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Scoop: Special Travel Insurance Section
by Mary Hollendoner
Travel insurance is an important part of any venture beyond borders, but with our youthful penchant for invincibility, we don't always take it seriously. Assuming you're first aid kit doesn't due the trick, help from an overseas insurance or assistance company can be crucial. But there thes first distinction: insurance vs. assistance companies. Assistance companies offer more extensive services usually, such as helping to plan your trip, or research local hospitals and doctors for you. Insurance companies focus primarily on helping you financially. Linda Shernoff of International SOS suggests students "research the distinction between insurance and assistance; you want people on your side if you run into trouble overseas. Call and explore which type of help you'll be most comfortable with."
Remember there is more to an insurance or assistance company than premiums, coverage and other minutiae. What I will always remember about my insurance company is the conversation when my friend called them for the first time from the hospital in Krabi, on the verge of a nervous breakdown! They talked to him for a long time with calming words, assuring him everything would all be all right and that we should do whatever it seemed best to do at the time and they would deal with the payment later. They kept saying, "Don't worry about money. It's all under control just make sure your friend is OK and call us collect whenever you need advice or anything." Not only did they cover us financially for almost everything, and were our emotional strength in the first terrifying days, but they also consulted various doctors in England to confirm that the operation suggested by the Thai doctors was OK, and even had two English doctors call me to discuss the details with me and make sure I understood what was going on and what my options were.
There are many "obvious" steps to take when getting travel insurance or assistance programs, but let's repeat them (since we always forget the obvious first.) Read the fine print before you sign. Heather Knutson of TravMed (www.travmed.com) recommends that travelers "know exactly what their policy covers and what it doesn't cover." Bring the insurance document and a photocopy with you, and leave in a safe place. It's also good to check out what insurance you may already have. Credit cards often provide limted insurance if you buy your flights with them. Note, however, that double insurance does not mean double coverage - only one company will pay up! Try to tailor your plan to your activites and destinations. If you'll be climbing or kayaking, or visiting museums and overdosing on pasta, you'll have different insurance needs. Earl Geronkewicz of Travel Assistance International says, "Be sure not to buy just any plan; get the one that meets your specific needs." Be sure to also check out www.internationalinsurancenetwork.com and
www.hthworldwide.com for ideas.
Some important questions to ask are:
- How long you're covered, and whether you can extend your insurance if you end up traveling for longer than you had planned? (Specifically ask about over 12 months)
- For which countries is coverage valid?
- Which sports and activities are covered? (Ask specifically about sports you know you might be doing, e.g. scuba diving, bungee jumping, motorbiking.)
- What's situations are addressed: evacuation, non-emergency treatment, trip cancellation or interruption, personal liability coverage for damages, daily hospital benefit? If a family member dies or becomes ill at home will they pay for you to return?
- Do you pay a deductible, or first percentage of costs, or what?
- Do they pay hospital directly or do you pay and get reimbursed later?
- How do you make a claim? (Call collect? Open 24 hours? Do they speak any foreign languages?)
- Do they still cover you when you get home, or only pay for you to reach home safely?
- Can you choose your own doctor, hospital, or country for treatment?
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