Trip Of A Lifetime Or Disaster Of A Lifetime? Travel Insurance Can Protect Your Travels—And Your Health

The fun of a vacation starts during the planning phase. Booking excursions, figuring out which hotels offer the best amenities, and saving restaurant recommendations are some of the best parts of any trip. And if everything goes exactly as planned, it’ll be perfect.

Unfortunately, vacations have a funny way of not asking permission before going awry. One minute you’re on your way to that pasta place you can’t wait to try, and the next, you’re tripping down a historical staircase in the town square. With a newly broken ankle, the many hospital visits won’t just disrupt your vacation; they’ll hurt your wallet, too.

You can plan for a lot on vacation, but it’s impossible to plan for unexpected medical emergencies or injuries in a faraway country. And if you can’t make a plan, having a safety net in place is the next best option. That’s exactly where travel insurance comes into play.

What Does Travel Insurance Actually Do?

If you’re out of your home province when disaster strikes, Travel Emergency Medical Insurance offers financial protection for unexpected medical expenses. Everything from hospitalizations to prescriptions, and even emergency dental care, is covered under robust travel insurance plans.

Real-World Example: A Navacord client tripped on uneven pavement while travelling abroad and fractured their hip. Not only was surgery necessary before they could return home but they also needed a medical escort to help them travel. The whole ordeal cost more than $40,000, but every cent was covered by their policy.

For even more protection, consider purchasing Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance. This coverage will reimburse any nonrefundable expenses if you need to cut your vacation short or cancel it altogether due to illness or a family emergency.

Real-World Example: After mechanical issues caused your 6 a.m. flight to get cancelled, you rebooked the flight for the next day. All costs related to hotel, meals, and any activities you missed out on are covered by Trip Interruption Coverage.

Different coverage options make it easy to get the protection you need without unnecessary costs. When you’re looking for an annual travel insurance plan, look for one that includes the following coverage types:

• Emergency Medical
• Trip Cancellation
• Trip Interruption
• Baggage & Personal Effects
• Travel Delay Benefits
• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

Spotting The Gaps: Your Credit Card Coverage Is Not Enough

If you’ve ever thought, “Between my provincial health plan and the coverage offered by my travel credit card, I should be good to go,” then you’re not alone. Many people get swayed by the catchy credit card advertisements and think they’ll have support in an emergency. But here’s what you might be missing in the fine print:

• Low emergency medical limits
• Restrictions on pre-existing conditions
• Age limits
• Limited trip cancellation and interruption benefits
• Short trip-length maximums
• No coverage for certain high-risk activities

Listen, everyone loves a good credit card travel perk, but they’re not a replacement for a dedicated travel policy. Even if you’re only leaving your home province a few times a year, opting for an annual travel insurance plan is the way to go. You and your loved ones deserve health and safety, no matter where you are in the world.

Ready To Get Covered? Give Us A Call

Whether you have the trip of a lifetime coming up, or if you’re just feeling extra “on” your travel planning, call the Navacord team today. Our brokers will ask about your travel frequency, health baseline, and the type of trip you’re taking, and then we’ll provide a range of coverage options.

For most travellers, we recommend an annual plan. This is the more cost-effective route, and it provides uninterrupted coverage across all your trips, eliminating the risk of gaps. Regardless of the plan you choose, we’ll break down the exclusions, compare your options, and make sure you get the coverage that fits your lifestyle.

When you call, try to have the following information ready:

• Travel dates
• Destination(s)
• Age
• Date of birth
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Total prepaid trip costs
• Planned activity details

A short conversation today can save you thousands tomorrow. Not only is the peace of mind worth every penny but that Mai Tai on the beach will taste even better—we promise. Give us a call today!