When you’re planning an overseas trip, you would want to purchase travel insurance. However, strictly speaking, “travel insurance” is not a single type of insurance, but an umbrella term encompassing many types of insurance, although the most common type is travel health insurance. You can also purchase trip cancellation insurance, travel evacuation insurance, and flight insurance.
You may research the travel insurance that your friend purchased when he visited Spain, but remember that his situation might have been vastly different from yours. Although the most oft-purchased insurance plans are trip cancellation and travel medical insurance, consider your specific needs and purchase the plan that works for you.
As soon as you finalize your tickets, you might want to purchase trip cancellation insurance. This plan usually also comprises trip interruption insurance, which covers the financial loss if you need to return earlier than planned. Generally, the plan covers specific reasons and you are reimbursed if the cancellation or interruption is due to an approved reason.
Your trip cancellation insurance only reimburses you for covered reasons. You will likely be covered in case of the demise or serious illness of your traveling companion or an immediate family member, if your primary residence is destroyed, or if Uncle Sam calls upon you for jury duty or military duty. Some plans will also cover the trip if you lose your job or weather conditions force you to cancel your trip.
Definitely consider trip cancellation insurance if your trip is expensive, with significant non-refundable expenses. Narrow down your plan choices before purchasing your ticket and sign on to the plan as soon as your itinerary is confirmed. Remember that trips finalized at the last minute are less prone to changes.
Travel medical insurance is the other main type of travel insurance, protecting the plan holder from the costs of medical care when traveling. The common benefits offered by travel medical insurance plans are emergency services, inpatient and outpatient care, surgery, consultation, medical tests, and limited prescription medication.
Your travel insurance plan is likely to cover emergency medical evacuation or, in some cases, emergency political evacuation. Your plan benefits will also include some AD&D and repatriation of mortal remains.
Apart from these benefits, many plans offer additional coverage for an extra cost. Some of these include cover for injuries arising from adventurous sports, and trip cancellation due to “any reason”. Other travel insurance benefits include baggage loss and delay, and identity theft. Many plans also offer travel advisory services. However, to know the exact nature of the coverage offered, it is best to consult the plan schedule of benefits.
Ray sandeo frequently writes about travel health insurance