Traveling is like reading a book, and as St. Augustine: "The world is a book, and he who does not travel reads only one page of it." Traveling gives an opportunity to meet new people, to be in the trend of modern events related to history, culture, food, etc. Travel directly or indirectly develops your worldview and broadens your horizons. They help to face fears and overcome them. A trip is primarily pleasure and many bright impressions, but many absurd things can occur that can negatively affect the trip or even cancel it. Unforeseen situations may arise during travel, including the need for emergency medical care. This is the main reason why having a travel insurance policy is very important. Adequate insurance is not a mandatory requirement for visa-free entry into the countries of the European Union, but it is recommended to have it for your confidence.
The principle of operation of travel insurance is quite simple: the insurance company organizes and pays for medical assistance to the policy holder in case of a health problem, or compensates the costs of treatment and other expenses (according to the insurance program). The organization of medical care is carried out by the assistance service (intermediary between the insurance company and medical centers), to which you need to call or write in case of need. Assistance services are provided free of charge.
If you are traveling organized or accompanied by a travel agency, then most likely, you have been provided with an insurance policy, but you need to understand the nuances of insurance. Most travelers buy their own travel insurance policy.
Tips for those who choose travel insurance for themselves.
1. Check whether the insurance corresponds to the chosen country of travel
If you receive a visa, be sure to find out the list of accredited insurance companies. If your trip involves a trip to several countries, then pay attention to whether the insurance company allows you to choose several countries, for example, Schengen countries, Europe or the whole world.
2. Pay attention to the insurance amount
Within this amount, the insurance company undertakes to pay receipts for medicines or medical services provided by medical institutions. This amount is set in dollars or euros. When traveling to countries of the Schengen Agreement, in accordance with Art. 15 of the Visa Code, the insurance amount must be at least EUR 30,000.
In addition to the insurance amount, you should also pay attention to the franchise. Deductible is the part of the loss stipulated by the policy, which is not reimbursed by the insurance company in the event of an insured event. The presence of a deductible in the policy allows you to significantly reduce its cost. So, for example, if the insurance program provides for a deductible of 50 euros, and in a local hospital you were provided services for 300 euros, then the insurance company will compensate only 250 euros. The maximum deductible for Schengen countries can be 150 euros.
3. Familiarize yourself with the insurance programs
Most insurance companies provide several insurance programs at different prices and the higher the cost of the policy, the more expenses are covered by the corresponding program, so when choosing a program, review the list of services. The cheapest policy option in most cases only provides emergency medical care and pain relief. Separately, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the exclusions section.
4. Familiarize yourself with additional insurance conditions
A full-value insurance program, in addition to providing medical services, provides for the payment of additional costs such as transportation services, legal services, financial services, accident insurance, luggage insurance and other important options.
5. Pay attention to the insurance period
For a one-time entry or for short-term trips to the countries of the Schengen Agreement, the validity period of the insurance policy must exceed the period of stay abroad by 15 days..
6. Choose the right purpose of the trip
For the insurance company, it is an important point how safe your trip is: it is one thing if you are traveling to visit museums, and quite another - extreme sports. The choice of the option of the purpose of the trip significantly affects the cost of the policy, but its correct indication protects you from refusing to provide you with insurance protection. Incorrect travel purpose indicated by the client is the most frequent reason for the insurance company's refusal to pay the costs of medical services.
7. An important point
In the event of an insured event, all actions must be agreed with the assistance service.
Unbelievable adventures and pleasant experiences for you,
team of "PRESTIGE" insurance company