travel insurance masterThe past few years have proven an emergency can happen anywhere, especially when you're traveling. That's why it’s so important when you're traveling to a familiar or not so familiar place, to have an added layer of protection with the right travel insurance plan!
EMERGENCIES HAPPEN
We all know emergencies happen and they can also happen just about anywhere. It’s important when you’re in an unfamiliar place to have an added layer of protection with the 24-Hour Assistance Service provided by most travel insurance companies. This service is a great resource while you’re on your trip and can help with medical referral services, emergency cash transfers, legal referral, locating lost or stolen items, pet and vehicle returns, and much more.
Travel Medical Plans can also fill the gap in coverage where your regular health insurance may provide only very little to no coverage while you are traveling. Without travel insurance, if an emergency occurs, you and your family could incur medical bills that you would need to pay for out of pocket.
BE PREPARED - PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE EARLY
You will want to purchase your insurance early, usually the same day or within a set number of days of initial deposit, to take advantage of time sensitive benefits like the Pre-existing Medical Conditions waiver.
For plans without the Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver, normally a medical condition present prior to your travel insurance policy’s effective date would not be covered. Most plans have a look-back period which means the plan investigates your medical history, anywhere from 2 to 18 months, to check if your condition appeared or was treated during that time. If you or someone you are buying insurance for has a pre-existing health condition, you should seriously consider the likelihood of it flaring up or reoccurring before or during your trip. If so, look for plans with the Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver – it usually doesn’t add to the cost of your plan! Remember this is a time sensitive benefit. If you purchase insurance much later after purchasing your trip or making an initial trip deposit, this benefit may not be available to you anymore. In this case, check if you can find a plan with a look-back period that’s shorter compared to when you last registered your medical condition with your doctor. For example, the last time you called your doctor was 63 days ago. If you purchase a plan with a look-back period of 60 days or less then you do not have a pre-existing condition at all and therefore do not need the Pre-existing Medical Conditions waiver.
PROTECT YOUR BELONGINGS
Your trip can take an unexpected turn with another kind of emergency; if your belongings are lost or stolen! What would happen if you lost your credit card? If your luggage or personal effects are lost, stolen, or damaged during your travels, the Baggage Loss benefit may reimburse you up to coverage limits. Some plans may even pay for loss due to unauthorized use of your credit cards. Be sure to review your plan to find out what you need to do in the event of a loss – normally reporting it to the police and or taking reasonable steps to prevent it from further damage.
DON'T RELY ON YOUR CREDIT CARD FOR PROTECTION
Don't get caught in one of these emergency situations without the right coverage. In the event of the unexpected, you'll be happy to have a stand alone travel insurance plan. It's important to remember credit cards rarely offer trip cancellation, while these comprehensive plans are what most travelers and what you will likely purchase. These comprehensive plans give you extra protection and flexibility, while protecting your initial investment. You can filter between Trip Cancellation and No Trip Cancellation plan types on the upper left of the search results page after you submit your quote request on TravelInsuranceMaster.com.
Emergency medical is also a popular benefit that your credit card travel insurance will likely not cover. It's common to find that your US health insurance plan won’t be accepted in other countries and comprehensive travel insurance can save you from a costly bill. Medical repatriation and pre-existing conditions are also not covered by most credit cards. Check out our blog on When Should I Buy Travel Insurance for more information about the Pre-existing Medical Conditions waiver that will give you coverage if you buy your plan the same day or within a set number of days after your first trip deposit.
PROTECT YOUR TRIP WITH TRAVEL INSURANCE MASTER
Ready to plan your next adventure? Make sure it's well protected with your recommended travel insurance plan. Once you put down your initial trip deposit, you can easily request a quote to find the best plan to protect your travel investment and yourself while traveling, all at TravelInsuranceMaster.com!
