Travelers nowadays have become more aware of the importance of travel insurance. Most vacations are likely to be incident-free, but it is still not worth risking your life and ruining your trip by not taking out travel insurance. According to the figures released this month by insurance company LV, around 16% of tourists visited foreign countries without taking out travel insurance. Instead of leaving this important part of your trip until the last minute, you should plan on taking out insurance on the same day that you pay for your trip. Here are top 5 travel insurance tips that you will find useful:
Tip 1 – Make Sure Your Travel Insurance Policy Covers All Your Activities
It is important to check that your policy includes all the activities you will be taking part in while on vacation. This is easy if you have booked a package trip as you can select the type of activities that you wish to take part in.
Never assume that all the sports activities are automatically covered, and read the small print of your policy’s terms and conditions.
Tip 2 – Make Sure That Your Policy Includes Adequate Medical Cover, Legal Expenses, And Liability
If you or your family members get ill or break a leg while you are on vacation in a different country, you may quickly end up in hospital.
This will result in high medical fees, especially if you need to stay in the hospital overnight.
As well, you may have to pay thousands of dollars if you need an air ambulance to bring you back home after a medical emergency, and if you are without insurance, your family would have to foot the bills. So when you are taking out travel and medical insurance, check that the policy covers air ambulance and all the relevant medical expenses.
Also causing injury to other people (perhaps in a car accident) would make you liable for legal costs. Did you know that travel insurance covers those costs too?
Tip 3 – Shop Around for a Good Deal
It is worth taking the time to search the Internet for reputable travel insurance providers.
Compare a few policies to see how they differ from each other and what they offer.
Every policy can be very different and so can its premiums. By using online tools such as live chat, you can talk to some agents who will explain how each policy works and whether it suits your needs.
Tip 4 – Check Your Existing Home\Auto and Medical Insurance Policy To See Whether You Are Already Covered
Before you start comparing rates online, take a look at your current home and auto insurance policy first. It is worth checking to see whether your home and auto or medical insurance policy has already covered you for out of country emergencies. Even some credit card companies, building societies and banks offer free travel insurance to their existing customers.
Tip 5 – Read the Policy’s Fine Print
As travel insurance policies can all vary, it is important to read the small print about the conditions of your eligibility for their insurance, especially if you have existing medical conditions. It is not a good idea to choose the cheapest option as the policy may not pay out when you need it most.
