Volunteer Abroad Blog » Insurance

For detailed information about steps you can take to ensure a safe trip, see How to Have a Safe Trip. Meanwhile, here are some quick tips to make your travel easier and safer:

Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.
Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.
Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
Contact us in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.

Tags: abroad, Insurance, tips, Travel, trip

Travel Insurance Advice

A Broader View — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:00:35 +0000

Many people deeply regret not taking out travel insurance. They think their credit card accident cover, home insurance, or private health cover is sufficient.

What should my travel insurance policy cover?

Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness.
24 hour emergency service and asístanse.
Personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property.
Lost and stolen possessions cover.
Cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover.
Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as jet skiing, rafting.

The policy should cover the whole time that you’re away.

Your policy may also have:

Personal accident cover.
Legal expenses cover.
Financial protection if your airline goes bankrupt before or during your trip.

Many insurers will extend cover if you ask them. If not, shop around for a specialist policy.

Common travel insurance policy exclusions

Always check the conditions and exclusions of your policy:

Most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents.
You must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you.

Travel insurance buying tips

Shop around to find a good price and the right product rather than opting to travel without cover.
Cheaper policies will usually have less cover – for some the price seems most important, but is it worth the initial saving?.
Consider annual multi-trip insurance if you make several trips a year – you’ll save time and money.

Cancelling or cutting a trip short

A good insurance policy will cover you for cancelling or cutting a trip short. Check carefully to see exactly what you’re covered for:

accident
Illness
Pregnancy (unknown when you buy the policy)
Jury service or witness summons
Home emergency: fire, storm or flood, burglary
Redundancy
Strikes
Bad weather – affects the departure of flights and ships.

Ensure your policy:

Will refund the full cost of your holiday
Pays out if you need to cancel or cut short a trip because you fall ill for example
Covers pre-paid expenses such as excursions
Covers extra costs incurred to get home

Personal liability insurance

If you accidentally cause an injury to someone or damage their property they may sue you. Good travel insurance will cover you for personal liability.

Personal accident cover – disability and death

Travel insurance can cover a personal accident payment made for permanent disability or death.

Cover for stolen, lost or damaged possessions

You can normally choose the limit in your policy. Limits for single items such as cameras and jewellery can vary from as little as $500 up to $2000 or more. Check these limits are adequate and realistic.

You should report a loss to the Police within 24 hours. Proof of notification will be required when you make your claim.

All insurance policies say that you must take care of your belongings at all times. If you don’t, the policy may not pay out.

Tip: take as much care of your property as if it were uninsured.

Lost baggage on flights

Do not rely on compensation from an airline if it loses your luggage.

By law, airlines only have to pay a specified minimum value per kilo of lost luggage. This is unlikely to cover the full value of your things.

Legal expenses cover

Taking out legal expenses cover will help you to pursue compensation or damages following personal injury while you’re abroad – very important in countries without a legal aid system.

Tags: Advice, Insurance, Travel

Volunteer Abroad Blog » Insurance

How to Have a Safe Trip

Related posts

Tips for Traveling Abroad

Related posts

Travel Insurance Advice

Related posts