Top 5 Reasons to get Travel Insurance
Are you thinking about getting travel insurance? You should be.
It is crazy to me that people even debate this. Especially those of us who lead action packed adventure lifestyles, however a lot of people are one the fence about travel insurance. For us, it just makes sense. We always consider a provider that will cover medical expenses, emergency travel, and travel document retrieval. Since we run our own business we really aren’t willing to pay upfront for a lot of medical costs abroad, should they ever arise. And why would we, when for the price of solid meal here in Tacoma, we could purchase travel insurance for the whole of the trip?
We recently recomended MedEx of United Healthcare Global to our buddy, Ben Herndon before his trip to Australia.
There is a certain piece of mind that comes with knowing that should anything happen you can fully commit to going to the doctor, no matter where you are in the world when things hit the fan.
Still not convinced? Here are my TOP 5 reasons why you should book travel insurance before your next trip.
#1 – Finding a legit doctor.
The team that works with you in an emergency has a list of reputable professionals wherever you are. If you are hurt or sick the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you walked into a doctor’s office or a local vet and not being able to ask because you never brushed up on your Albanian like you said you would. When that Mahi you shouldn’t have eaten gives you food posioning, rest assured that you can call your insurer and get directions to a proper doctor that is covered.
#2 – Translation
Like we said, trying to work out the phrase “broken clavicle” in French while giving directions to the only Uber driver in Southern France isn’t fun. Luckily a travel insurer like MedEx can provide you with a translator to help you get from point A to point OK.
#3 – Documents and Non-Medical Issues
Perhaps you lost your passport in Bali or you need legal help after your scooter collision in Vietnam, don’t panic, your travel insurance can cover that too. Check with your provider but a lot of coverage will also help you with travel drama that isn’t medically involved.
#4 – Getting Home
If it turns out you have amebas or some other horrible gut problem and you don’t want to visit the doc in Mumbai, but want to get back to see your own doctor, that’s ok too. Most travel insurance covers your cost of getting back home in a medical emergency. Since flights home can often be more expensive than the medial treatment, knowing you’re covered is a huge relief.
#5 – Sleep
Being able to sleep on a local farm, in a blizzard, on Iceland is great. It’s even easier knowing that someone out there has your back should you fly off the road in a whiteout. For just a couple dollars a day you can prevent yourself from paying for years in the case that something goes off the plan, and let’s face it, it’s travel. Plans change all the time. It’s better to be prepared.
*It should be noted that Travel insurance plans from MedEx are not available for purchase for residents of Washington State or New York. If you want our recommendation for WA or NY travel insurance providers please don’t hesitate to reach out.
I started purchasing travel insurance a few years ago, sort of as a hedge against any unanticipated emergencies arising from two elderly parents. Fortunately, I had never had to make a claim — until Amtrak derailed recently and I needed an alternative form of transportation to reach my destination. The anticipated reimbursement for a lost prepaid night in a hotel will more than cover the Greyhound bus I had to take instead. Insurance is fairly inexpensive, a minor percentage of your total trip cost, so I’d thoroughly recommend it.
I always travel without insurance. But not in the long term, a maximum of 3 weeks. But after reading the article and see photos your toes, I started thinking to buy insurance for the onward journey. Just in case something bad happen. Thank’s mate.
I too travel without the insurance. But there have been incidents to the tourists being in a difficult financial situations. As you said it is good to have someone holding your back. So I too recommend to take up insurance.
I’m guilty on that having a travel insurance. I guess I need to get one for myself from now on. Anyhow, I hope you’re now okay after that toe mishap in Korea.
I’ve always said “you can never have too much insurance.” I clocked a Mexican guy in Vegas with my rental car a few years back — insurance paid for that. I had some trouble “down there” in Oman a couple of years ago — insurance paid for that. And I had an allergic reaction to something here in Bangkok the day after my birthday this year — insurance is gonna pay for that too! 🙂
Interesting post. I’ve always been on the fence about travel insurance but I’m more inclined to get it as I get older.
Really, the biggest no-brainer in travel. Being stuck halfway around the world with a big medical bill is no laughing matter!
This makes a lot of sense. Yes, every traveler should get his own travel insurance. You know, things do happen unexpectedly. Traveling itself is dangerous in the first place (no, I’m not discouraging anyone in traveling… just making a point why this insurance is a-must for us who love adventures). 🙂
It’s really better to be prepared for the worst, especially if you love travelling so much. Insurance gives you the boost of personal security, as well as confidence to go a little crazy on travel.
Never had much reason to use travel insurance. You’ve listed great reasons, though for getting one!
I never try to thing to do travel insurance, but after reading the blog i thing i should not waste my time and meet to who is best in travel insurance.
If you are the unlucky recipient of a theft or mugging whilst abroad then travel insurance is also valuable for you.
Some perfect reasons each and every traveler should take travel insurance……I completely agree with your points …
Insurance is really important for people who travel frequently and the points that you’ve presented makes sense to actually get one. I would really recommend to go through this article to travelers.