Travel Health Insurance - don't leave home without it?

Many people make trips to other countries all the time and one of the most important thing to take into consideration is "Are you covered when you are overseas?". Since I make lots of trips within in a year - I took up an annual travel insurance which is much cheaper. When my family travels with me - I get for them a single trip travel insurance which will cover them for the duration of the trip.

Think about if something happens...

• you do not have enough money to pay for medical bills
• your flight gets cancelled
• your tour agent just declared bankruptcy
• you became too sick to travel
• You missed your flight connection due to flight delays
• your personal belongings just got stolen

Have I convinced you?....read on. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Annual or Single Trip Travel Insurance?
Single-trip travel insurance covers you for one specific holiday. Buying annual travel insurance covers you for several trips over the course of the year and can offer large savings in comparison to booking single-trip insurance every time you travel.

Annual travel insurance also offers a convenience factor - you only have to do it once for the year rather than messing around with travel insurance each time – especially useful for those who tend to travel frequently or are forgetful. My advise is to read the fine print of any policy before you purchase your selected travel insurance.

Tour operator insurance or Travel Insurance company?
My advise is best NOT to buy your travel insurance from your tour operator.

• Most travel insurance policies offered by the operator are less flexible to your individual needs
• Provide a lower amount of coverage
• May only cover a portion of the trip
• Tour coverage will only pay for what you own private health insurance does not cover
• May duplicate coverage you already have
• The tour operator goes bankrupt and you would lose both your trip and the premium
• Many travel agents are not fully knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the details of various travel insurance policies and may overlook something that could be important to you or your family.

Travel insurance policy comprehensive should consist of:-

• All medical and accidental dental expenses
• Medical expenses in Singapore for continued care from injuries sustained overseas
• Emergency Medical Evacuation Automatic extension of policy period (usually up to 30 days)
• Travel cancellation or postponement due to serious sickness or compulsory quarantine
• Loss of travel deposit due to tour agent bankruptcy
• Loss or damage to baggage, clothing, personal effects, notebook
• Loss of travel documents
• Travel delay
• Personal liability abroad
• Golf advantage due to damage or loss of golfing equipment
• Home Guard due to fire damage when left vacant for the duration of the trip
• Cover in the event of Terrorism

You would also like to check with your credit card company. Depending on the policy of the credit card issuer, you may be provided with some travel insurance protection. The travel insurance coverage varies from credit card companies.

Bon Voyage...