Sunday, March 22, 2009

Advice on Getting Insurance When You Travel

By Matthew Kepnes

Travel insurance is something you will need on the road. You never know what could happen and most regular insurance plans won't cover you overseas. Check your health care provider to see if you are covered when you travel overseas. If you are not, you should get travel insurance. Moreover, travel insurance also covers the stuff you take on the road, any accidents that might occur, or cancellations that might arise.

You should also know what is not covered and the plan's exclusions. Travel insurance companies do not normally cover alcohol or drug related problems, or recklessness in protecting your possessions and baggage. You won't get money back if the problem occurred because you were careless.

Travel insurance often covers health problems that happen on the road. Dont buy a plan that doesnt or won't protect you from illness. If you get sick on the road, you want to make sure you are covered, especially if you are injured during an outdoor trek and need to be airlifted somewhere- those airlifts are expensive. You do not want to have to cover the costs of that yourself.

Always remember that travel insurance companies are insurance companies. They will avoid trying to pay out if they can. Make sure you keep good records and documents so that you can be sure to answer any questions. Even the best travel companies will drag their feet if they can.

Another way to get travel insurance besides signing up for a specific insurance coverage is via your credit card. The majority of credit cards offer travel insurance. American Express, Capital One, and Citi all offer various degrees of protection depending on the card you have with them. American Express offers the most comprehensive coverage but if you have a high fee card or good credit, usually any company offers good insurance. Just remember though that this credit card coverage does not include health insurance.

It doesn't matter what trip you take, it is important that you buy a travel insurance plan before you go abroad, especially if you are going away for an extended amount of time. You never what could happen while traveling, what could get misplaced or stolen or who could get ill with what. It is better to be safe than sorry for the few extra dollars per day. - 16887

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