Why travel insurance is needed
By purchasing insurance before traveling abroad, you provide yourself with free medical care in the country where you are going. If an insurance policy seems like an unnecessary formality, just think: the cost of medical services in countries such as France, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, USA and Australia can reach several thousand euros..
Therefore, in order to truly protect yourself while on vacation, it is still better to have insurance with you. Moreover, the body often reacts to a sharp change in climate, active sun, unusual foods, and vacationers have to consult a doctor.
If you buy a tour to travel abroad through a travel agency, then usually the policy is already included in the general package of travel documents. On the one hand, it is convenient that the tourist does not need to do this himself. On the other hand, in case of illness, you may find that you do not know where to go and what you are entitled to. Therefore, regardless of whether you buy insurance yourself or not, it is important to do two things:
- Have your policy with you throughout the trip
- Study the terms of insurance.
What are the types of insurance
Insurance companies offer different policy options for those traveling abroad:
- one trip policy
- annual multiple policy
- a policy that applies to one or more countries, for example, to countries belonging to the Schengen area
- international policy valid around the world.
You can choose the suitable option depending on where and how often you travel..
What is usually covered by insurance
The standard insurance program for those traveling abroad is designed for an insured amount of 30,000 euros. But you can buy an insurance policy with a higher insured amount - 50,000 or 100,000 euros.
The standard program includes:
- outpatient and inpatient medical care
- emergency dental care
- medical repatriation
- early return home
- compensation for the arrival abroad of close relatives of the victim.
An extended program may include initial legal advice, costs associated with the loss of documents,
delayed scheduled flights and much more. It is also possible to insure luggage and even an apartment for the duration of the trip..
In addition, several people can be entered into one policy. Convenient when traveling with the whole family.
What to do if you need medical attention
First of all, you need to call the service center at the phone number indicated in the policy. The dispatcher needs to inform the full name, policy number, location, contact phone number and the reason for contacting.
Of course, making a preliminary diagnosis over the phone is difficult. But the dispatcher will guide you on what to do next and select the nearest clinic to which you can contact. Service centers work seven days a week, they always have Russian-speaking operators. Therefore, the conversation does not require knowledge of a foreign language..
If you are unable to contact the operator, you must have an insurance policy with you when you enter the hospital. It contains useful information for doctors.
Do I need to pay for medical services or collect documents for the insurer?
«In 99% of cases, you do not need to pay for anything on your own - we organize the provision of high-quality medical care, and the client simply goes to a medical institution and receives the services he needs. The only exception is that if for some reason a person is unable to contact the call center, he himself needs to take care of collecting all the documents related to the provision of medical assistance. These can be bills, doctor's certificates, medical reports, receipts and other documents that will serve as the basis for receiving compensation.», - said the director of insurance INTOUCH Vasily Busarov
«To begin with, travel insurance for all visa countries will be a prerequisite for obtaining an entry visa. Without insurance, you simply won’t get it..
Aside from such situations, the cost of insurance is several times less than the possible costs of a doctor's consultation and treatment while on vacation. For example, insurance for 2 weeks in Turkey will cost 500-1000 rubles, depending on the amount of insurance coverage. At the same time, 1 doctor's visit (and this is only a visit) there costs at least $ 50. Also, always pay attention to additional options - for example, related to the stay of children in the event of a parent's hospitalization. They will cost an additional 200-300 rubles, but they can be very helpful on occasion. For fans of active sports and recreation, there are special types of policies that cover an extended number of risks.», - told the commercial director «Messenger Travel» Andrey Osintsev
