10 Benefits of Having Travel Insurance

When asking the question, ‘Do I need travel insurance?’, first consider the following benefits. Insuring your trip in the case of unforeseen events is one of the best ways to help make sure it isn’t ruined by expensive emergency bills or sudden expenses.

Travel insurance can offer cover in the case of a range of unforeseen events including medical emergencies, flight cancellations, emergency accommodation and vehicle accidents.

Here we go through some of the most beneficial aspects of having insurance when you travel at home or abroad.

1. Support in a Medical Emergency#

Your Australian health insurance policies won’t cover you in other countries should you experience a medical event that requires hospitalisation or attention at a local medical centre.

Travel insurance can cover these eventualities. Even something as simple as a cut could necessitate a trip to the doctors, and the last thing you want is to ignore it and have it end up as something worse.

2. Coverage in Remote Areas#

If you are visiting a remote part of a different country or even Australia, have you considered what medical facilities are available in the area? If you suffer an accident or sudden illness in a remote part of the country, you may require air lifting to a hospital or even back to Australia.

Something as safe as hiking could quickly turn dangerous if you twist your ankle or lose your sense of direction. The cost of an emergency medivac may run into the thousands of dollars, even more if you need to be flown back to Australia.

3. Dental Emergencies#

When travelling, you have just as much chance of chipping a tooth in a nasty fall as you do at home. Imagine how agonising something as small, yet painful, as a chipped tooth would be as you are forced to wait for your flight to return home for treatment.

Having dental emergencies covered under your travel insurance policy means you could be back enjoying your pain-free holiday in no time.

4. Reclaim Your Cancellation and Rescheduled Flight Fees#

Cancelled or rescheduled flights can wreak havoc on the best-made travel plans. Weather, technical issues and strikes could lead you to miss your connecting flight or fail to even get off the ground the first place. Not being left out of pocket, is a reason to buy travel insurance to cover these expenses, so you won’t be over budget before you even set off.

5. Protection for Your Frequent Flyer Points#

One of the reasons why travel insurance is important for frequent flyers is to protect your points. If you’ve paid for part or all of your flights with points, and aren’t able to recover them, travel insurance can compensate you for the value you have lost.

6. Stress-free Stays #

If you’re sick, injured or some other emergency occurs keeping you in your holiday destination, travel insurance may be able to recompense you for any emergency accommodation until you’re able to fly.

7. Replacement of Stolen or Lost Luggage#

Unfortunately, losing your luggage and individual items, or having them stolen, is not uncommon while away from home. Perhaps you are out looking at the local sights and return to find your backpack or suitcase is missing. What is the cost of replacing everything?

Even if you travel light the expense might be high. You may need to pay to replace your passport and any other travel documents for example, or buy a new set of clothes. Travel insurance can reimburse you for these expenses.

8. Stress-free Car Hire#

If you hire a car and are then involved in an accident, you’ll often have to pay excess even if it wasn’t your fault. Your accident, even if it was minor, may end up costing you more than you thought and could ruin your long-awaited holiday.

Good travel insurance can take care of this unexpected financial expense and is yet another reason to buy travel insurance.

9. Coverage for the Whole Family#

A reason why travel insurance is often considered important by families, is because it can cover everyone on the trip. Dependent children travelling with adults, up until the age of 21 and without pre-existing conditions, are covered under all Bupa Travel Insurance policies at no extra cost.

10.  Peace of Mind for Personal Liability#

If you’re involved in an incident where you are found legally responsible for someone else’s personal injury or damage to their property, travel insurance can cover you, up to the amount specified under your plan. Travel is always unpredictable.

Whether you’re in an unfamiliar country or at home, getting the right travel insurance for your needs could deliver you greater peace of mind and allow you to recoup your losses against any unforeseen eventualities.