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By
Webmaster
Introduction
Traveling and
living in a foreign country can be exciting and
rewarding, but it can quickly become a nightmare
when sickness or injury occurs and medical
services or worse, medical evacuation is needed.
Medical costs have risen dramatically worldwide.
Traveling has also
become a costly venture; with airline tickets
costing well over $1,000 and non-refundable.
Unforeseen liabilities such as rental cars;
insurance is no longer provided by most rental agencies.
The traveler many times overlooks liabilities
and possible disasters that can occur while
traveling.
The smart
traveler can minimize the outcome of disasters
or avoid them all together by taking reasonability
for their safety before the trip. Plan ahead
making a list of possible foreseeable disasters
and then make plans to deal with each one. One
strong piece of advise, make sure you have
traveler's insurance.
Many people
haven’t heard of travelers insurance before;
including major airline employees and travel agents
have never heard of this type of coverage or
companies offering it. Several years ago I took the initiative
to start my worldly adventures abroad. I have
completed several international adventures to
Australia without having traveler’s insurance
simply due to the fact no one ever told me it
was available. I called the major international
airline I use several times looking for
traveler's insurance information of any kind. Each time
I called, the person from the airline told me
they never heard of traveler's insurance; an Unbelievable
response from a major International airline's
"traveler's assistance" line. I
also called several travel agents here in
Milwaukee and only one of the agents had any
knowledge of traveler’s insurance; and that
knowledge was limited to a simple flyer. It is
sad how some companies and employees just do not
give basic service that is related to their
industry or job; not true at Casanova's
Outdoor Adventure Store.
I am an
adventurer by nature; it’s in my blood, and
traveling is a part of the adventures. I am also
a determined sort, not easily discouraged when I
set my mind to something. My close friend in
Australia, concerned about my well being,
insisted I keep calling and searching for
information. So I decided to start data-mining
the Internet for traveler’s insurance. The
following information is what I have discovered
so far and is provided to you, free of charge in the traditional ways
of Casanova's Outdoor Adventure Store.
Planning
Many world
travelers purchase supplementary international
medical insurance or travel insurance in order
to avoid the potentially staggering financial
costs that could result from serious sickness or
injury in a foreign country.
When
planning a short or long-term trip abroad it is
best to find out directly from your primary
home-country health care provider (i.e., health
insurance, HMO, ministry of health) whether and
to what extent, and under what circumstances,
you are covered for medical expenses emergency
and routine medical expenses incurred while
traveling abroad. Many people are surprised to
discover that their health care provider offers
little or no protection or reimbursement for the
costs of any type of medical treatment received
in a foreign country.
The Insurance
Plans
There are many
types of insurance for the world traveler and
choosing the right plan can be confusing.
Becoming familiar with the basic types of plans
and the specialized terms will make it easier to
compare plans, and ultimately choose the right
plan for your needs.
Often people
think travel insurance means flight accident
insurance, i.e., the kind of insurance
that pays the insured or its beneficiary a lump
sum when an airplane accident results in death
or serious injury. Flight accident insurance
plans are commonly found at airports and they
pay substantial sums to accident victims and
their families.
However, there
are two other primary types of travel insurance
that are designed to reduce the financial risk
posed by unforeseen medical expenses and other
crises that can confront international
travelers. Although the distinctions can be
blurred between the two types of plans, they are
generally categorized separately as
international medical insurance and travel
protection plans, both of which may be
offered in single-trip, multi-trip, or renewable
versions.
International
Medical Insurance is short or long term
medical insurance designed to reimburse you for
medical expenses incurred when you are traveling
or living in a foreign country. Maximum policy
coverage levels can be substantial enough to
cover major medical expenses such as emergency
surgery and extended hospital stays. The
"American-style" of international
medical insurance coverage is subject to the
specified deductible and co-insurance or co-pay.
Plans may include emergency evacuation, reunion,
and repatriation benefits as well as
other travel assistance services.
Travel
Protection Plans
typically reimburse your non-reimbursed travel
expenses if an emergency (death, sickness,
airline strike, travel company bankruptcy, etc.)
occurs right before or during your trip causing
it to be canceled, interrupted or delayed. Often
these plans include travel assistance
services,
protection for lost or damaged baggage, as well
as limited coverage for incurred medical
expenses. In many cases there is no deductible
or co-pay for covered medical expenses.
Travel
Insurance Online
Although
there are more and more web sites that offer
travel insurance online, most sites offer only
one type of coverage -- either a travel
protection plan or international medical
insurance -- or only offer coverage to citizens
of a particular country. A select few offer a
variety of plans for world travelers of all
nationalities. Do your homework and research
well in advance of your next adventure.
Travel
Insurance Glossary
Make Your
Adventures Happen, And Enjoy Them With
Peace of Mind! G. Casanova |
