subject: Think Travel Insurance Is A Waste Of Money? Why You Should Reconsider [print this page] Consider if you fell from a mountain cliff and broke both arms. This would be an even worse problem if it happened in a third world country where you were vacationing. Travel insurance may have been the last thing on your mind until your fall.
It may take you two days of walking and then driving just to reach a hospital. After you've finally reached a place where you could get medical attention, you'd need to pay someone to get you unfamiliar foods, and drugs from whatever local kiosks you can find. Typically, medical centers in these countries do not stock such amenities that we take for granted.
If surgery is required, you hope that you are sedated properly and the procedure is performed with clean equipment. You may end up staggering out of the hospital with your limbs taped from top to bottom and a $100.00 charge. You immediately head for the nearest airport and book the first plane out of this nightmare.
Private insurance, under these circumstances, may cover up to four operations and six months of physical therapy. Without insurance, you would probably get no additional treatment options. Insurance is not always something that travelers think of, but this becomes even more important when you will be traveling to an exotic location.
Travel insurance is available through insurance companies and vacation booking agencies, and it is possible to obtain medical protection and vacation cancellation provisions in the same policy. Typically, your rates will be set for every 100 dollars worth of coverage, though these numbers vary.
Most people who buy travel insurance are elderly people who often worry about canceling a trip because of illness or worried they will require care abroad for an existing health problem. Some insurers may cover care overseas, but Medicare does not. Of course, Medicare is the prime medical insurance provider for senior citizens in the United States.
Hospitals in other countries often require credit card, traveler's checks, or cash from tourists. If you only need a few stitches, this method of payment is probably not a problem. If you suffer an accident or illness requiring more extensive care, travel insurance becomes much more important.
Reimbursement from a travel insurance provider covers the cancellation of a trip due to death or illness. This reimbursement covers either yourself or a relative on the trip with you. Cost is also reimbursed in the event your trip is canceled because your tour group or airline goes bankrupt.
It is always important to be sure that you have considered the many health risks involved with your destination before you do your traveling. You will need to make sure that you get all of the required vaccinations for the destination you'll be visiting prior to going on your trip. You may also want to obtain in writing how to handle the various medical situations that may arise while you are overseas.
As always, you should be sure to pack a first aid kit complete with antibacterial creams, bandages, a thermometer, and other emergency supplies. In the event of travel delays, pack additional medication rather than just enough for your planned time away. Documentation for your medication should include Latin names as well as the generic names.
Aside from travel insurance, some credit cards include some protection when traveling. When using American Express while on travel, for example, some coverage is included for roadside assistance, lost baggage, damage to rental cars, and some injury and death coverage. By paying additional fees, card holders can get additional coverage in the areas of emergency evacuations, missed flights, medical expenses and some other circumstances.
By preparing carefully, one can head off numerous problems on a vacation. Make sure that for any insurance policy that you decide to buy that the fine print is read. These policies are meant to help you, but it behooves you to check them over.
by: Abigail Evans
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