Is it really necessary?
Travel is a fun topic, travel insurance is not. The odds are definitely against you ever needing it – Whew! But what if an elephant uses you as a foot-stool, or you forget to take your malaria medication?
To answer the question of the necessity of travel insurance is a personal decision based on your own risk-taking characteristics, the risk inherent in your destination, your planned activities abroad, and perhaps monetary issues.
ATG strongly recommends purchasing some form of short term health and accident coverage with medical evacuation benefit included if only for the peace of mind it offers.
Types of Insurance
First take stock of what insurance benefits you may already have…
- Remember, you most likely have accidental death/dismemberment and baggage delay insurance that comes with your credit card? (You do have to use the card to pay for your flight.)
- Check with your current health insurance carrier – do they provide benefits for treatment received overseas?
- Also, if you’re interested in property insurance sometimes auto and homeowner’s insurance will cover personal property losses overseas, or allow you to add a low-cost rider to your existing policy.
Insurance products range from baggage delay or loss, trip interruption or cancellation, property, and medical insurance.
There are many choices available on-line.
ATG can recommend International Medical Group (IMG) offering comprehensive short, medium and long-term international insurance policies. I have used them while living in overseas and was pleased with their customer service (via internet) and fast processing times. (In most cases of a non-catastrophic nature, you pay out-of-pocket expenses and are reimbursed).
Click here to find out more about IMG insurance.
