Traveling is a soothing and joyful experience but what if something not planned for occurs?
You might wonder how to secure your travel experience beforehand in that case?
That’s right it is travel insurance what you need!
Travel insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides coverage for various types of risks that travellers may encounter while on the trip.
These risks may include medical emergencies, trip cancellations or interruptions, lost or stolen luggage, and any other unforeseen events that may disrupt or negatively impact the travel experience.
But, is it really important to have one? Yes, it is! Travel insurance is important for travellers to have because it provides a line of safety in case of unexpected situations that may arise during the trip.
For example, if a traveller gets sick or injured while traveling, travel insurance can cover the cost of medical treatment, hospitalisation, or evacuation to medical facility. Similarly, if a traveller needs to cancel or cut short their trip due to unforeseen circumstances, such as family emergency or a natural disaster, travel insurance can provide reimbursement for the cost of the trip or the portion of the trip that was missed.
Does travel insurance only account for financial cover?
Certainly not, in addition to providing financial protection travel insurance also provides peace of mind for travellers.
Knowing that they are covered in case of emergencies can help travellers feel more relaxed and enjoy their trip to the fullest.
Overall travel insurance is an important investment for travellers to be sure of a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
In this blog post we will be walking through a series of detailed topics that would certainly help you in figuring out the right travel insurance for you.
Travel insurance has no general rules, and hence insurance policies can vary in coverage depending on the specific policy and the insurance provider.
To brief you with the common types of coverage that travel insurance may include, some of the common coverages have been listed below:
Trip cancellation interruption:
This coverage reimburses travellers for the cost of their trip if they have to cancel or cut short their trip due to covered reason, such as illness, injury, or a natural disaster.
Medical expenses:
This coverage pays for medical treatment if a traveller becomes ill or injured while on their trip. This can include emergency medical expenses, hospitalisation and medical evacuation to medical facility.
Emergency evacuation:
This coverage pays for transportation to a medical facility if a traveller becomes seriously ill or injured and needs to be transported to a hospital.
Baggage loss or delay:
The coverage includes reimbursement for the lost or delayed luggage, as well as the cost of essential items that were lost or stolen during the trip.
Travel delay:
The coverage includes expenses incurred due to delay in departure, such as additional accommodation, meals, and transportation.
Accidental death and dismemberments:
The coverage under this provides a lump sum payment in the event of accidental death op permanent injury during the trip.
Which policy is the best?
How do you find one that suits or cover your needs well? Choosing the right travel insurance policy in Ireland can be a bit overwhelming as a lot of factors are to be taken into consideration before deciding which policy is best for you.
This is where we help!
Let’s familiarise with some key factors that should be taken into consideration:
Destination, length and type of the trip:
The trip’s destination, duration and type are the fundamental factor that helps in deciding the right policy. The destination with high medical costs, should be insured considering a policy with high medical coverage limits.
If you are travelling for an extended period of time, consider a policy with longer coverage periods. Similarly, the policy is adopted based on the type of trip such as business-related trips or trips including adventurous activities or sports.
Likewise, it’s important to think about potential risks and scenarios that one might encounter and look for policies that provide the same coverages required.
Age and health:
This factor is crucial and included as a basis for majority or part of terms and conditions listed especially in medical coverage or duration.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are older, you need a policy with higher medical coverage limits or coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Cost:
Every product or service is opted for within a certain range that fits the end customer. Cost of the policy is key factor and a primary concern for people when opting one. People are concerned about whether the benefits availed or coverage exceeds the costs.
The cost of the policy constitutes of various factors such as coverage opted, duration etc.
Policy deductibles and excesses:
People usually miss out on considering for deductible and excesses and end up choosing the wrong policy. Deductibles is the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in while the excesses are the amount you have to pay toward each claim.
Affordable excesses and deductibles should be carefully looked for in reference to affordability.
Add on options:
Some policies offer optional coverage for certain things or high value item. One should always check for add on policies if certain coverages are required along with the one provided.
For example, there are add on options for medical coverage for people having pre-existing medical issues.
Policy exclusions and limitations:
This is the most overlooked factor which includes what the policy limits or excludes. Missing out on these exclusions creates difficulties in getting claims and thus calls for unnecessary costs as well.
For example, some policies might have limits on the amount of coverage for certain types for expenses which if overlooked might cause chaos at the time of opting for the claim.
Compare policies from multiple providers:
Policy and the coverage varies with the policy provider. One should conduct a thorough analysis and research on various policies by comparing them in depth based on coverage limits premiums etc.
One should opt for providers with good reputation and customer reviews.
Customer service:
The quality of service provided plays a key role in formulating our decision. One should always look for insurance provider with good reputation for customer service so that you don’t sacrifice on the timely help as and when needed.
After duly considering these factors, you may select for the policy that suits him/her well. But there is click, before purchasing the policy one should read through the documents carefully to make sure you understand and agree to the terms and conditions stated.
Once you are done with the process you are good to select the policy that you need or fits your budget.
Having questions? No worries.
Some frequently asked question about travel insurance is listed with suggested answer to help you in picking up the right policy:
Q1. Do I need travel insurance for my trip within Ireland?
Yes, it is advisable to have your trip insured even in case of domestic trips within Ireland as it provides you coverage for unforeseen and unexpected situations. However, the coverage varies with the kinds of travel such as domestic travel, international travel, business travels etc
Q2. Will my travel insurance cover me for covid 19 related issues?
The exact coverage of the insurance varies with policy and the insurance policy provider. certain policies may offer coverage for COVID-19- related issues.
It is suggested to review your policy carefully in order to be aware and understand your coverage terms and condition as well as limitations.
Q3. When should I purchase travel insurance?
It’s recommended to purchase travel insurance as soon you book your trips so that you are well covered in case of unexpected events that may occur before or on your trip.
Q4. How much does the travel insurance cost in Ireland?
The cost of travel insurance in Ireland varies or depends on the coverage of the policy along with the destination and duration of the trip.
One should look for different insurance providers and policies and compares prices before opting for a policy.
Q5. Do I need to declare my pre-existing medical conditions?
Yes, it is very important to declare any pre-existing medical complications and other necessary facts related to health when purchasing travel insurance. If not declared before it may lead to denial for claim or coverage for such medical expenses.
To conclude, having a comprehensive understanding of travel insurance and why is it important is crucial for any travel to ensure that are adequately protected and prepared for any unforeseen events that they may face.
By referring to the above guidelines you can make informed decisions about travel insurance needs, have peace of mind while traveling and be prepared to face any unexpected events that may occur on you way. Still having doubts?
Do reach out us!
