Travel insurance has long been a compulsory component of tourists’ trips abroad. Basic travel insurance is usually included in the tour package offered by tour operators. As a rule, it includes minimal insurance coverage. Experienced travelers, who know all the peculiarities of travelling abroad, don’t limit themselves to the standard insurance package. They opt for extended health insurance, which includes the risks of failure to travel, loss of luggage, and liability coverage. Domestic medical insurance has certain differences from travel insurance. In this article we will tell you about these types of insurance.

Medical insurance

Medical insurance provides coverage for:

• emergency (emergency) medical care;
• inpatient treatment (hospitalization);
• medical treatment and use of medical equipment;
• emergency (primary) dental care;
• transportation of the patient;
• transportation (repatriation) of the body.

Accident Insurance

Voluntary accident insurance provides coverage for:

• injuries caused by physical (mechanical), thermal, biological, chemical factors, as well as the actions of third parties;
• temporary disability;
• death of the insured person in case of an accident.

The most common types of travel insurance:

• insurance of medical expenses (medical insurance);
• accident insurance;
• liability insurance (legal assistance, compensation for damages caused to third parties);
• luggage insurance (insurance against loss of luggage);
• financial risks insurance, insurance against non-departure (trip cancellation) or flight delay/cancellation (only valid in the case of a travel service agreement with a tour operator).

Travelling abroad for a vacation is both exciting and exciting, and requires some preparation: choice of country, hotel, comfortable flight and purchase of insurance. Going to Europe, near or far abroad without insurance is not recommended and may be a reason for refusal of entry, as it requires mandatory registration of travel insurance.

The price of insurance (selected insurance package) depends on the period of travel, number of people, age, nationality and destination countries. Most tourists prefer online travel insurance. When choosing an insurance package we recommend taking into account the peculiarities of climate, culture, national cuisine, religion and traditions, crime rate and state of medicine of the destination country. Insurances for Schengen countries, other European countries, USA, Asia and exotic countries differ in the amount of coverage and insurance requirements.

How does medical insurance work?

A person who has taken out health insurance must contact their insurance company in the event of illness. After an insured event is recorded, a company employee will refer the patient to a partner medical facility for treatment or advise on further steps. Health insurance helps you save money on treatment and care at medical facilities. 

Annual travel insurance is an ordinary policy valid for one year abroad. It makes sense to take out annual travel insurance for those who go abroad to study or work, or who frequently travel abroad on business or private trips. Many countries require an annual policy for obtaining a multiple entry visa. Having such a policy frees the tourist from having to remember to buy insurance before each trip. Annual travel insurance includes the same risks as the standard insurance policies for trips abroad of several days or weeks. The essential difference is the long period of validity. The traveler does not need to worry about insurance while traveling abroad for 12 months. Why is annual travel insurance cheaper than a single trip?

Types of annual insurance policies

If long trips abroad are planned, it is advisable to take out annual insurance. As a rule, there are an unlimited number of trips during the year. Multi policy is issued for a certain number of days that you are going to spend abroad during the year (365, 180, 90, 60, 30). You can have as many trips as you want. The main thing is that the total duration of stay abroad will not exceed the number of days specified in the insurance contract.

When is an annual insurance policy the best solution?

The registration of such insurance is a prerequisite for obtaining an annual Schengen visa. A multi-policy will be required for those who like to travel around the world, take part in international events. Owners of overseas property, foreign university students and holders of work visas should worry about the insurance.

Benefits of Annual Insurance

• The purchase of an annual policy is cheaper than multiple travel insurance. Its cost is calculated at more favorable rates for tourists.
• Freedom of movement. The owner of such a document can easily change dates and periods of travel abroad.

What risks are covered by annual travel insurance?

The choice of a travel insurance program depends on the traveler’s financial capabilities, the purpose of travel, and a set of insurance company offers.

The minimal list of insurance risks includes:

• health deterioration requiring immediate medical attention;
• Injuries as the result of an accident;
• if necessary – medical transportation, evacuation, repatriation.
• Emergency surgical interventions;
• emergency dental care;
• organizing the return home in case the policy holder has serious health problems.

A long-term care insurance program may also contain items:

• legal services;
• ensuring contact with relatives, if care is needed;
• civil liability (accidental injury to third parties);
• non-departure beyond the policyholder’s control, trip interruption;
• luggage insurance;
• arranging for the return of children to their place of permanent residence, for whom the injured policyholder is responsible.

When we are going on vacation, we are all in high spirits. A change of scenery, entertainment and a lot of new impressions – a great vacation awaits us! Of course, no one thinks gloomy thoughts about possible unpleasant scenarios during the vacation. And we don’t need to. What is needed is to take care before the trip about the safety of your health and property during the vacation. Especially since it’s very easy to do – with travel insurance. What does curtailment mean in travel insurance?

What does the cost of standard insurance depend on?

Standard travel insurance involves the provision of timely and quality medical care (ambulance, hospital, outpatient and emergency dental care), as well as additional services related to the provision of this assistance (transportation and communications services).

The price of travel insurance policy depends primarily on the sum insured, which is determined by the vacation destination. In European countries, it is at least 30-35 thousand euros. In other countries, it ranges from €50,000 to €100,000. One of three variants is specified in the insurance contract:

• Europe (Schengen zone countries or other European countries);
• World (excluding USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Israel, Thailand, UAE, etc.).
• World+ (including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, Israel, Thailand, UAE, etc.).

Also, the cost of standard travel insurance depends on the duration of the planned trip and the selected package of services. For example, the minimum program does not provide for emergency dental care, and in-patient treatment is covered at 10% of the insured sum per case. While a more expensive package covers emergency dental care within the limit, and inpatient care is limited to the full insured amount. Such nuances naturally affect the final cost of travel insurance.

Curtailment means that part of the sum insured will not be reimbursed. In some situations, you may be involved in an accident that is not covered by insurance. Thus, the insurance company may partially compensate you for the amount of treatment.

Is it compulsory to have medical insurance to travel abroad?

To visit some countries it is mandatory to be insured – it is often asked to be presented at the entrance to the country, and in some cases it is required at the stage of visa registration. Generally, travel insurance packages cover emergency medical care for illnesses related to particularly dangerous infections (including COVID-19).

What is an insurance limit?

This is the maximum amount that can be compensated within one insured event, most often 30,000 or 50,000 euros or dollars. Within this amount, as a rule, treatment is paid for until the acute condition is removed; it can be used in full only in severe cases (complex surgery or transportation of the patient to his country for medical reasons, for example).

Excess is a part of the loss, which is not compensated by the insurer and is deducted from the total amount of compensation when calculating the insurance indemnity payable to the insured. What does excess mean in travel insurance?

Price of health insurance for travelling abroad

Before you purchase a travel insurance contract, you need to check the prices in some major companies. Whereas previously you had to visit the office in person or make a phone call for information, today you can form a calculation online.

The price of the form will depend on:

• the program selected;
• the amount of coverage;
• the period of coverage;
• the number of insured persons;
• the presence of a deductible;
• additional options.

Possible reasons for refusal of payments

Although comprehensive travel insurance covers the maximum possible risks, there are situations in which the insurance company refuses to pay compensation to its clients. They are all listed in the contract, so it is important to read it carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises. Possible reasons for refusal include the following cases.

• The insured failed to report the occurrence of an insured event within 24 hours.
• Any independent actions related to the treatment were not agreed with the insurance company.
• Ignoring the insurance company’s recommendations when an insured event occurred.
• Also, the insurance company is not obliged to cover expenses for medical services for pregnant women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant or expenses for treatment using unconventional medicine. For a complete list of exclusions, consult a specialist.

Obviously, travel insurance is not a formality and is not a useless document at all. If you’ve ever been in a situation that required the intervention of an insurance company, you’re sure to buy the most comprehensive insurance program for future trips since then. But even if you have never resorted to the help of an insurance company abroad, remember – there is always a first time. And it will be better if it happens with a good program from a reliable insurer.

Why is it important to choose not only the policy, but also the insurance company?

