If you are travelling overseas, or even domestically, taking out travel insurance may not be the most exciting element of planning your holiday, but it is highly recommended. If you have ever left travel insurance off your holiday planning list, here are four reasons why you should consider packing it for your next adventure.
1. Getting help overseas
According to Smarttraveller.com, each year thousands of Australians experience some kind of trouble when holidaying overseas.
This fact alone should be reason enough for having the right level of travel insurance cover when travelling. In the unforeseen circumstance that you fall ill or have an accident while overseas, having travel insurance means you get the best quality of care, repatriation back home or placement in a better medical facility.
2. Travel insurance provides you with protection from medical costs
If you don’t have travel insurance and you end up requiring medical attention while travelling, you’ll probably be liable for the cost of your treatment. In many countries, medical treatment for visitors can be incredibly expensive. According to the WHO Department of Health Systems Financing (2011), daily hospitalisation costs in Singapore exceed $800 per day, whilst in the US it is more than $700 per day and in the UK, you can expect fees of over $500 per day. These unexpected expenses can put you significantly out of pocket, so if you cannot afford travel cover, you cannot afford to travel.
3. Travel insurance can cover disruptions to your trip
It’s no secret that, when you travel, there is an element that’s out of your control. Flights can be delayed or, if an unexpected emergency occurs, you may need to return home.
Without travel insurance, disruptions to your trip can end up costing you a fortune. In many cases, you will not be refunded for any travel-related expenses for which you’ve already paid, and you’ll have to pay for new bookings, too.
Many travel insurance packages will cover you for incidents that are out of your control, so you won’t have to dig into your own pockets if something goes wrong either overseas or back at home.
4. You can be reimbursed for your losses and expenses
If your luggage is stolen, lost or damaged overseas, you can end up significantly out of pocket – and if you don’t have travel insurance, you will be responsible for replacing your lost items.
However, if you have the right insurance, you will be reimbursed for your losses and expenses, meaning that you won’t lose money due to an airline or hotel blunder, or a thief’s wrongdoings.
InsureandGo offers three levels of cover which, depending on the policy you choose, may include unlimited overseas medical expenses, cancellation cover, travel delay, lost or damaged baggage and much more. In fact, all of InsureandGo’s overseas policies cover unlimited overseas medical expenses.
When you buy travel insurance, make sure you always read the Product Disclosure statement to ensure the product you are buying is right for you.
Learn more at www.insureandgo.com.au or phone 1300 552 701. As a YourLifeChoices member, you’ll receive 10 per cent off and InsureandGo Travel Insurance package.
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, ABN 49 000 525 637, issues InsureandGo Travel Insurance (the insurance). Please read the combined product disclosure statement and financial services guide available at www.insureandgo.com.au/policy-wordings.html to decide if the insurance is right for you.
