Why You Can't Afford to Skip Getting Travel Insurance | Your ...

Getting Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is one of those added costs that a number of us would probably rather avoid having to pay for, especially when you are trying to get your holiday costs down to within a set budget. You may well go on many trips without having any problems at all but there are so many scenario?s that could occur where you will be left financially exposed and in need of medical assistance, that the reality is that you really can?t afford to take the chance by not arranging travel insurance.

Is it really worth it?

There is a perception amongst some travellers that certain parts of the World have a cheap health care system and that basic care can be relatively cheap, so in some respects it might be worth taking the chance by not insuring and just paying for any emergencies yourself. South East Asia is a good example of an area where treatment in a hospital in a place like Cambodia is relatively cheap, but on the flip side of this, you would not really want to stay too long on some of these places either. Private medical care in any part of the World does not come cheaply and having travel insurance cover will buy you some peace of mind that should you need it, you are more likely to get the treatment you need without a huge personal cost to yourself.

What does it cover?

Travel insurance is not just about medical cover, which is of course a vital component of what you are paying for, but there a number of additional features that you can expect to be included, depending on how comprehensive your policy is. A fairly standard travel insurance policy should cover you for stolen luggage and personal effects, trip cancellation if you are unable to actually go on holiday due to illness or exceptional circumstances, personal liability if you are involved in an accident, and of course emergency medical treatment which often includes being flown back to your own country in an extreme medical emergency. Every policy that is offered has different features and levels of cover and if you have any expensive electrical items such as a high value camera or an expensive laptop, then you may need to specify these items so they are covered individually rather than relying on a general amount to cover your loss.

Read the small print

Any travel insurance policy that you take out will have a seemingly endless and mind numbing list of exclusions and conditions, but you are well advised to take a deep breath and take the time to sit down and read what cover you do and don?t have. Some key aspects to look out for are whether the insurer has a maximum payout for a lost or stolen items. On holiday is not a good time to find out that the expensive camera worth $1,200 that you have had stolen is subject to a maximum payout of $300 because you did not specify it as a high value item when taking out the cover. You should also look out for the level of excess being charged, which is the part of the claim that you are expected to pay yourself or have deducted from your settlement. Try to avoid any policies that are cheaper than the rest but have such a high policy excess that it makes it almost not worthwhile to claim at all.

Whilst you might consider the prospect of a medical emergency or even an act of terrorism occurring whilst you are away or even before you get on the plane, as something that is unlikely to happen, the peace of mind that you can buy for what is a relatively small outlay in most cases, is very often worth the cost when all things are considered.

Gemma Hobbs?is an avid blogger with extensive experience as a travel consultant. She far too often sees travelers get into trouble overseas because of lack of correct information. She enjoys sharing her insights on various blogs. Find out more about?Expedia Holiday Insurance?for your next trip.

Why You Can?t Afford to Skip Getting Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

Source: http://yourfinanceinfo.com/afford-skip-travel-insurance

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