We all think about it twice before getting insurance even for our homes and vehicles, how much more travel insurance. Insurance is very important and very tricky if thinking of signing up for one. But buying travel insurance can be confusing more than any other. Will any bad thing happen to me? Is it really important? These are questions people ask when they think of travel insurance. And which companies offer the best coverage. MrPocu.com has you the ultimate checklist when choosing travel insurance.
Well, I have read many blogs where bloggers and travelers telling stories about their bad travel experiences, accident, and how they wish they had travel insurance to cover them. It may look like you don’t need one but I bet you do and you won’t regret having one if you mostly travel, especially to adventure travelers.
What is Travel Insurance?
When we talk about travel insurance, it is commonly used to describe a few different types of insurance. It is sometimes not the normal insurance coverage we know and it’s very confusing to new travelers.
Getting travel insurance, you should know what kinds of coverage the insurance policy includes. Because it may not include what you expecting or everything you think it does. Before I give you the ultimate checklist, here are a few lists when choosing a travel insurance policy.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
This policy is coverage for transporting you to a major hospital for treatment and medical expenses.
Travel Health Insurance
This is more like the medical evacuation. Travel Health Insurance is coverage for accidents, injuries, and hospital visit whiles away from home. I think everyone needs this kind of insurance.
Trip Cancelation Insurance
Most travelers experience this one a while. Flight or trip cancelation is common to every traveler, it can be due to weather conditions and other emergency reasons. Trip cancelation insurance is coverage for unexpected interruptions in your travel plans.
Baggage or Property Insurance
We are all careful with our baggage when on a trip, but who knows what can happen. The bell boy may have lost it or someone might have stolen it. Baggage or property insurance is coverage for theft or damage to your gear while traveling.
Do I need Travel insurance?
Insurance is very important even in our daily lives. We don’t know what will happen to us when we wake up the next morning. Everyone needs to be covered with an insurance policy in case sometime bad happens. Traveling is an adventure even when on a business trip. You will not know what can happen during the trip. I have read reviews from blogs and magazines where people are asking if they need travel insurance. That is a million-dollar question and that is for you to decide. But it is always best to get one. In this article, I’m going to give you some reasons you need insurance.
Why You Need Travel insurance
After some personal experience on few trips and two-day reading reviews based on bad travel experiences, I think everyone needs travel insurance. Either you travel once a while or you for business, you need travel insurance to cover you in case something bad happens. According to the reviews, many people are traveling without travel insurance and personally didn’t have one on those trips. I have one now. And after reading all those terrible and horror stories from other travelers, if someone asks for my opinion on getting travel insurance I will answer with yes. Yes, you better get one.
Why? Worst things happen, if you think they going to happen or not. Whether you think you are extra careful or have preventative measures, bad things can happen. You can break your leg or contract a deadly disease. Your road trip bus can crash and some of these injuries can cost you tens of thousands of money. Without travel insurance, you’re screwed. I have not been paid by any travel insurance company to write this article ( the ultimate checklist when choosing travel insurance ). My recommendation is based on personal experience and reviews from other travelers who had a bad travel disaster.
That kind of insurance do I need
This is the most important question when applying for travel insurance. Getting travel insurance depends on a lot of different factors and you need to know the kind of traveler you are. Are you a short-term traveler going ways for just a few days or a week? Or are you a long-term traveler who travels for months or more? Is traveling your job?
We have regular health insurance, but the question is will it cover you overseas? Even if it does what about your luggage, hotels booking, flight booking, and other activities. You have to know which insurance policy covers you in anything and help in any type of travel you do.
This is the ultimate checklist when choosing insurance for short-term and long-term travelers. What are you waiting for? Scroll down to see what is best for you
Short-Term travel insurance.
1.World Nomads Travel insurance
This is the best travel insurance comprehensive for adventure sports and gear coverage. It is very popular with most travelers. Many short-term travelers use them, so if you are a long-term traveler there is more insurance to cover you than World Nomads.
Getting insurance with World Nomads for your next trip or vacation is very quick and easy. You can purchase a plan with little advanced notice. When there are changes f plans, you can extend coverage online from anywhere.
Pros
- Extensive coverage with high limits for medical and emergency evacuation
- Protects your bags, computers, and sports equipment when traveling
- Explorer plan covers adventure sports
- Trip Cancelation
- Theft/Damage insurance. Yes ($500 per-item limit)
Cons
- Only single-trip plans are available
- Most pre-existing conditions are not covered
- Not all policies cover adventure sports
- No coverage at home
Long-term Travel insurance
The Ultimate checklist when choosing long-term insurance. This is probably the best insurance for long-term travelers
2.HTH Worldwide
Arguably, I think every traveler needs HTH insurance coverage. For full international medical insurance, including the US. No limits as to how long you are in the US. Deductible waived for regular doctor checkups. Excellent insurance, but pricey.
Policies for travelers with existing primary insurance enjoy 100% coverage for typical hospital charges, including surgery, tests, office visits, inpatient hospital stays, and prescription drugs outside of the U.S., among other coverage.
Pros
- High levels of medical coverage for seniors up to 95 years old
- Up to $1,500 allowance for someone to visit you in the hospital
- Prices for seniors from $6.52 to $13.04 per day for $0 deductible and $1 million maximum benefit
- Health coverage worldwide
- Coverage at home
Cons
- Not the cheapest provider depending on your needs
- The best plan for seniors requires existing health insurance
- The lowest policy has a $50,000 maximum benefit per person
- Doesn’t cover trip cancelation
- Doesn’t cover theft or damages
3.IMG Global
It’s important to think about your health when traveling. IMG Global is the best long-term worldwide medical coverage. IMG doesn’t cover everything. They don’t cover theft and trip cancelation. Coverage inside the United States is included, but to qualify you must spend at least 6 months of the year living abroad. You can choose a deductible from $250-$10,000.
Pros
- Multiple plans
- 24\7 emergency travel assistance
- Up to $1k missed connection coverage
Cons
- Lower medical emergency coverage than competitors
- Few add-on coverages
- no free child travel coverage
COVERAGE
- Trip cancellation: Up to 100% of trip cost
- Trip interruption: Up to 150% of trip cost
- Emergency medical: Up to $250K
- Medical evacuation: Up to $1M
- Baggage delay: $500
- Lost baggage: $2,500
4.Allianz Global Assistance
Allianz provides one of the widest selections of plans in the industry. Both annual travel plans and tailored single trip plans help meet all needs and kids under 17 are free.
Pros
- Multiple plans to choose from
- Children 17 and under, free
- Annual plan for multiple trips
Cons
- Relatively low medical limits
- Often difficult to compare multiple plan offerings
- Some plans are relatively expensive
COVERAGE
- Trip cancellation: Up to $100,000
- Trip interruption: Up to $150,000
- Medical coverage: $50,000
- Emergency medical: $25,000
- Lost baggage: $1,000
- Change fee: $500