Travel insurance might slip your mind when you’re in the midst of planning a move abroad. You’ve got plenty of other things to organize, such as packing up your belongings, arranging an interventional courier, and figuring out the legal side of becoming an expat.
However, travel insurance is absolutely essential. No matter where you’re traveling from and which destination your heading to, having valid insurance offers protection and security that puts your mind at ease.
What is Travel Insurance and Why Do You Need it?
Travel insurance acts a bit like a safety net in case you’re in an accident or your circumstances change. You might not end up making a claim on your policy, but it’s important to have coverage regardless. You never know when something could go wrong on your travels, and you can’t always predict when your trip is going to be canceled at the last minute.
With valid travel insurance, you can rest assured knowing that you have financial coverage in the event of a travel emergency. Your insurance provider will cover some of your expenses and may be able to arrange alternative travel arrangements for you.
There are also travel insurance providers that provide healthcare coverage as part of their policies. You might spot ‘travel medical insurance’ when you’re searching for a policy online. With this type of policy, you don’t just get coverage for your trip; you also get coverage in the event of an injury or illness.
What to Look for When Searching for a Travel Insurance Policy
So, what should you look for when you’re searching for travel insurance? Which factors do you need to consider in order to find the best policy for your needs?
Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when you’re purchasing travel insurance.
Price
Price is one of the key things to look at when you’re on the hunt for the best travel insurance policy. Let’s face it, any kind of insurance can be expensive, but you can find affordable policies by doing some in-depth research.
Travel insurance policies can vary in price. Generally, more expensive plans offer a higher level of coverage and come along with additional features that basic plans don’t have.
For an extensive travel insurance comparison, you might find it helpful to create a spreadsheet with several columns. Make sure to include price as one of your comparing factors and determine which policies align with your budget.
Alternatively, you can use comparison websites that collate information from multiple travel insurance policies and display it in a simple format. When you find a policy that meets your needs and aligns with your budget, you can sign up online or call the provider.
Policy type
There are multiple different types of policies, including single-trip, multi-trip, family, and worldwide travel insurance. A lot of providers also offer specialist policies for less common circumstances.
If you only plan on traveling to your new home county once in the next year and don’t have any additional trips planned, a single-trip policy will suffice. If you want to travel to multiple places once you’ve moved abroad, you’ll need a multi-trip policy.
If you’re unsure about which policy is best for you, speak with your chosen provider to determine which of their plans offers the right level of coverage. They may be able to offer specific additions to your policy to ensure it covers everything you need.
Trip cancellation
You might also want trip cancellation as part of your travel insurance policy.
Trip cancellation enables you to receive a refund for your expenses if you or the travel company need to cancel the trip. It enables you to rearrange your travel plans as quickly as possible, so you don’t need to delay your move.
Generally, trip cancellation will cover the cancellation of your travel due to unforeseen injuries, illnesses, and natural disasters. It will also cover trip cancellation due to changes in your destination country that make it unsafe for you to travel there.
Additional healthcare coverage
We mentioned above that some travel insurance policies cover medical care as part of their offerings. When you’re moving abroad, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to access healthcare facilities in your new home.
Having medical coverage enables you to access hospitals and primary care practices in your local area. With a great travel medical insurance plan, you can receive general and specialized treatments, therapies, and surgeries.
Having healthcare coverage as part of your travel insurance policy also reduces your healthcare costs if you need acute or chronic treatment.
Your insurance provider will cover some of your medical costs, so you don’t need to cut into your earnings to pay for hefty health bills. This offers you some peace of mind, especially since the cost of medical care is rapidly increasing with advanced medical therapies and technologies constantly being developed.
