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Post by txtrnsplnt on May 7, 2003 11:12:22 GMT -5
I am off to Europe June 29 for three months. Would anyone suggest travel insurance? If so, what company would be the best for a US citizen and how much should I expect to pay?
Thanks for the advice!
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Post by WillTravel on May 7, 2003 12:50:06 GMT -5
I'm in Canada, and I got a Manulife policy, which is not in the US, I don't think. However, another agency had recommended TravelGuard, which also sounds fine and is also in the US. www.travelguard.com/See what they can get you. The price you pay might depend on what health insurance you have already. This was a combination travel/emergency health policy that was recommended. And I'd definitely, definitely recommend travel insurance! |
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Post by Kim on May 12, 2003 0:24:41 GMT -5
I would say.. do not, and I repeat, do not leave home without travel insurance! By this I'm meaning some sort of medical coverage.
An average is usually about $1/day for medical coverage, but depends on what exactly you get. You want to be covered from the minute you leave your country - a serious accident without insurance could basically ruin you financially for a long, long time.
Your bank, or any other, should offer a policy.
Kim
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Post by me on May 24, 2003 17:50:59 GMT -5
some are sticklers for this. i've never had travel insurance. never needed it, knock on wood.
medical costs are lower in Europe than in US. the only time in my years of travel when i could have used insurance, got sick on a train in spain, the hospitol bill, which i paid by credit card, was *very* cheap. US$50-75. insurance would have been more.
maybe i've just been lucky. aside from one bad injury, i've always been a healthy guy.
- d
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Post by Kim on May 24, 2003 18:47:59 GMT -5
That said, if you were badly hurt it could have cost you thousands and thousands of dollars. You were lucky you got sick in Spain, not all European countries are that cheap. Insurance is about a dollar a day, it's not expensive.
Look at Switzerland, they have an outrageously costly medical system. Break your leg and it will cost you $1700 US. That is just for basic care, never mind if you have to stay in the hospital, have to have surgery to put the leg back together etc.
Pay the $1/day, it's well worth it.
Kim
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Post by KimR on Mar 22, 2004 14:30:42 GMT -5
Where are you getting the $1/day from, Kim. I just checked Travelgard and got a quote of $569 for my 4 member family on an 18 day trip. Closer to $10/day.
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Post by jennifer on Mar 22, 2004 15:10:56 GMT -5
I was totally and full covered on my 2 month trip!
60 days for 189$ canadian! My luggage, my camera, my bruises and bones, all the wackload of insurance was on me! I didn't use it, but I felt better if it was there! I'd buy it again for any other trip!
xoxo
Jen
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Post by LHR02 on Mar 22, 2004 15:39:16 GMT -5
I'm basically with David on this one....until the most recent trip I have never bought it. I did, however, carefully check my medical insurance here at home to insure I would be convered overseas, likewise my homeowners insurance which would cover most property losses. This last trip to Italy I did purchase it....but only because I got my tickets on Travelocity and they popped up and offered it along with the ticket for an outrageously low price...something in the range of $39.00.....and actually pretty darn good coverage as well. However.....unless you have darn good coverage here at home which would cover you overseas then I would highly suggest you don't leave without it. One other thought...loads of insurance here might well cover you overseas, but only on a 're-pay' type thing where you will have to cough up the funds at the time and they will pay you back. If that is the case with your coverage.....get some travel insurance! As Kim said, medical costs could be beyond anyone's ability to pay in some countries and I can't think of a worse feeling.
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Post by Kim on Mar 22, 2004 16:06:36 GMT -5
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Cil
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 131
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Post by Cil on Mar 22, 2004 17:38:22 GMT -5
Been traveling for years and have never bought it. We did check into whether or not we were covered overseas, and we always were on our old insurance, but now it's changed, not sure about the new.  |
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Post by jennifer on Mar 22, 2004 17:40:31 GMT -5
Cil, that's a bummer, next trip, better get insurance though! Why chance it I guess!
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Post by Kim on Mar 22, 2004 17:52:31 GMT -5
I've had two instances where I had to use it - one in Portugal when I had an infection on my foot and ended up having minor surgery and once in Hawaii where I ended up in the hospital with some tropical thing.
God almightly, I thanked my lucky stars I was covered as the one in Hawaii was mind blowing - I would have never had the thousands and thousands of dollars to cover it.
I was covered through my work at that time for out of country care, thank god.
Make sure you keep everything reciept wise though, as on that claim my insurance company tried to say I had to pay a part of it, which came to about $600. Ended up being their error, thank goodness.
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Post by LHR02 on Mar 22, 2004 17:56:34 GMT -5
Agree in theory Jen, but OTOH....why pay for insurance that you have already bought and paid for?? That has always been my feeling on it. This last trip, for $39 bucks it was cheap enough to insure 'assistance' if my flights got cancelled or some such thing...this in December when it seemed every other flight was being cancelled. But I have very good medical and home owners insurance so why pay for something I really don't need? I do say again.....check your insurance before your trip to see if you do need additional coverage. If you don't....well, there's some extra beer money on your trip! ;D
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Post by Kim on Mar 22, 2004 18:13:41 GMT -5
Yeah, all I am saying is having insurance - one way or another. If you already are covered through work or something else, that's fine.
Just don't go with [glow=red,2,300]nothing[/glow]!
edited by me to clarify....she posted 'anything' but feel sure she meant to say 'nothing'! Watching your butt Kim gal! !
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Post by WillTravel on Mar 22, 2004 19:21:38 GMT -5
The insurance you get can cover various contingencies.
For example, you can get insurance that covers your trip expenses if you decide not to go because of a sick family member or a job loss (of course read the terms first).
You can get health insurance that covers all aspects of a hospitalization overseas and a transport home, and also covers the cost of a family member coming to be with you.
There are some other subtle variations too.
Most important is the extended health insurance!
I do not even go across the US border for a moment without it, or any other border!
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