Don’t be lazy to spend a little time looking for the right insurance program, the terms of which will fit your time. Do not lose sight of the important point – the reliability of the insurance company is no less and perhaps even more important factor that determines the quality of service and speed of compensation in case of an accident. Specialists of a good modern insurance company pay special attention to the quality and speed of settlement of insured events. 

What happens if you don’t declare medical conditions for travel insurance? Each country has its own specifics of entry during this period, and you should familiarize yourself with them. This will help you avoid unpleasant situations. We can’t give you a definite answer to this question, but if you want to make sure that your journey is safe, we can give you some advice.

Check entry requirements

In order to protect yourself from unpleasant situations at the airport and to save your budget, we suggest you carefully check the information about the country you intend to fly to. After all, tourists are the only ones responsible for non-compliance with quarantine entry regulations.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is often referred to as a travel health insurance policy. This is due to the fact that the policy primarily provides medical care to the insured when leaving their permanent place of residence. What is travel insurance? What does a travel insurance policy include? The policy covers the risks associated with the deterioration of the insured’s health, whether it is a common illness, the need for emergency (including surgical) intervention, receiving medical care in case of injury or an accident. With travel insurance in case of health deterioration or injury, it is enough to call the hotline and an employee of the insurance company will promptly arrange medical assistance.

Travel insurance includes a wide range of risks and additional options: luggage insurance, medical expenses insurance, liability insurance, accident insurance. Medical insurance is now a mandatory document for trips abroad.

Medical insurance for traveling abroad

If you decide to go abroad on a long-awaited vacation, then in addition to the tourist ticket, you will need a mandatory health insurance policy. This contract is primarily required for obtaining a visa. With the help of an obligatory agreement, will not only be issued a visa, but also bought a quality protection for the time of rest. Do not forget that the trip in the first place should be safe.

The insurance policy will compensate for all expenses that a tourist may incur as a result of:

• accident;
• loss of valuable property;
• loss of luggage during the flight;
• illness during the vacation.

It is thanks to the insurance, all expenses will be reimbursed by the insurer. The most important thing is to record everything in time and give the information to the insurance company representative. In most cases, the main telephone numbers are specified in the contract at the very top of the policy.

Travel insurance is protection during your stay abroad. If necessary, the travel insurance contract provides you with on-site medical care, arranging and paying for medical care. Availability of an insurance policy is a prerequisite for travel. How much does travel health insurance cost?

Why do you need it?

• If you take out travel insurance for travelers, you will receive organization of medical care and reimbursement of medical expenses all over the world.
• A travel policy meets all visa requirements and guarantees insurance coverage for citizens working or studying abroad.
• All programs include reimbursement of medical expenses for diagnosis, out-patient and in-patient treatment of the insured in case of COVID-19 disease.
• In case of insured event, it is enough to apply by phone and follow operator’s instructions.

Visa insurance is not only a requirement of the embassies, which you are obliged to fulfill and get used to. The main task of a travel insurance agreement is to compensate for medical expenses during your stay abroad, which may arise due to sudden illness or accident. Medical care abroad can cost tens of thousands of euros. If you go abroad for medical treatment, it is obligatory to have health insurance.

• If you have insurance, you are guaranteed free medical care during your trip under the chosen insurance program. The insurance company pays for medical consultations, medicines, and inpatient treatment of the client (the client spends nothing).
• If there is no insurance, the client pays all medical expenses. And this is very expensive! For example, a consultation with a therapist in UAE starts from 150 USD, in France from 30 EUR. In Israel, it costs from 50 USD for a consultation with a specialist; in the USA – from 35 USD at a municipal clinic and from 300 USD at a private hospital; it costs 200-300 USD to visit a doctor for a common cold, an ambulance and transfer to a hospital – at least 1,500 USD, and “911” service – about 900 USD.

The cost of travel insurance depends on various factors. First of all, it may vary depending on the insurance company whose services you use. You should also keep in mind that there are different insurance policy options. Depending on the insurance that you choose, the price may vary. You can find out the exact prices from the insurance company or check different prices on different websites.