Is travel insurance right for you?
24 hour room service, clean accommodations, but it’s a tourist’s nightmare. You’re not in a hotel, you’re in the hospital, and you’ve had the misfortune of falling ill in the middle of what was supposed to be a dream vacation. And the worst thing is that you will spend more on health care than you would on an actual tour.
Travelers often think that travel insurance is just a waste of money — it’s an expense for something they likely wouldn’t use anyway. Pre insurance can be a tough decision. In order to help you reach the right decision, you should ask yourself the following questions:
What is your current insurance coverage? If you already have great comprehensive insurance, you may not need any other insurance. Some policies may cover treatment provided anywhere in the world.
What are the limits of the proposed plan? Try to find out what terms the plan offers as well as the terms of coverage. You won’t want to be surprised when you use the plan.
Where is your travel destination? Study the places you are going to visit. Does the environment pose more health risks?
Are you the type who visits the doctor often? Determine how many times you have visited the doctor or hospital over the past few months. People who worry about their health the most are better off getting health insurance.
Do you get sick often? If you are the type of person who easily catches insects, insurance is the best option.
How much will the insurance cost? In the end, you will have to consider how much you will spend. If you already pay for health care, paying for health care while you travel should be just another incidental expense for you.
What are the limits of the plan you are considering? Do you want to have no costs down the road, or do you want to risk a high discount? Will your policy cover an emergency room visit if you cut yourself in the kitchen of a Sydney hostel? What about emergency evacuation? Will you be somewhere with good health care or do you expect to be sent to another country in the event of a serious injury or treatment?
Travel insurance, though often overlooked as not essential, may be worth the small expense when you find yourself at the mercy of overseas health care and the environmental hazards of foreign countries.