• Ready to go abroad? Wait! Before you leave home make sure you have the right insurance coverage. Why? Think about
what can happen while you are abroad. Of course you expect at least a bit of adventure,
but you will be visiting strange places where you may not even speak the language.
• Consider the different insurance types
and verify which ones work better for the type of trip you are planning: medical,
lost baggage, trip cancellation, car accident, etc.
• Once you have listed the coverage you need, first: check your
credit card Your card might provide some insurance
coverage automatically if you pay your
airline ticket with it – at no additional
cost!
• Next, you need to look for the coverage
you need and it is not provided by your credit
card. The next items describe what you should consider for each type of
insurance
• Medical: by far the most important and the most complex one. Verify is there is
24 hours assistance services at your destination. How much
emergency medical transportation
is included - does it cover ambulances?
Does it cover repatriation to your
home country, if necessary? Does it include dental? Pay attention to the limitations
and if it is cumbersome to use – for example: you may have to pay for everything
and then wait to be reimbursed. If you are getting a policy for your family, make
sure all members are included, as some policies have limits on the number of people.
Also find out about pre-existing conditions. It is also advisable to keep copies
of medical reports on X-ray, ECG and blood/
urine or any other tests prescribed by the
family doctor, since insurance
companies do not reimburse on medical expenses for existing illness in countries
abroad. Of course you do not have to carry these reports with you during your trip,
but leaving these copies with a family member and/or in the employer’s personnel
file may become extremely helpful during crisis.
• Trip cancellation and delay: getting sick just before you leave is devastating
to say the least, but even worse still is having to pay for this trip. So get cancellation
insurance when you book – just in case.
Check if it covers expenses for travel delays: imagine if a delayed flight makes
you miss the next connection and you
are stuck for a couple days until the next flight to your final destination.
• Lost baggage check if the coverage is
reasonable for the values you will be carrying. How many days do you have to wait
to be paid?
• Car rental: Again, your
credit card may provide some coverage if you pay the
rental with the card, but check the exception cases.
Related topics: How to get the best deals for your flight,
Save on international phone calls
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