General Travel Advice group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Travel Insurance under 65 ~ What to look for?

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eirekay Premium account Joined: Aug 03 Points: 19539 Posts: 214 Posted: 2009-01-06 20:29:00    For the first time I am looking at travel insurance. I have been fortunate in the past but I will be going to Thailand soon and there has been some unrest. I have the following questions: 1) Which firms have you used? Have them been reliable? 2) What coverages should I be looking for? 3) Are there any special coverages I should be looking for? 4) What else should I know before purchasing? Thanks! Eire --- Life is not measured by the breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away. Profile Pic: Tikal, Guatemala Reply    Reply with quote    Contact eirekay   davidx Premium account Joined: Dec 04 Points: 34719 Posts: 440 Posted: 2009-01-06 20:29:00    If you lived this side of the pond, I could be more helpful. As it is I can only make general remarks. 1. Make sure your proposed insurance covers any 'dangerous sports' you may fancy. The firm should tell you what it considers dangerous and it probably means a surcharge. 2. If you have any preexisting medical condition, try a number of different firms and see what they quote. I suppose it's obvious but, even though the company will normally charge you more to cover any such condition, it seems to me mad to be covered except for your greatest risk! There is at least one firm I've found that doed not charge extra here so it's worth a serious look. 3. Look carefully at any excesses. An extra payment for a waiver may be a good idea. When I went to Peru I decided I was paying enough and left it. As you may remember, that ended up as quite a costly mistake. Sorry I can't help more but I am sure somebody over there will be more helpful. Hapy New Year David --- Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact davidx   mortimer Premium account Joined: Jun 04 Points: 15075 Posts: 528 Posted: 2009-01-06 20:29:00    Hi There You should have to ask yourself what could happen and what would you do then would you have means to help yourself, pay for yourself or would this exceed your possibilities. For all things exceeding your possibilities it would be good to have insurance for. Some things that come to my mind: Serious illnesses (health costs, transport costs, repatriation flights, hospital bills, doctor bills) Accidents (transport, search, rescue costs, legal issues) Death (transport, search, rescue,...) Missing of transport means (additional costs, rebookings, changes in bookings, additional costs for living) Strike of transport people (additional costs) Theft of your belongings Damage of your belongings Lost of your belongings, stuff not arriving at the destination. Credit Card issues (blocking after theft) Damage to your belongings at home (costs for immediate return, help at home) What happens when your travel partner gets ill? What happens with your child when you get ill? (costs for people coming to collect or visit it) When you get into trouble with the law do you have a legal insurance which will help you? and much more These are the most common things that are covered by insurance companies around here. hope it helps mortimer [edited by mortimer at 2009-01-06 20:29] --- Today is the first day of the rest of your life, enjoy it! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact mortimer   ta-shy Joined: Jun 02 Points: 4110 Posts: 170 Posted: 2009-01-12 03:43:00    hey there, I don't have anything to add to what David and Mortimer have said except.. some places to look (I'm sure it's similar to Canada) for coverage.. your bank, where you have your tenet or house insurance Blue Cross AMA --- LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE! ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD! ALWAYS! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ta-shy