, as this increases the length and level of risk, especially if you’re an older traveller.
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