When you’re going on vacation or travelling on business, you know you need travel insurance. But how can you know the coverage you buy will be there for you if you need to make a claim?
The best way to protect yourself from the unexpected is to ask questions about the coverage you’re buying. But with so many unknowns, what should you ask?
For example, does the plan cover participation in high-risk sports? Are you protected when traveling to a country with a government travel advisory? Does the plan cover you if you’re pregnant? What about coverage for pre-existing medical conditions? These are conditions that you had before your coverage began.
Most policies cover an illness if it arises while on your trip, but may only cover conditions you already had if your condition is considered stable within a certain time period before your trip. This time period can vary depending on your age or the company providing your coverage so you’ll want to be sure you understand how it works and what limitations there are.
You might even ask about illnesses you’ve had even if you’ve been symptom free for years. Those conditions shouldn’t affect your coverage as long as they occurred before the time period defined in your policy. Asking these questions in advance will give you greater peace of mind.
Whichever company provides your insurance; you need to have confidence that your coverage will be there for you when you need it most. Know what you’re buying and always read your contract carefully before you leave on the trip.
