Top 10 Travel Insurance Myths and Truth

Myth 1. It is not necessary to buy travel insurance policy for a short trip.

Truth 1. You must agree that an accident or sudden illness can happen any time, even on a short trip. Accidents happen irrespective of the duration of your holiday. You may decide you don’t need insurance cover for travel delay or cancellation but there are some coverage options you still need. Thus, do not leave your home country without the right health coverage.

Myth 2. Medical coverage is always included in travel insurance policy.

Truth 2. In general, a comprehensive policy includes medical coverage for a limited number of pre-existing medical conditions. However, some medical conditions are not automatically covered included unless you take a telephone health screening. Make sure that you know what pre-existing medical conditions are included in your travel insurance package. If you have any doubts, it is better to ask.

Myth 3. Travel insurance policy automatically pays your medical bills while you are on vacation.

Truth 3. On the whole, it is true. However, some travel insurance packages require you to pay expenses up-front and then make a claim later for reimbursement. So, it is important always to have money with you in case of unexpected situations. Sometimes, if the amount is very small, you will have to pay it and then claim it back from your insurance provider.

Myth 4. The airlines cover delays.

Truth 4. Many people believe that it is the airline's responsibility to cover all the costs associated with delays. Unfortunately, airlines will not refund your money in case of a delayed flight, but some might provide vouchers for refreshments. In contrast, travel insurance policy will reimburse irrecoverable unused travel, accommodation and other pre-paid charges if you are delayed longer than 24 hours. Policies vary by travel insurance provider, thus read the fine print of your insurance package to confirm whether delays are covered or not. You should know that some airlines may cover the cost of a hotel stay and other delay-related expenses. So, keep in mind to check whether your airline cover such kind of expenses.

Myth 5. Airlines and hotels will reimburse you expenses in case of trip cancellation.

Truth 5. If you have to cancel a trip at the last minute due to an illness, an emergency or other reasons, getting your money back is not as easy as you expect. Unless you have purchased a refundable ticket, most airlines will not refund your money if you have to cancel. Most hotels and care hire firms will not reimburse without some advance notice. The only guaranteed way to avoid wasting of money is to buy travel insurance.

Myth 6. If you are going to Europe you will be covered by European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Truth 6. It is important to note that the EHIC Card is not a substitute for travel insurance as the card will not always cover you for all medical costs, nor will it cover the cost of relatives flying out (and back), their accommodation, or the money it will cost to get you back home when you aren’t fit to travel. The EHIC card is only valid for emergency medical purposes and will not cover events such as delays, cancellations, and lost luggage. Therefore, it is always best to combine an EHIC card with travel insurance cover whilst on a trip.

Myth 7. My age makes travel insurance less affordable.

Truth 7. This statement makes sense because of the obvious fact: the more risk insurance provider takes the more expensive travel insurance policy costs. Certainly, the price and the conditions of policies for people over 60 vary depending on the insurance providers. However, in general it is quite difficult to find company that would insure you at the age of 85. There might be some limitations and restrictions.

Myth 8. Annual Mutli trip travel insurance policy costs a lot.

Truth 8. Those who travel a lot will tell you that it is not true. Obviously, if you compare the price of a single trip policy, Multi trip policy will seem to be a little more expensive. However, multi trip travel benefits if you are planning several trips within one year. You can use multi trip policy as many times as you want within the year. Besides, you will save a considerable amount of money by purchasing this type of insurance. Couple will save even more on the Globelink Сouples Annual Multi Trip policy.

Myth 9. Activity-related injuries are not covered by Regular travel insurance cover.

Truth 9. Hazardous activities are not usually included in many standard policies. You should know that if you are planning to do extreme sport or other kind of risky activities it is important to add these options to your policy. Most travel insurance policies provide coverage for accidents when you add coverage for extreme sports and other hazardous activities. So, make sure your policy includes medical costs for hazardous activities.

Myth 10. If you have a credit card you don’t need to buy travel medical insurance.

Truth 10. The travel insurance available on credit cards usually covers only travel accidents and costs that were paid for with this card. You should know that it does not cover illness. It means that credit cards usually don't provide the full extent of coverage as a regular travel insurance package. Therefore, if you have credit card with travel insurance package make sure you buy extended coverage to be sure that you are fully protected for the entire trip.

As you can see there are many myths about some aspects of travel insurance coverage. Insurance is a significant part of any trip and it requires being attentive and careful as it influences your well-being. Thus, make sure that you know what you are buying, and get decent coverage you can depend on by avoiding these myths!

Read more: Top 10 Questions About Travel Insurance