Introduction
Travel Insurance is it needed? People say it depends on where you are going, how your health is etc. It’s all up to you. For me it’s a no brainier I always get it, it’s a must, first thing I do after booking my flights.
Having got travel insurance a few different ways and from a few different companies. Who you use depends on your situation.
Let’s look a few and I have a few tips and tricks as to who to use and when. Not all travel insurance is the same; it comes down to the fine print. What country’s don’t you really need it? Which to use when you are already traveling? Can you get travel insurance when out of your home country?
I have already been through this many times and have worked out which is best for me and possible you as well.
Is It needed
Do you really need it? Well I say yes, apart from my home country I always take out travel insurance. To me it’s a very low cost, for peace of mind. Remember I have to get it for 2 months, you only need it for a few weeks. I read articles on line every week where someone has got sick, fallen off a motor bike. All while away and now they have a huge medical bill. All because they never took out travel insurance, now they all signed up on gofundme to try and pay their bills and get home.
It does not matter your age, it very little. 1 week in Bali is less than $80 dollars, now that’s way better than a 50K medical bill.
Difference in Travel Insurance
There are big differences and not just price. What’s covered and how much for each option. I like to go scuba diving (see my blog, Jordan and Egypt ) and surfing when I go away, it’s normally Asia somewhere. When hunting for insurance what do I look at after price? I look at the fine print for both those activity’s to see what’s covered. Most have it, if they don’t I don’t use them. Surfing, Am I covered for surfing? No matter how big the surf or where the surf spot is, most do. Diving, am I covered for diving and how deep am I allowed on the standard policy? How deep can I go with extra options? Yes Insurance has added extra options.
Buying travel insurance, can I buy it while I am traveling? Did you know that most travel insurance has to be brought while in your home country! Also it only covers you from your home country and back again. What’s more you must live in your home country for at least three quarters of the year.
OK not a big issue to you, you take a 3 week trip once a year. But it’s a big issue for me. Because I live on a ship 10 months of a year I do not qualify.
Because I do a lot of traveling on my way home, I am not flying from my home country return. I need one way travel insurance home. Let’s look at those who take off to Asia for that 3 month trip. As time goes on, thing change, they did not spend all their money, they meet someone and plan to travel somewhere else. Now you need to extend your travel insurance, how do they do it?
This scenario all happened to me and I thought no problem will just get some insurance. Little did I know how hard that was going to be! None of my standard insurance company’s would cover me.
The answer
It took me a few days off Web hunting but I found World nomads, now I am going to plug these guys because they are the only company I use now.
- You can buy travel insurance while traveling.
- Don’t have to be in your home country.
- You don’t have to have lived in a country for three quarters of the year.
- Prices are very competitive with other insurance company’s
Surfing is not classed as a dangerous sport. They cover diving on a standard policy to 30 meters (100 ft.) with an option to go to 40 meters (130 ft.). For me they are perfect.
For many years I had a platinum credit card, high yearly fee, but when flights where booked using the card, travel insurance was included. What I did not know was like other travel insurance. I must live in country for most of year. The trip must be return from home country. So for many years I was not covered and did not even know. So read the fine print.
Bad Story’s
I have herd of 2 stories now of young travelers (one in Bali and one in Thailand), they crashed on their rental scooters. No problem they brought travel insurance. But no they were refused by the insurance company because in their home country they did not have a motor bike license, only a car; they had international license, but no motor bike license. Again read the fine print.
Ring them up and ask. I did that on my first trip to Bali surfing. Was off to a very remote area and was told if something happens it’s a helicopter off the reef at low tide. I asked the insurance company the question, will you cover that helicopter ride and my flight back home. The answer was yes.
Great outcome
Many years ago, before ships, my first trip to Thailand, I was scuba diving off Koh Phangan. Using rental gear and it was not the best but we got through the dive and guide signaled to head back to boat. Clipped my camera to the BCD ring and back to boat. On the boat went to place my camera in the fresh water and no camera. The clip was broken, my Camera was gone, floating around in Gulf of Thailand somewhere.
When I got back I happen to mention it to my travel agent, yes used them back then. She said the package I gave you had good insurance you should be able to claim that. So I sent of the information and about 3 months later I got back $900 for a new camera, with water proof case. Needless to say that replaced my Camera gear, which I still use to this day. All underwater shots on this website is with that Camera.
Traveling countries like Australia, New Zealand and UK, they all have pretty much free health at a state run hospital. But be prepared to wait unless its life or death. Travel insurance in those countries will get you seen at a private hospital a lot quicker.
Conclusion
So there you have it Travel insurance, to me it’s a must, no matter which country. Remember it’s all about the fine print, if you have to ring them and ask the question, Do you fly me home? do it.
Most polices online now have sums as to how much you can spend in each area, the more you pay the more you get.
- What is my limit to get home?
- How much for my hospital stay?
- Is a flight off a ship covered?
Check the fine print for any activity’s you plan to do, are you covered?Can I dive? I like to hang glide, and what do I need to rent this scooter.
Will you extend my policy if I don’t come home?
All these questions need to be answered before you pick your Insurance Company of choice.
As I said Word nomads have answered all these questions for me and so far the only ones I have found that do so.
Remember you don’t want to be the next Gofundme project.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY