It’s necessary, and easy, to buy travel insurance anytime you are leaving the area covered by your normal home, health and auto insurance plans.

But buying travel insurance becomes more complicated when you start to compare just what you are getting for your money.

Not all travel insurance plans are the same. You have to look closely and compare what various plans will cover and then decide which insurance package is right for you.

To illustrate, think about what you will actually need to have covered if you become sick or are injured while away from home.


Obviously you will need coverage of your medical bills. Does your travel insurance package cover any pre-existing conditions you have? Some plans do not. Are bills for a stay in hospital covered? Some plans separate doctor’s bills from hospital bills. The bill from the doctor may be covered but you may still be responsible for a very large invoice the hospital hands you.

The point is that you need to be very careful about which plan you choose and make yourself aware of what is covered … and what is not. These are some areas to consider:

  • Emergency dental work
  • Ground ambulance transportation
  • Air ambulance transportation
  • Return to your departure point if you are unable to keep your previous arrangements
  • Return transportation for your children, your spouse or a pet
  • Return of your personal belongings

What about coverage if you are unable to return home? Will your travel insurance pay for accommodation, meals and out-of-pocket expenses for both you and your spouse if sickness or injury prevents you from going back home?

Be sure to also look closely at the maximum sums your insurance provider will pay for each area of coverage. Medical, hospital and hotel bills can add up very quickly. Be sure there will plenty of money available if the unexpected should happen.

If you are traveling out of the country be especially careful of your coverage. In some countries there may be a large extra charge to consult a specialist or you may have to pay for language translation services. Cheap international travel insurance will not pay off for you if you become sick or have an accident while abroad.

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Filed under: Travel Insurance

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