Checkpoints before buying Travel Insurance

Accident, illness or any kind of medical emergency is the last thing on our mind while planning a vacation. This is why we often neglect buying travel insurance unless the insurances comes with the ticket or is mandatory for visiting any place. One needs to purchase travel insurance for most of the International destinations.

It is imperative that you buy good travel insurance before flying abroad because medical costs in foreign countries are very high and even a simple consultation can cost you a bomb there. By spending few bucks, you can insure yourself against many emergencies that can lead you to financial trouble in a foreign land. Therefore, choose your insurance carefully without treating it as another paper work or buy along with the air tickets. Tick mark this check list and you will be good to go.

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Check before buying travel insurance

Cover Size

The first and foremost thing to check is the sum insured. The cover depends on the destination you are travelling. It is decided on the basis of how expensive medical services are in the country you are travelling to. The premium is high for the locations where medical facilities are expensive. For example, Medical services are costlier in countries like the US and Canada as compared to South East Asia. Therefore buy an insurance that can cover you well in your destination country.

Cancellation insurance

Try to buy a plan that will cover you against any cancellation of your trip due to unforeseen reasons like sickness of you or your traveling partner, weather conditions or any legal obligation etc.

Medical insurance

There are many plans that do not cover a pre-existing condition. Try and choose an insurance that covers a pre existing condition if you feel you can need it during your stay because most of plans cover only hospitalization cost, ambulance costs etc. Although your premium can go a little high if you opt for pre-existing condition coverage but you will have peace of mind. This is must have cover if you are a senior citizen.

Evacuation insurance

This is a must for people going on adventurous trips in far-flung destinations. It allows for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest medical care facility if you are in any remote location or in a place that doesn’t have appropriate medical facility for treating your condition. You can skip this if you are going to any metropolitan city such as New York or London since all kind of medical facilities will be available there.

Baggage insurance

This will reimburse you for clothes, medication and other essential things if your baggage is delayed in arriving at the destination and also if your possession is lost. This becomes absolute necessary if you are changing flights at several locations.

Flight insurance

Often airlines companies offer the protection against air ticket charges in the event of delay or cancellation of flight due to bad weather or flight breakdown but many insurance also covers this. This is a coverage you should opt for in case of international travel because the flight fares are very high.

The duration also affects your premium i.e. if you are staying at the destination for longer period your premium will go high. If you are a frequent flyer you can choose to buy multi-trip travel policy to save money. It is also convenient as you will save yourself from paper work each time. Lastly, compare the policies. Foreign exchange marketplace such as BookMyForex runs many insurance and forex combo offers through which you can save big bucks on international travel insurance and student travel insurance.