Traveller’s insurance plans – How to find the right coverage

We are often asked what type of insurance a traveller will need on their particular trip. There are three different traveller’s insurance plans and knowing which is the best for you involves knowing a little about –– package, travel medical and speciality travellers insurance plans.

The first is the package plan and the one most people are familiar with. The package plan is a comprehensive policy that combines a wide variety of insurance coverage into a single plan that is intended to safeguard against almost all eventualities that could occur on your trip. Package plans are the most common type of insurance plan in use but can also be the most expensive of all. A package plan can cost as much as 8% of the entire travel costs.

Not every traveller will need such extensive coverage. Speciality plans provide limited coverage for a specific set of potential problems like flight accidents, evacuation/repatriation and car rentals.

Then there are travel medical plans which can be better suited the most important needs of the traveller. This is another good way to avoid the major costs of the package travel plan. Here is how you will know if the travel medical plan is the best option for you. Look here and find out more about travel insurance UK and what policy is best.

1. You need a travel medical plan if …

… you travel plans are basically cheap, local or beyond you’re the network of your regular insurance coverage.

You will need your travel medical insurance coverage when you are travelling away from your regular health insurance network.

It could also be said that you will need a travel medical plan if you are not concerned about recovering any nonrefundable costs, you will be travelling on a tight budget or you will be outside of your health insurance network and therefore not covered.

Here are some examples of travellers who would use a medical travel plan:

Business travellers who aren’t paying for their trip out of pocket and know they will be outside of their coverage network.

International student travellers who are worried about any cancelations but will need to be covered for illnesses or accidents while abroad.

Couples, families, and individuals who will be travelling outside of their coverage network and want to ensure they will not be facing any colossal medical expenses on the way.

Backpacking travellers who don’t need to worry about trip cancelations, but would like to be covered for accidents and illnesses as well as any other unforeseen situations that could occur.

Missionary and volunteer travellers who might not need to worry about getting their trip costs refunded but do need to be concerned about evacuations and other medical emergencies.

Senior citizens who will be travelling.

Visitors entering from other countries who need medical coverage while travelling..

Remember that many of these medical plans will have benefits that are a lot like those offered in a package plan. This might include minimal trip interruption, lost luggage and even delayed trips. Be sure to read more about our special medical travel insurance plans for more information.

2. You will need a package plan if …

… your travel is a once-in-a-lifetime, especially costly or you are on a tight budget.

The package plan for travellers is comprehensive and covers a wide range of situations that could arise. This includes, but is not limited to, baggage loss or delay, emergency medical costs, travel interruptions, trip cancellations, etc. Cancellations are more common than people think and can happen for a number of reasons, if you want to make sure you are covered for this, you will need the comprehensive package plan.

The following travellers are the most in need of a travel insurance package plan:

Travellers taking an expensive trip, like a safari or a sea cruise. If there is a chance that the trip will be cancelled, they are going to want to get their money back.

Travellers who are taking a special once-in-a-lifetime trip, such as to see a major sporting event, an anniversary, etc. If the trip must be cancelled and plans changed for any reason, travellers will want to recover their losses.

Travelling families and seniors on a tight budget who will want to recover their nonrefundable expenses in case of a sudden emergency.

Travellers taking an adventure trip that will include exciting activities most travell plans will exclude from their coverage. Special packages can be found that will provide coverage for these travel costs.

3. You are going to need a specialty plan when …

… you have a specific insurance gap you need to cover.

Travel insurance specialty plans work to cover any gaps in your insurance coverage.

If you won’t need to recover prepaid trip costs and you are travelling under coverage of your medical health insurance, then all you will need is coverage for evacuation and repatriation, this is often called the “med-evac” plan.

If you will be travelling and renting a car for this purpose, you can purchase a special car rental damage insurance that will be much cheaper than what they will offer you at the dealership.

You can buy an airline ticket coverage if you want to recover the costs of a very expensive prepaid ticket and you will be travelling where you don’t need medical coverage.

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business - Gandy-Draper. Born a "Norverner", she then spent most of her life "Dann Saff" before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle's loves are Alan, the internet, their three bouncing dogs, good food, and dry white wine - although not necessarily in that order.