Traveling is such a fun thing to do that we never think about the negatives and assume all will go well. And for the most part, that is how life works, but oddly enough, there are many circumstances where you need to protect yourself from both physical and financial harm. Bad situations come upon us without warning, and later, we are left pondering why we didn’t do this or that. But, we can take preventative measures such as wearing a life jacket while boating or hang gliding, being vaccinated before leaving the country, and avoiding the temptation to drink and drive. Finally, to protect yourself and your family in the case of medical emergencies and failed vacation plans, travel insurance is a must.

Five Important Reasons To Buy Travel Insurance and The Seven Pitfalls You Should Be Aware Of

#1 Medical Expenses Are Expensive
Most individuals would not be able to pay the cost of emergency surgery in any country. By the time you add up all the supplies, hours of time, tests, and any other costs involved, the total bill will be staggering and most likely prohibitive. Additionally, a hospital or alternate medical facility may not agree to provide services without the knowledge of guaranteed payment. Lastly, in many cases, the travel insurer will offer support in terms of finding the care, and directing the patient to available services. They might even make the arrangements.

#2 Natural Disasters
Hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons and the like are all part of traveling. No, you don’t necessarily want to experience this type of weather, but at the same time, it is a reality, not only while on vacation, but prior to arriving at your destination. Regardless, if your scheduled resort has been damaged and possibly even shut down, what will you do since you have paid in advance? The travel insurance policy protects you, so that you can find other accommodations without the financial strain. Of course, the emotional burden would be high as well, if you had to pay twice for your vacation!

#3 Trip Cancellation
More often than not, trips do get canceled. Either the traveler has a conflict which does not permit leaving at the scheduled departure date or the tour company has canceled the vacation. Either way, you don’t want to be out of pocket, and most insurance policies will cover this event. Just be sure, though, to read the fine print before paying for the travel insurance. Not all cover both contingencies. You want to be protected for any type of cancellation.

#4 Lost Baggage
This can be quite helpful because the statistics show that many suitcases are lost every year. At the very least, you want funds to buy emergency clothing and supplies, so having this feature on an insurance policy will be to your advantage.

Document replacement should be included, as well. To be honest, you should not have your important papers in checked luggage, but still, you want to be protected, as it will be difficult and costly to get a new passport, birth certificate and other documents on short notice.

#5 Disability
This type of coverage can help if you fall down the steps at the hotel and break your neck. In many countries, it is unlikely that you would receive compensation from the hotel, but your insurance policy will take care of that.

To conclude this article, there are a few things of which you should be aware.

#1 – Policies are not for domestic and international travel equally. Make sure you choose the right one. You may be tempted to save money by purchasing the cheapest, but if it doesn’t cover you while out of your own country, then what good will it be?

#2 – Admittedly, travel insurance is expensive. But if you consider the cost of your vacation against the possible protection required, it will be well worth the expense.

#3 – Disability does not usually include accidents from perceived dangerous sports and outings. If you are an adrenaline junky, you need to thoroughly check out the fine print before purchasing any insurance policy, as you may not be covered regardless of how much you pay.

#4 – There might be issues with pre-existing medical conditions. Insurers may not pay out for a heart attack, for example, if you already have past experience with the condition. Understand the rules and whether or not you require a medical certificate from your doctor.

#5 – Inquire about medical evacuation to your own country or the closest country which has the proper facilities. Just because you have insurance does not mean you are allowed to pick and choose where you go and what is paid for.

#6 – Like in the case of dangerous sports, travel insurers may not pay out on policies when you travel to banned countries. This could include areas where your own country has posted travel advisories, or it may refer to countries engaged in civil strife, or it could include war zones, and finally countries to which your government does not want you traveling.

#7 – Just because you don’t like your living arrangements or you feel that your hotel was not up to your standards does not mean that you can file a claim to the insurer. There has to be cause such as those mentioned in the policy.

More Information On Medical Services Around The World