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Travel Insurance at a Glance
To travel to some destinations abroad, some insurance is always a good idea
(such as trip cancellation, for instance). To others, medical evacuation
insurance may spring to mind (in countries with limited medical facilities,
for instance). Be sure to consider one or more of the following possibilities
and prepare accordingly.
Check your existing insurance policies before you buy travel insurance to
cover trip cancellation, lost luggage, medical expenses, or car rental insurance.
You're likely to have partial or complete coverage. But if you need some,
ask your travel agent about a comprehensive package. The cost of travel
insurance varies widely, depending on the cost and length of your trip,
your age and overall health, and the type of trip you're taking. Insurance
for extreme sports or adventure travel, for example, will cost more than
coverage for a cruise. Some insurers provide packages for specialty vacations,
such as skiing or backpacking. More dangerous activities may be excluded
from basic policies.
Trip-cancellation insurance (TCI)
There are three major types of trip-cancellation insurance -- one, in the
event that you pre-pay a cruise or tour that gets cancelled, and you can't
get your money back; a second when you or someone in your family gets sick
or dies, and you can't travel (but beware that you may not be covered for
a pre-existing condition); and a third, when bad weather makes travel impossible.
Some insurers provide coverage for events like jury duty; natural disasters
close to home, like floods or fire; even the loss of a job. A few have added
provisions for cancellations due to terrorist activities. Always check the
fine print before signing on, and don't buy trip-cancellation insurance
from the tour operator that may be responsible for the cancellation; buy
it only from a reputable travel insurance agency. Don't overbuy. You won't
be reimbursed for more than the cost of your trip.
Medical Insurance
Most health insurance policies cover you if you get sick away from home
-- but check, particularly if an HMO insures you. If you travel abroad,
note that with the exception of certain HMOs and Medicare/Medicaid, your
medical insurance should cover medical treatment -- even hospital care --
overseas. However, most out-of-country hospitals make you pay your bills
up front, and send you a refund after you've returned home and filed the
necessary paperwork. In many cases, you pay the foreign hospital, and then
try to collect from your provider when you return home.
Under U.S. law, insurance companies are not required to cover any medical
expenses incurred in countries on the State Department's Travel Advisory
List, even if their policies indicate they will cover out-of-country medical
expenses. Some supplemental carriers will sell travelers coverage for these
areas. You can view the Travel Advisory List at travel.state.gov/warnings_list.html.
Some credit cards (American Express and certain gold and platinum Visa and
Master Cards, for example) offer automatic flight insurance against death
or dismemberment in case of an airplane crash if you charged the cost of
your ticket to the card, and if you have signed up for the program in advance
of our trip.
The cost of travel medical insurance varies widely. Check your existing
policies before you buy additional coverage. Also, check to see if your
medical insurance covers you for emergency medical evacuation: If you have
to buy a one-way same-day ticket home and forfeit your nonrefundable roundtrip
ticket, you may be out big bucks.
Lost-Luggage Insurance
On domestic flights, checked baggage is covered up to $2,500 per ticketed
passenger. On international flights (including U.S. portions of international
trips), baggage is limited to approximately $9.07 per pound, up to approximately
$635 per checked bag. If you plan to check items more valuable than the
standard liability, you may purchase "excess valuation" coverage
from the airline, up to $5,000. Be sure to take any valuables or irreplaceable
items with you in your carry-on luggage. If you file a lost luggage claim,
be prepared to answer detailed questions about the contents of your baggage,
and be sure to file a claim immediately, as most airlines enforce a 21-day
deadline. Before you leave home, compile an inventory of all packed items
and a rough estimate of the total value to ensure you're properly compensated
if your luggage is lost. You will only be reimbursed for what you lost,
no more. Once you've filed a complaint, persist in securing your reimbursement;
there are no laws governing the length of time it takes for a carrier to
reimburse you. If you arrive at a destination without your bags, ask the
airline to forward them to your hotel or to your next destination; they
will usually comply. If your bag is delayed or lost, the airline may reimburse
you for reasonable expenses, such as a toothbrush or a set of clothes, but
the airline is under no legal obligation to do so.
Lost luggage may also be covered by your homeowner or renter's policy. Many
platinum and gold credit cards cover you as well. If you choose to purchase
additional lost-luggage insurance, be sure not to buy more than you need.
Buy in advance from the insurer or a trusted agent (prices will be much
higher at the airport).
Car Rental Insurance (Loss/Damage Waiver or Collision Damage Waiver)
If you hold a private auto insurance policy, you probably are covered in
the U.S., but not abroad, for loss or damage to the car, and liability in
case a passenger is injured. The credit card you used to rent the card also
may provide some coverage.
Car rental insurance probably does not cover liability if you caused the
accident. Check your own auto insurance policy, the rental company policy,
and your credit card coverage for the extent of coverage: Is your destination
covered? Are other drivers covered? How much liability is covered if a passenger
is injured? (If you rely on your credit card for coverage, you may want
to bring a second credit card with you, as damages may be charged to your
card and you may find yourself stranded with no money.)
Car rental insurance costs about $20 a day and up.
What To Do If You Get Sick Away From Home
If you worry about getting sick away from home, consider purchasing medical
travel insurance and carry your ID card in your purse or wallet. In most
cases, your existing health plan will provide the coverage you need. See
the section on insurance earlier in this chapter for more information.
If you suffer from a chronic illness, consult your doctor before your departure.
For conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, or heart problems, wear a Medic
Alert Identification Tag, which will immediately alert doctors to your condition
and give them access to your records through Medic Alert's 24-hour hotline.
Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage, and carry prescription
medications in their original containers. Also bring along copies of your
prescriptions in case you lose your pills or run out. Carry the generic
name of prescription medicines, in case a local pharmacist is unfamiliar
with the brand name.
And don't forget sunglasses and an extra pair of contact lenses or prescription
glasses.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides up-to-date
information on necessary vaccines and health hazards by region or country.
Any foreign consulate can provide a list of area doctors who speak English.
If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local
doctor -- even his or her own. You can also try the emergency room at a
local hospital; many have walk-in clinics for emergency cases that are not
life threatening. You may not get immediate attention, but you won't pay
the high price of an emergency room visit such as those charged in the USA.
Additional Advice -- The Safe Traveler
Since the attacks on America of September 11, 2001, most travelers are concerned
about safety, particularly if they travel by air. Both government and the
airlines have acted to improve security at airports and on aircraft, though
it must remain true that there can never be too much security in either
place. Moreover, there has been a sea change in the attitude of what passengers
should do in an emergency. For decades, governments and airlines have unanimously
ordered passengers to stay in their seats, do nothing in cases of attempted
hijackings and the like. Now, however, passengers are taking matters into
their own hands, as was proved in the December 2001 case of would-be bomber
Robert Reid, who was subdued before he could destroy the American airline
jet on which he was a passenger. Alert fellow passengers and a brave flight
attendant stopped him before he could ignite his shoe bombs. Report any
suspicious activities, not just physical appearances, to authorities the
minute you spot it. Better to be inconvenienced than risk a hijacking or
even just to sit there worrying about a possible hijacking throughout your
flight.
On the ground, you should be alert, also. In countries where there is a
chance of guerrilla activity, stay in well-recognized tourist areas, but
keep away from crowds, especially political rallies. Don't sit next to plate
glass windows in hotel lobbies or restaurants in these countries. In developing
countries, take taxis from your hotel rank, ensuring that the doorman approves
the taxi and opens the door for you. Returning to the hotel, phone and ask
for them to send a cab to get you, with the cab's number for you to verify.
In such places, use public transport only when you are sure of the destination
and the stops en route.
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