Travel Insurance: Do's and Don't's
- Travel Clinic @MDACC
- Apr 29, 2021
- 1 min read
Once you’ve splurged on a vacation, you may be nervous about spending more on travel insurance. Here are some things to consider.
There are five main categories of travel insurance:
trip cancellation and interruption
medical
evacuation
baggage
flight insurance.
As a doctor, I encourage you to make sure you have coverage for medical expenses. Accessing care in foreign hospitals can be extremely expensive. Read the fine print- some insurers will require upfront cash payment, whereas some will bill the insurer directly.
Be clear on how you would make a claim before purchasing the insurance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, check to see if your provider covers COVID-19 related illness.
If you are planning to do any high risk activities (eg scuba diving, ziplining, bungee jumping), make sure the policy covers the activities.
Disclose any pre-existing health conditions when applying including pregnancy.
When considering insurance needs/coverage, I recommend checking to see if you are covered for medical evacuation either to Canada or to the nearest location with advanced medical care. This will give you peace of mind if you are travelling somewhere very remote with an under-developed health system.
Travel medical insurance providers include, but are not limited to Manulife, Blue Cross, CAA and credit cards. They may not cover you in the case of travel booked after a travel advisory has been issued eg recommendation to avoid non-essential travel. Check with the provider directly.
When planning your itinerary, definitely do buy travel insurance before you leave—it protects you against unexpected flight cancellations or medical emergencies. On the flip side, don't just pick the cheapest policy without checking what activities it excludes. For instance, if you are booking a bosphorus dinner cruise istanbul, double-check that your provider covers standard water excursions.
Planning a big trip can be super stressful, especially when sorting out policies! This guide really hits the nail on the head. When prepping for New Zealand travel, one massive do is buying your policy the second you book those flights. A huge don't is assuming standard credit card coverage handles extreme adventure sports like bungee jumping or hiking. Always check your fine print carefully before heading out! Truly solid advice here—thanks for sharing these practical tips that will definitely keep future globetrotters out of tricky, expensive situations down under.