Before going on that trip around the world, travelers book flights, tours, and accommodation. To their potential detriment, many travelers omit purchasing international travel insurance from their travel preparations, sometimes by design but often simply because they forget. Travel insurance for international travel may provide protection and assistance in the event of medical emergencies and may provide reimbursement for cancellation or rescheduling fees if it becomes necessary to cancel or postpone a trip after reserving hotel rooms or booking flights. Depending on the policy, it may also cover much more and serves as a safeguard while traveling overseas.
Emergency assistance, medical, and hospital
When traveling in a foreign country, you can’t always count on local hospitals or clinics to help if you’re involved in an accident or if you need emergency medical treatment. And health insurance often doesn’t provide coverage outside of your home country. Having international travel insurance will assist in finding the right medical professionals and may reimburse for the subsequent medical bills. Without the proper insurance, medical treatment might be denied or you may have to wait longer to receive it.
Being able to pay for a stay in the hospital or being able to pay for medications needed to help you get better will reduce your stress and allow you to focus on healing. If involved in an accident or if you’ve been hospitalized for an illness, contact your insurance agent as soon as possible to file a claim and receive the funds needed to pay for your medical care.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits
No one plans to cancel or delay their trip at the time they are booking flights, accommodation, and tours. For this reason, it tends to be very easy to ignore the part of the fine print of the booking terms and conditions that states that deposits and payments are non-refundable. Travel insurance may provide for the reimbursement of non-refundable deposits and payments if it becomes necessary to cancel a holiday or business trip subject to the international travel insurance policy wording.
Lost or stolen luggage
For many international travelers, the loss of clothing and other belongings is a horrifying experience. Protect your belongings by purchasing travel insurance before your trip. Subject to the policy wording, you may be reimbursed for the items in your luggage if they are not returned. You may also be given funds to help replace essential items during your trip. In addition to being reimbursed for the cost of your lost luggage, travel insurance providers will generally help with arranging replacement credit cards, cash, passport, and other personal items that may become lost or stolen during your trip.
Having peace of mind while traveling to a foreign country is the best reason to purchase international travel insurance – because you never know what could happen.