If you are anything like the majority of travelers insurance is probably something that comes as an afterthought when planning a trip. Most travelers avoid it altogether because of myths associated with how much you need, coverage, and the cost. We’re here to help you identify the most common travel insurance myths and make it easier for you to choose an option for your next trip.
Myth 1: “I don’t need travel insurance for short trips or domestic travel.”
Truth: Far too many people wrongly believe that the distance or perhaps location area of their journey would make travel insurance compulsory. Jadav understands that the unexpected is always nearby. Take a quick trip to some part of your own country and you may be faced with canceled flights, lost bags, or medical emergencies. Should your particular situation fall into any of them, travel insurance can provide coverage and help no matter how long or where you plan a go.
Myth 2: “Travel insurance is too expensive.”
Truth: Travel Insurance is an additional cost to your holiday but not as expensive as you think. Travel insurance usually costs 4-10% of your total trip cost. The cost of insurance can be a worthwhile investment, whenever you consider what the financial losses from trip cancellations, medical emergencies overseas, or lost luggage would add up to. With a variety of coverage levels available from many providers, you can get a customizable plan that works for your wallet and covers what’s most important to you.
Myth 3: “My credit card provides sufficient travel insurance.”
Truth — Yeah, travel insurance benefits are a shiny object on so many of our credit cards… but they just offer enough to say it exists. Card travel insurance coverage does not generally include Medical insurance, which can be vitally important especially when traveling internationally. Also, to get coverage under a credit card’s travel insurance policy you usually must pay for the entire trip using that particular card. Before putting all your trust in it, read the fine print and take note of the travel insurance exclusions.
Myth 4: “Travel insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing medical conditions.”
MYTH: Travel insurance policies do not provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions unless the policyholder is insured. You generally have to purchase the insurance within so many days after making your first trip deposit (which can often be 10-21 days) and you must insure all of what your trip will cost. Be sure to read policy details thoroughly and when purchasing insurance any pre-existing conditions must be declared.
Myth 5: “I can buy travel insurance at any time before my trip.”
Fact: It may be possible to get travel insurance up until the day before you go, but waiting that long doesn’t give you a lot of time to comparison shop for coverage. The only drawback is that, again, certain features (such as coverage for pre-existing conditions or a ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit) might not be available if you wait until after your initial trip deposit to buy. Moreover, you cannot buy a policy to insure things that already commenced or are expected (such as an oncoming Hurricane).
Myth 6: “Travel insurance only covers trip cancellations.”
Myth: Travel Insurance is Just for Trip Cancellation However, as the experts at The Travel Insider explain, most comprehensive travel insurance policies have something of a kitchen-sink approach to offer coverages that are unnecessary for all but one or two singular trips.
Trip interruption
Emergency medical expenses
Emergency evacuation
Misplaced, damaged, or delayed baggage
Travel delays
Travel assistance service 24/7
These extra protections can be very valuable in different situations that have traveled, from minor inconveniences to large emergencies.
Myth 7: “I’m healthy, so I don’t need medical coverage in my travel insurance.”
Even if you are perfectly healthy, accidents can unfortunately still take place. You can easily suffer broken bones or food poisoning and not only put a damper on your trip but end up with an expensive doctor visit, especially in countries that have high medical costs. Also, you may not be covered by your domestic health insurance if it is abroad and/or incur very high out-of-network charges. You should get travel insurance with medical coverage, to cover yourself in case of those ever so expensive potential health care costs that can cripple you and also give the peace of mind knowing if something was to happen they will look after him.
Myth 8: “Travel insurance is a scam; they never pay out claims.”
Truth: Travel insurance companies must follow the terms and conditions of their policy. Any travel insurance company you go with that is reputable will pay out valid claims in full! It all comes down to knowing your policy, saving any information and receipts you need, and doing the steps in a claim correctly. You can also check reviews or select a major and well-established insurance provider to ensure there will be less controversy if you file for a claim later.
Conclusion
Why is travel insurance misunderstood? So in debunking these myths, we hope you now have a better idea of whether travel insurance is a good option for your travels. After all, the right travel insurance policy provides you with peace of mind and allows you to concentrate on having fun while traveling as opposed to dealing with potentially undesirable incidents.
Always be sure to read the policy details before buying any travel insurance, make clear what is included and excluded in the coverage provided so ask if you are of doubt. Use those fresh travel experiences – protect them with care!