Author Topic: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?  (Read 5185 times)

beastykato

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Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« on: February 01, 2017, 08:51:22 AM »
I am being offered Travel Guard insurance and just wanted to get peoples opinions on whether or not it's actually worth it.  For $81 for 2 people the terms are as follows:

ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS MEDICAL EXPENSES
$25000.00   Per Insured
ACCIDENTAL DEATH/DISMEMBERMENT
$10000.00   Per Insured
BAGGAGE AND PERSONAL EFFECTS
$1000.00   Per Insured
BAGGAGE DELAY
$300.00   Per Insured
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Included   Per Insured
CANCEL FOR BUSINESS REASONS
Included   Per Insured
CONCIERGE SERVICES
Included   Per Insured
EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND REPATRIATION OF REMAINS
$500000.00   Per Insured
IDENTITY THEFT ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Included   Per Insured
LIVETRAVEL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Included   Per Insured
MISSED CONNECTION
$250.00   Per Insured
PERSONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE
Included   Per Insured
TRAVEL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Included   Per Insured
TRIP CANCELLATION
100% Trip Cost   Per Insured
TRIP DELAY
$750.00   Per Insured
$150.00 Payout Limit Per Day
TRIP INTERRUPTION
150% Trip Cost   Per Insured
TRIP INTERRUPTION - RETURN AIR
$750.00   Per Insured
WORLD WIDE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
Included   Per Insured


My medical insurance covers me outside the country with low deductibles and the same coverage as in the states.  If I had a high deductible plan I think it might have more worth to me. 

I'm traveling to Bermuda/Bahamas in May, so not hurricane season. 

I'm thinking this is adding up to not being worth it, but again it's only $80 so is it worth the peace of mind for something extraordinary?

« Last Edit: February 01, 2017, 08:54:24 AM by beastykato »

Zikoris

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2017, 09:04:08 AM »
I've had it covered by my employers as part of my benefits packages for the last five years, but before that, definitely. It was cheaper because I got the ones that were just medical, not trip cancellation/delay/luggage as well.

GreenSheep

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2017, 10:31:47 AM »
I agree; I just get medical coverage. I don't bother with the trip cancellation, baggage delay, etc. Those things could be expensive, but not catastrophic. A medical bill could quickly become catastrophic and could ruin me financially, particularly if I need to be medically evacuated back to the States, so I insure against it.

galliver

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2017, 10:32:22 AM »
I got it when I went to weddings in Mexico and India, at over $1k per person, and planned months in advance. The first time, tbqh, I was worried about the stability of the couple (bf's friends). The second time, about work, illness, etc. I felt better about the known loss of ~$100 than a possible loss of over $1k. But fwiw I never had to use it, and all in all I'm happy that's the case.

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swick

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2017, 10:38:31 AM »
YES! Although you have to read wording very carefully, some is supplemental and bury it in the fine print (IE: They will pay AFTER any other policies you have) or as with some of our employer provided coverage, there are "Life time" maximums that can be chewed up very quickly if you have a big problem over seas.

If you travel hack, see if any of your rewards cards have travel medical coverage, some do.

It is especially important for us Canucks who go over the border semi-regularly. I know too many people who have gotten into car accidents 30 minutes from home but in the US and ended up losing everything due to medical bills.

Or going down for a day trip and having a heart attack. Those sorts of incidents in the US can bankrupt you pretty easily.

I'm a red panda

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2017, 10:44:42 AM »
My medical insurance covers me outside of the country, so typically, not for that.

We get medical evacuation when it seems prudent: a trip to the Galapagos, where self-insuring medical evacuation would be insane (whereas a trip to London or Montreal- eh, they have hospitals there); a cruise when I was pregnant- I wouldn't WANT to be treated in a Caribbean hospital, even for something small, while pregnant- so again, evacuation seems a good idea to have.

For the most part, we self insure. Yes- a huge medical emergency requiring evacuation would eat up most of our assets, but between our own and my parents, we'd be able to handle it.  The chance of needing it is relatively small.

The Galapagos trip, we actually did file a claim- the insurance also covered trip interruption, and a fire set to the FAA facility in Chicago shut down nearly all midwestern airports the day we were supposed to travel. We got about $600 back in prepaid tours, meals, and hotel for the day we missed.

beastykato

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2017, 11:19:01 AM »
I honestly don't know what my lifetime maximums are on my BS/BC PPO Blue plan.  I would have to call to ask, although they did say as I mentioned, I am fully covered under "Global BC/BS", which according to them follows the exact same terms as my coverage in the U.S.

The insurance I'm currently being offered does not look promising as per this thread on Trip Advisor:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g499445-i9177-k6229999-o60-Travel_Guard_Insurance-Akumal_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

Obviously, all insurance companies are looking to take your money, but can anyone recommend some they have had good experiences with?  Many of these people claim Travel Guard is extremely difficult to get a reimbursement out of. 

