Getting insurance is something that many people tend to ignore when planning to travel abroad. Going on a trip especially in an unfamiliar place can be risky. An emergency sickness can take all the excitement and fun away from your trip. For this reason, it makes sense to purchase emergency travel insurance. When you get sick abroad, can you handle the possible medical expenses you will incur?
If you are an immigrant, getting down with a health issue in a foreign country translates to huge financial obligations on your part. In the United States, for instance, there is no health coverage for immigrants so you could spend around $50,000 when you get injured.
So as you make your search on where to get emergency travel insurance, here are five important features you should look for in the policy:
1. Emergency medical evacuation
When looking for emergency travel insurance, make sure that it pays for medical evacuation. Let us say that you get injured or sick in a remote part and the hospital does not have enough facilities to treat you, your evacuation to a larger city might be needed for better treatment.
2. Transportation to a local hospital
Another important feature you should look for is transportation to a local hospital. Even if the situation is not that extreme that you need to be transported by helicopter, you will most likely need to be transported to a local hospital through an ambulance.
3. Repatriation to your home country
Another important provision when searching for where to get emergency travel insurance is repatriation to your home country for continuous treatment. This may be needed in case you become severely injured requiring extended hospital stay, special treatment, or long term rehabilitation.
4. Loss of checked luggage:
When emergency strikes, you may forget about your luggage. You will be better off looking for a policy that offers coverage for lost luggage. It will help you pay for incidentals while waiting for luggage reimbursement.
5. Return of mortal remains:
While we are hoping that it does not come to a point that you were to die abroad, it would be for the good of your family if your policy provides for the return of your remains to your home country. It would make no sense to have your family arrange the remains sent home in this time of grief.
So when lost in the maze of where to get emergency travel insurance, these five provisions for your insurance can help ensure a happy and memorable trip.
Here is a list of some companies offering emergency travel insurance that you can choose from.
