Travel insurance: A useful primer
Skipping off for a weekend out of the province without travel insurance is one thing. But planning an extended trip without it is quite different. In fact, getting insured is one of the most important things on your to-do list. There are many choices when you’re shopping for travel insurance: some plans are specifically tailored to the needs of snowbirds or people travelling for an extended period. And there are annual multi-trip plans for people who come and go throughout a year. Weigh all the options before picking your plan. Here’s a primer:
Work with someone you know and trust — your bank adviser or someone who specializes in travel insurance. The best insurance will cover your age, your health, where you’re going, how long you’re going for and what, if any, risks there are in going there. Comparison shop for exclusions, benefits, costs, deductibles, etc.
Any kind of travel advisory — for terrorist activity, political unrest or war, for natural disasters or weather-related issues, in areas with a higher health risk — will likely have an impact on the price you’ll pay for insurance and the coverage you’ll need to get.
When you’re filling out the application for insurance, be honest and upfront about any health issues. You will need to fill out a complete medical record, including everything from what prescriptions you have or have had, specialists you have seen or will be seeing, any tests you have had or are scheduled to have, any hospitalizations you have required, etc.
Any omission, no matter how small, could come back to bite you if you have to make a claim. You don’t need to ask too many people or look too far afield to find a horror story — someone whose claim did not cover an unexpected medical need because of something that wasn’t declared on the application. Even a certificate of coverage does not prevent a subsequent investigation by the insurance company. An omission could cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars when it’s time to file a claim.
Keep your travel insurance with you wherever you go. And if you extend your trip, make sure your insurance isn’t due to expire before you get back home.
Anyone, even if they’re older or not in perfect health, can get travel insurance. It’s one of the most important travel-related decisions you’ll make. Making it in haste is never a good idea.