I'm a red panda

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2017, 11:37:45 AM »
If you are eligible to use USAA- that's who we use for travel insurance. It's always been less expensive than other options, and at least for our small claim, it was easy to do.

Catbert

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2017, 06:38:53 PM »
I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet:  look at the coverage that your CC provides.  You may find that much of this is covered.

That said, DH did opt for travel insurance when he was arranging a very expensive South American tour a few years ago.  Good thing he did since he was diagnosed with lymphoma several months before the trip.  Glad we got it that time.  Strangely this makes me less likely to get insurance for future trips bc a recurrence of his lymphoma wouldn't be covered (pre-existing condition).   

brooklynmoney

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2017, 06:57:08 PM »
I always get the medical with the max coverage for medical evacuation, because I do not relish a trip to an emergency room in Nicaragua or El Salvador should it be my turn to get injured on a surf trip.

aschmidt2930

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2017, 07:21:54 PM »
Absolutely. Not getting at least medical is insane crazy imo.

Fitzy

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2017, 09:09:33 PM »
I've gone with World Nomads the last few times we have traveled.

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/travel-insurance/

dreams_and_discoveries

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2017, 03:24:37 AM »
I do as I live in the UK and the NHS doesn't extend abroad....but if I had medical insurance already? Perhaps I would not.

ltt

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2017, 05:20:28 AM »
You want to make sure you have very good insurance for getting back to the U.S. in case of an emergency.  I've read about a few bad cases, such as a car accident in a foreign country, or if you have a medical emergency and would need to be flown back. 

I'm a red panda

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2017, 07:51:09 AM »
I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet:  look at the coverage that your CC provides.  You may find that much of this is covered.

That said, DH did opt for travel insurance when he was arranging a very expensive South American tour a few years ago.  Good thing he did since he was diagnosed with lymphoma several months before the trip.  Glad we got it that time.  Strangely this makes me less likely to get insurance for future trips bc a recurrence of his lymphoma wouldn't be covered (pre-existing condition).

I'd double check this- sometimes if you book within X days of a trip, pre-existing conditions ARE covered.

StachelessNicholas

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2017, 08:14:05 AM »
I always get insurance when I go on mountain bike trips with my buddies (Whistler, Chilcotins, etc...), but if I am just headed on a leisure trip with my wife, I don't bother.

beastykato

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2017, 09:20:32 AM »
Despite all the horrible reviews I think I'll go with the plan being offered to me.  I will definitely look more into that World Nomad though, because the website is pretty clean and gives a very good description of benefits.  However, it's almost double the cost compared to what I'm being offered and has lower evacuation limits.

I also kinda question the benefit of the evac.   They all word it, including the recommended providers in this thread, as such:

"$500,000 | Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains*: Covers evacuation and transportation as directed by a Physician to the nearest adequate medical facility (home in the event of death or if medically required). Pays for special medical escort if recommended in writing by the attending Physician."


It seems even with this insurance you're at the mercy of the local physicians decision.  Any experience with this? 

Travel Guard also offers a Evac upgrade which reads:

"Medical Expense & Emergency Evacuation Upgrade: Valuable addition to increase your coverage limits. Your Medical Expense and Emergency Evacuation Benefits will double. Emergency Evacuation to the adequate licensed medical facility of the Insured’s choice and Bedside Visit is included. (Upgrade not available to VA residents)."


I'm still gonna get it simply because of the strong recommendation on here, plus I'm gonna be scuba diving and when a 1000lb tiger shark bites me in the ass I'm sure I'll be glad I spent $81. 
« Last Edit: February 02, 2017, 09:24:59 AM by beastykato »

I'm a red panda

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2017, 09:23:03 AM »

I'm still gonna get it simply because of the strong recommendation on here, plus I'm gonna be scuba diving and when a 1000lb tiger shark bites me in the ass I'm sure I'll be glad I spend $81.

I'd recommend DAN insurance. Travel insurance doesn't always cover SCUBA.

Dee18

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2017, 10:06:40 AM »
Some credit cards provide travel insurance as a benefit.  Of course, check the details and see if the coverage is adequate for the trip you are planning.

beastykato

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2017, 11:04:37 AM »

I'm still gonna get it simply because of the strong recommendation on here, plus I'm gonna be scuba diving and when a 1000lb tiger shark bites me in the ass I'm sure I'll be glad I spend $81.

I'd recommend DAN insurance. Travel insurance doesn't always cover SCUBA.

Thank you, I'll definitely keep that in mind as I advance onto bigger dives.  Travel Guard stated that scuba is covered as long as it is for leisure (ie. part of your cruise/resort package and/or for fun) and not competitive in nature.  They did not specify if there was a maximum depth of dive.

brooklynmoney

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Re: Do you buy travel insurance for foreign travel?
« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2017, 11:16:18 PM »
Yes my friend got medivac'd out of where we surf in Costa Rica to San Jose simply because she had an arm they thought might be broken and couldn't take 2 hours of riding on unpaved road. No charge.