First International Trip? Here’s What You Need to Know About Travel Insurance
You’re about to go on your first trip overseas! Excitement courses through you, but hey, there’s that little bit of anxiety too. To be honest, it can feel a bit overwhelming.
But first—take deep breath. After that, make sure to buy travel insurance. Here are some tips to help keep your adventure safe.
The #1 reason to buy travel insurance for an international trip: medical emergencies.
A lot of travelers think insurance is just about getting money back for lost bags or canceled trips. Sure, it can help with those things, but having insurance is way more crucial in case of any medical emergency.
Wait—isn’t medical care free for tourists? Well, in some places, yes. Visitors can use the public healthcare system. However, in most countries, you’ll end up paying out of pocket if you need care during an emergency. Some places won’t treat you at all unless you pay upfront. Plus, your American health insurance card? Not accepted abroad. That includes Medicare—no coverage when you’re outside the United States.
Travel insurance with emergency medical and dental benefits can cover your costs or even pay for your care straight away if something happens while you’re away. And trust me, emergency transportation benefits could save you from sky-high evacuation fees if you need to be airlifted to a hospital.
When’s the best time to buy travel insurance? Right after you book your trip.
Why? The sooner you buy it, the sooner you’re protected. Waiting until something goes wrong might mean it’s too late to get it.
Also—keep in mind—you must get your plan within 14 days after making your first trip payment or deposit if you want coverage for any existing medical conditions. This means either you or a travel buddy can have a health issue and still qualify for all the benefits and help available. Just remember—you’ve got to meet certain requirements.
If you’ve already organized everything for your trip, don’t wait! Get a quote for travel insurance right now!
You need travel insurance even if someone else paid for your trip.
Here’s a true story: A couple received a cruise vacation from their realtor as a gift after buying their first home. It was their first time going overseas; neither had ever been on a cruise or even seen the ocean! Since it was a gift, they thought they didn’t need insurance.
Then one traveler had an unexpected seizure and needed help from the ship’s doctor. They ended up paying over $2,000 for medical care before getting taken to a hospital on land.
It’s super important for first-time travelers to have insurance—even if you think you’re covered because someone else is paying for your trip. OneTrip Emergency Medical is a good choice here; it’s affordable and covers situations like this well. It includes benefits only after departure: medical emergencies & transportation help plus coverage for delays & lost luggage.
Travel insurance helps when the U.S. embassy can’t do much.
Many people think that if something big goes wrong while traveling overseas, they can always count on the U.S. embassy (that’s where U.S. diplomats work) for support.
They try their best to assist American travelers but only in specific situations like:
- Issuing emergency passports
- Giving out local contacts like attorneys & hospitals
- Helping during emergency situations
- Sometimes offering loans to help American citizens who are struggling
- In case of arrest: check on you & advocate for your rights
- If you’re a crime victim: help with police reports & connect with family or resources
- Help with evacuations during crises
The U.S. embassy won’t cover travel costs or bills, pay for medical treatments, or help find lost items (except passports). Need quick assistance? Reach out to 24-hour support—that’s part of every Allianz Travel Insurance plan!
First time cruising? You definitely need travel insurance!
So imagine this: You’re on this huge luxury ship with everything you dreamed of—what could go wrong?
Well… cruises have very little room for mistakes! If there’s a flight delay before boarding, poof—you miss the ship! Getting sick or hurt on board means needing pricey evacuation to land hospitals. And canceling last minute? You probably won’t see any money back!
That’s why getting insurance is so important when cruising! Be sure to read through all details carefully—sometimes cruise line plans only offer credits instead of cash back if you cancel. Look for solid coverage that protects not just the cruise itself but also your flights & activities too!
Travel insurance only covers named situations.
“I got sick.” “My car broke down.” “My fiancé dumped me.” “I’m stressed about flying.”
These are all valid reasons folks might want to cancel plans—but guess what? They’re NOT covered reasons under most plans.
Travelers often get frustrated because their plans don’t cover non-emergency cancellations. Insurance will only reimburse losses due to those specifically listed reasons in your plan and they must be unforeseen events too! Like if a hurricane is expected right before your trip starts—that won’t count as grounds for cancellation either!
Before traveling internationally: Read through your plan documents! This will help clarify when & how you’re covered! If you’re worried about needing to cancel due to non-covered reasons—think about getting the Cancel Anytime upgrade! This option can reimburse up to 80% of non-refundable trip costs if life throws unexpected curveballs!
To get reimbursed by travel insurance, filing a claim is key.
Filing means sending proof of what happened that led to your loss—the documents are super important! Just saying “this happened” isn’t enough—not even one credit card receipt will cut it. Gather everything: invoices, medical bills, photos & emails from travel services etc., so we have all we need!
