Is
Travel Insurance Needed?
In the last five years, more
and more people are travelling to further distant regions
and not buying travel insurance. Is travel insurance needed?
The lust for adventure and need for a challenging life may
be strong, but insurance is still necessary. Every year in
the UK and overseas, natural disasters have occurred where
lives ended in tragedy. Numerous people from all walks of
life are travelling overseas and working for months at a time
in a foreign land, do they have travel insurance? Many don’t
in fact over 4 million people surveyed have said they never
took out an insurance policy when they travel.
The overseas travel business has recorded young adults in
their early 20’s travelling to at least three different
destinations a year. Many do not carry travel insurance and
these are the “no fear” types of personalities
when it comes to adventures and dangerous pursuits! In many
countries, health insurance is very expensive and if a traveller
from overseas gets hurt, the cost of the medical care could
easily be more than an annual salary without travel insurance.
Regardless of age, all travellers should consider the place
of destination, time of visit, plans of activities, and consider
shopping around for travel insurance. Do not get confused
about credit card travel insurance, that usually only covers
transportation or hotel, a separate travel insurance policy
can cover medical or an accident that the credit card will
not cover.
Before making travel plans, shop around for travel insurance
to get quotes on the destination and time period that you
plan to travel. If you choose to buy travel insurance, do
make sure that before you leave for your trip, the travel
policy is current. If an accident or sickness occurs, you
want to be covered while away travelling so make sure an E111
form is with you at all times (this is required for travel
to European destinations from 2005 onwards). Try to keep all
your papers and forms together including the insurance company
and contact person, E111 form, government approved ID, and
receipts from the trip, in case you need to make a claim.
Most travellers enjoy being whisked away to another land
and leaving their present lives at home, that’s understandable.
But think about the items that are being taken and the company
that is joining you and then think if travel insurance is
needed.
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