Filipinos love to travel. You can actually see our kababayans practically everywhere. But by doing so we are leaving ourselves open to a range of risks that could be mitigated simply by spending a few pesos on a travel insurance policy.
Here, I have rounded up 5 reasons why every traveler should invest in a reliable and trusted travel insurance. Read on...
You'll avoid hefty medical bills
Of course, we do not wan to anticipate anything bad to happen to us while we were supposed to enjoy on our travels. But should you require any healthcare overseas, you can end up paying out for huge medical bills, even if you use your international HMO cards as they manage to take advantage of reciprocal arrangements from concerned companies. When you find out the costs it’s possible to incur, it’s easy to see why some Pinoys say medical fees are their main reason for taking out cover before a holiday.
Trusted insurance company Malayan Insurance has Travel Master which you can purchase conveniently online can be your passport towards worry-free travels both here and abroad. I could recall the time when my mom and I went through a vehicular accident in the summer of 2014 in an adventure theme park in Porac, Pampanga where my mom has suffered from fractured femur which eventually caused her to undergo partial hip prosthesis, thereby leaving her with a limp and a cane (and made her a certified PWD) for the rest of her life.
If only I could turn back time, I wished I had gotten us a travel insurance so that it would not have been so difficult for me and my mom. I remember at the time I didn't know exactly what to do since it was the very first time I had encountered an accident and we were out of town. What supposed to be a day of fun and excitement at the said adventure theme park ended up into something as tragic as an accident on an ATV. If we had a travel insurance then, perhaps, things would have been better. I'm sure it would have been easier for me to transport and travel my mom back to Manila and I would've been able to save more money if we had a travel insurance to rely on. But since we didn't had any at the time, we spent a really huge amount of money. I keep thanking God and all the love I had received from kind-hearted friends of ours who helped us in such difficult ordeal in our lives.
The number one reason why people take travel insurance, however the key is to make sure you are adequately insured. Medical bills nowadays can be colossal and in some countries public hospitals can be in poor condition (like in ours, unfortunately). Ideally you want a full medical travel cover so that you are covered in a private hospital and for air ambulance, should you not be able to come home on a commercial flight.
Buying a travel insurance policy with sufficient medical coverage will protect you from those bills, ensuring you can get treatment as and when you need it.
You'll be covered if you lose your belongings/theft
Many of us travel away with a range of goods from clothes to electrical items, toiletries to jewellery. Yet if you lose these items or they are stolen and you don’t have travel insurance, you could be left to cover the cost of replacements.
You could, of course, claim on your home insurance policy, but this will only work if it covers you for taking your items overseas. And even if it does, claiming on your home insurance will put your premiums up for the next year.
As a result, it makes much more sense to buy a travel insurance policy for peace of mind. Make sure it also includes cover for your travel money so that you’re protected for loss or theft of your cash.
Every holiday destination has it’s tourist trap. Pickpockets and robberies are not uncommon in large cities and holiday resorts, particularly during the peak season. Although expensive items need to covered on your house policy, travel insurance will cover you for loss of money and even replacement passports. Amounts covered vary depending on the policy you choose so make sure you read your policy document to see how much you are covered for.
Top tip: If you are unlucky to have items stolen on you, make sure you call the police. Travel Insurance companies rarely refund expenses without an official police report.
