Want to travel with peace of mind? Find out why travel insurance is important, and enjoy your vacation with complete peace of mind.
You’re already dreaming of your vacation in the sun, in the mountains or by the lake. When you booked your holiday online or with a tour operator, you were told abouttravel insurance. But what is travel insurance? What is it? What and who does it protect? What is it really for? Why should you buy it? These are just some of the questions we’re going to try to answer quickly, bearing in mind that risk is an everyday occurrence, and prevention is more important than cure.
What is travel insurance? Why buy it? Is it mandatory?
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Protecting yourself against risks
First of all, travel insurance is not compulsory. In fact, you are and remain the sole decision-maker. However, there are four countries where travel insurance is required for entry: Algeria, China, Cuba and Russia.
Travel insurance, on the other hand, is an asset for those who wish to protect themselves effectively against travel-related risks. Even though you may not see the point, there is no such thing as zero risk, and taking out travel insurance can sometimes save you a great deal of inconvenience. As with all insurance, you have to accept that you’re only paying for prevention. But the day you need it, you’ll be glad you did.
Especially since abroad, depending on the country you’re visiting and what you’re doing there, the risks involved are greater. Particularly in exotic countries like Australia, or if you go canyoning in the French Gorges du Verdon. Now, if you’re strolling the streets of Milan or Vancouver, for example, you’re not safe from an accident.
That’s why travel insurance is so important. You won’t have to pay in advance for any medical expenses, and you’ll be able to offset certain major expenses in countries like the U.S., where the healthcare system is far less advantageous than in France. Travel insurance protects you and covers all or part of the cost of hospitalization or even repatriation. For a worry-free vacation, we recommend that you give it serious consideration, as it plays the same role as your French health insurance, which you wouldn’t do without on a day-to-day basis.
Reading between the lines
We don’t need to remind you how important it is to read the fine print in a contract. This applies to absolutely any type of contract you might sign. But in the case of travel insurance, it can tell you the real terms and conditions of your contract, what’s covered and what’s not. This is where you may find that the one you’ve selected isn’t ideal for your travel needs after all.
As long as you don’t sign, nothing commits you. In any case, you generally have 14 days in which to withdraw from the contract. So be sure to read the little details that some companies slip into those little lines, counting on the fact that the people who read them are in the minority. Surprise them and make sure you sign a contract that suits you 100%.
Travel insurance is dedicated to travel, not more
If you choose to take out travel insurance, you should know that it is only effective abroad. Just as your French insurance is only applicable in France. Of course, should anything happen to you, or should you need to shorten your stay, your travel insurance coverage ends once you return to France.
Bank cards include insurance, but is it enough?
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It’s true that bank cards offer insurance that is often included with certain offers. These may cover lost luggage or flight cancellation. But they are definitely not enough to cover all the risks associated with health abroad. All the more so if you’re a wanderer who’s about to embark on a long trip around the world.
Indeed, these cards only offer protection for 90 consecutive days… which doesn’t seem like much for a round-the-world trip. What’s more, the insurance they include only covers the purchaser of the ticket. So, if your other half offers you a two-week dream trip to the Seychelles, you won’t be covered. Of course, each bank has its own conditions and contracts. You’ll never get better information than from your advisor.
What does travel insurance cover?
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What’s included
There are several reasons why you should choose one travel insurance policy over another: its coverage. These generally include :
- medical expenses covered, including reimbursement of drugs, medical consultations and hospitalization;
- sports coverage: you’re in Manhattan, running, and suddenly you’re hit by a bicycle. Your travel insurance’s sports coverage kicks in, and you’re covered. But there are limits to this coverage! Extreme sports are often not included;
- assistance and repatriation in the event of a life-threatening or family emergency. Expenses related to this unexpected return are covered according to the options chosen;
- search and rescue: you’ve set out to conquer Mount Everest and suddenly you get lost. Your travel insurance will come and get you, because your policy includes this coverage (if applicable, of course);
- compensation for lost luggage;
- compensation to a third party if you injure someone (civil liability);
- legal assistance: if you find yourself in legal trouble, travel insurance can take care of your case. It’s normal not to know all the laws of the country you’re traveling in. However, one misunderstanding and things can quickly get worse;
- the cancellation guarantee, which allows you to be reimbursed if your trip is cancelled. Beware, however, as certain conditions must be met. The same applies to the trip modification guarantee, which allows you to modify your trip if an incident for which you are not responsible prevents you from taking the plane, for example.
Is cancellation insurance really worthwhile?
Yes, because if an event of any kind makes it necessary to cancel your trip, you can be reimbursed. So you don’t lose all the money you’ve invested. Be careful, however, as cancellation insurance, like all guarantees, is subject to company conditions.
Which travel insurance for which trip?
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Depending on the type of trip you’re undertaking, the insurance you need will vary. Whether you’re going around the world for a year, or simply in digital nomad mode, the conditions are not the same. Expatriates, for example, who go away for studies (Erasmus type) or a Working Holiday Program (PVT), don’t have the same guarantees because they are settling in the country, albeit often temporarily. They’re not on a trip, as you might imagine, just for a short stay.
The best thing to do is to check with your insurance company to find out what your rights are and how they apply to your travel plans. Never leave home without at least knowing what these coverages are. It could change your mind and give you extra protection.
What if I decide to go without travel insurance?
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You do so at your own risk. As you make your discoveries, you’re not immune to injury, flu or food poisoning. If this happens to you, you’ll have to advance the medical costs, or even pay them in full, with no hope of reimbursement. You won’t benefit from any assistance. You’ll have to fend for yourself in a foreign country that doesn’t have the same rules and laws as France.