3 pitfalls to avoid when shopping for travel insurance
Travelling can be many things. It can be anything from that quick getaway you need to an awesome adventure to explore new cultures and countries.
Whatever the case may be, you want to make sure that you have the right gear before you go. No sense in packing a parka for your tropical paradise.
Well, travel insurance can help you be prepared for anything that comes your way but like most things, if you’re not aware of the pitfalls, there could be problems.
Here are 3 pitfalls to avoid when shopping for travel insurance:
No really, tell the insurance company everything
This might sound obvious but it’s really important to tell your company everything about your health. Treat your travel insurance representative like your diary and disclose everything related to your health.
What about my weird ingrown toenail? Tell them.
Should I talk about my weekly colonic irrigation appointments? Gross. But yes.
But what if I cured my cancer by becoming a Breathatarian and breathing away all my malignant cells? Yes, tell them. And see a doctor, crazy pants.
Humour aside, the point is serious. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you don’t think it’s that important, chances are good that you don’t have a medical degree or work for a travel insurance company. It’s hard to say what is important so it’s easier when shopping for travel insurance to just to tell them everything and let them sort it out.
Health changes may mean coverage changes
When you’re shopping for travel insurance, you have the option between single-trip and multi-trip options. Buying an annual policy can be the way to go if you travel frequently. However, your annual policy doesn’t necessarily guarantee coverage if there’s a change in your health status.
Say you buy a policy that covers you for the full year but somewhere along the way, you get a bad bout of appendicitis and you have emergency surgery to remove your appendix. You recover fully and plan a trip a few months later.
Hold the phone: you’re going to want to contact your travel insurance company and let them know about what’s happened health-wise. If you don’t tell them about your incident, you might have your coverage cancelled if there’s an issue and your insurer finds out about the previous problem. Just call if there’s a change, big or small, and you should be fine.
Read the fine print before you buy
Everyone has heard about the million dollar baby born in Hawaii. A couple decided to go on a warm weather break before their daughter was supposed to arrive three months later. Mom went into labour nine weeks early and had her baby in a Hawaiian hospital.
After receiving the bill for $950,000, the couple submitted the claim to Blue Cross who denied it partially
because all expenses related to the newborn baby couldn’t be covered by the mother’s health insurance policy.
Read everything when you’re shopping for travel insurance. And then read it again. Check for any limitations or exclusions, especially if they are linked to a condition you have, even if it’s minor. Avoiding these pitfalls can mean a lot while you are vacation.