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Travel Risks That Will Make You Buy Travel Insurance

19 October, 2015 | Travel Insurance

Picture this.

You were on your way to your dream getaway. You booked your trip without hassle. You even availed of the opt-in travel insurance offered by your airline. When you saw an ad for travel medical insurance, you ignored it thinking your opt-in policy was already sufficient. Just when you thought nothing would happen to foil your carefully planned trip, something did. You were rushed to the nearest hospital where you were diagnosed, treated, made to undergo several different lab tests and then advised to rest for a few days. Thinking everything would be back to normal as soon as you've had your rest, you went to bed looking forward to the rest of your vacation.

After a few days' rest, you were left speechless at the amount you had to pay. A five-figure sum all for a few days' of confinement? How preposterous! You called your flight operator and was told that your “travel insurance” only covered trip cancellation and lost baggage – not medical concerns. Too bad you didn't get travel medical insurance before you booked your trip, which could have saved you from this unexpected predicament.

undefinedSo when will you consider travel insurance? Travel poses a lot of risks, more so when frequent. Going to a place beyond your comfort zone may leave you feeling under the weather and this could go on for day. Heaven forbid, your luggage gets lost in transit. Worse, your flight is cancelled without refund. There's only one solution to all your potential travel woes: travel insurance.

Perhaps the following travel risks will make you wonder why you haven't bought travel insurance yet:

1. The threat of losing all the money you invested

The family booked a cruise scheduled to depart in less than two weeks. The daughter, who's only 8 years old, came down with flu and fever. Doctor advised the parents to travel only after their daughter has recovered. It was inevitable to cancel the trip.

Some cruise tours will not refund cancellations made less than two weeks prior to the trip. Unless you're covered, all that's left is to say goodbye to your $10,000 investment.

2. The threat of nature

Nature has sabotaged many good vacations. Who can rest, relax and have a swell time when an earthquake, hurricane or tsunami is wreaking havoc? You perfect trip to Phuket, which cost around $5,000, was disrupted by a raging typhoon, leaving half of the resort in ruins.

What's to happen to the $5,000 you worked so hard for? Will it be possible to re-book? If only you had the right travel insurance coverage

3. A grand vacation cut short by an emergency back home

The whole family, with grandpa and grandma in tow, has booked a European tour good for two weeks.

Not a week has passed in Spain when your grandfather suffers a stroke. His health drastically deteriorates and so he requests to be sent back home. The trip is cut short. Every family member complies and rides the return plane well before schedule. Your grandpa recovers after a week. Although you have reason to celebrate, how on earth are you going to recover the $15,000 spent for the two-week tour?

The answer may not be so simple but getting travel insurance would have eased unforeseen financial burdens during your trip.

4. Travel finances drained by medical evacuation expenses

Despite being a seasoned mountain climber, having climbed several mountains in your country, you had the misfortune of slipping. fracturing your limbs in the process. You were rushed to a nearby hospital which unfortunately could not offer you proper treatment. To ensure you're not hurt more than you already were, you had to be airlifted from that hospital to a better one.

A week or two of treatment could whip you back in shape. However, just when you're about to leave the hospital and return home, you receive a jaw-dropping bill for the emergency medical evacuation which needs immediate payment.

Since you're practically in casts and cannot walk without crutches, a special medical flight was in order but at a price of $12,000. How will you reconcile the situation? Can your savings cope up? Still not ready for that travel insurance coverage?

5. Emergency in a foreign country

One of the most difficult situations every traveller dreads is meeting an accident abroad without anyone to turn to. If only there's a 24/7 hotline operated by medical professionals who speak their language and more than willing to assist them in various medical emergencies – from locating the nearest hospital to booking an ambulance to settling medical payments or commissioning an emergency medical evacuation.

Things could be worse when there's a language barrier.

On the brighter side, they could be easier if you approach the right travel insurance company before you board that plane.

For peace of mind and security in all aspects while travelling, buy a travel insurance plan without delay.

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