Travel insurance (see Health Insurance)

What is travel insurance?

A travel insurance typically covers many parts of your trip. From your property to your life. A simple travel insurance will only cover your flights, (cancellations, missed flights and so on). The more complex travel insurances, (also called travel health insurance), will insure medical repatriation and visa coverage if need be.

Do really need it?
The simple answer is yes.
The long answer is maybe. If you are going to a country where traditionally the health services are not very good then you need a good Travel health insurance. Or if your travel take you to a country with high crime rate or political unrest, then you will need a comprehensive travel insurance.

A basic insurance should be "flight insurance". This type of travel insurance will reimburse and cancelled flights or arrange for alternative transport.

What are the different types of Travel insurance?

Travel insurance
  This is the general term for travel insurance. Simply getting a cheap travel insurance does not guaranty a good cover.

Car Insurance or travel rental insurance
  This type of travel insurance will cover rental car, car accident or general liability. A good comparaison would be a comprehensive car insurance.

Travel health insurance
  This type of insurance will cover all medical emergencies while abroad. In most cases it is comprehensive, but you need to make sure that all cases are covered. From not been able to speak for yourself to a long term illness.

International travel insurance
   A name often used by insurance company to emphasise the fact that you will be insured abroad. Some insurance company offer different rates if you travel but remain in the country, (different state for example).

Travel trailer insurance
  The travel trailer insurance covers your trailer. More often than not, (but not limited to), it is a caravan. The basic definition of a trailer is a vehicle that does not have its own engines and requires one to be pulled.
In most state a Travel trailer insurance requires you to make sure that the trailer is legal on the road, (taxes are up to date for example).

Holiday insurance
  Same as travel insurance but a bit more specific. Usually a holiday insurance will cover you against disaster. If your holiday is ruined, (hotel is demolished, act of god and so on), then you could be fully refunded.

Backpackers insurance
   Usually a cheap travel insurance option, the reason been the limitation imposed by the insurer. Backpackers insurance usually prevents dangerous sport, (specifically because backpackers are known to take part in those sports).

Sports insurance
  Almost all travel insurance do not cover high risk activity, (bungee jumping, skiing and so on), a sport insurance coverer you if you have an accident while doing those activities.

Student travel insurance
  Travel Insurance targeted at students. Slightly more expensive, but usually covers sports and high risk activities.

What you need to remember

• Can you contact your insurance company from abroad? (Most toll free numbers cannot be dialled from outside the country).
• Multi trip insurance are sometime cheaper even if you only plan to travel once.
• What if you cannot speak for yourself? Do you have a card/bracelet?
• Where does your medical evacuation insurance take you? Home or to a country of their choice?
• Does your travel health insurance end when you return home, (as in most cases), if yes are you covered by your current health insurance?
• Are you planning on doing high risk activities? If yes are you covered? What does the insurance company consider "high risk"?