Are You Someone Who Doesn’t Care About Travel Insurance? Then You Need to Read This

It’s that time of the year again. Schools are on break, and full-time workers finally get to go on their much-deserved holiday. Yay, long weekends!

If this is you and you plan to travel sometime soon, you’ve probably heard of something called travel insurance. However, let’s face it, most of us never really bothered much about it.

Well guess what, you SHOULD care because without proper travel insurance from a proper insurance company, you risk facing a ton of (costly) predicaments. Here are some things you may not have known!

 

1.You can lose every single Ringgit you spent on flight tickets because of last-minute cancellations or having to cut your trip short

Maybe you suddenly had to cancel your trip due to work, or maybe the flight was cancelled because of technical issues; regardless of whose fault it is, without proper travel insurance, you may not get any refund whatsoever.

Although most airlines give you the option of purchasing a Cancellation Waiver, these often do not cover the time period close to your flight date (which also happens to be the time most people/airlines cancel). Additionally, should you already be at your holiday destination and suddenly need to cut your trip short and return for whatever reason, most airlines and credit card companies won’t cover that either. You’ll probably have to purchase another one-way ticket back home.

Thankfully, insurance companies cover a much wider spectrum of things, from cancellations on the day itself up until the airline goes bankrupt, they’ll even cover travel curtailments and reimburse you for your travel and accommodation.

 

2. You may have to fork out thousands of Ringgit if you suddenly require medical attention while travelling

Getting hospitalised overseas is much more common than you think, because your body may not be able to adapt to the food or pathogens in different countries. There’s also a chance you might injure yourself if you’re planning to do a bunch of outdoorsy/extreme activities, especially ones you’ve never done before like skiing for the first time. These trips to the hospital can cost a bomb.

For such cases, it’s always best to approach your travel insurance company for advice.

 

3. Not being able to get emergency medical evacuation or repatriation 

For those of us who plan to visit cities or villages with limited access to hospitals or medication, or perhaps we plan to go hiking on dangerous terrains, having an insurance company cover us for emergency medical evacuations is crucial! You never know when you might need emergency medical assistance, especially if you’re travelling to a country where there’s a likelihood of natural disasters like tsunamis or earthquakes as well. If you’re unable to get evacuated, or sent to a hospital in time, you risk facing dire consequences.

During such times, services like airlifting or despatch of medication could save your life! Imagine how much you’d have to pay though! Unless, of course, you’re covered by insurance.

 

4. Your credit card or airline travel insurance may not actually be suited for your needs at all

Some of you might think your credit card or airline company already has you covered. However, these types of travel insurances, are made as a “one-size-fits-all” deal. Your age, travel destination, health condition, or how long you plan to travel is not taken into consideration at all.

You may be a diabetic, or on medication, or even holidaying somewhere that isn’t covered by your credit card company (and there are many travel destinations that aren’t covered by credit card companies, mind you); these conditions might cause you to lose any chance you have of claiming for anything while travelling. If anything were to happen, you would be caught off-guard because you’d have to cover all your bills yourself.

Should you have any special conditions, it’s much safer to talk to an insurance agent from a well-established insurance company instead.

 

5. You may no longer be covered by your credit card’s travel insurance after a certain period of time

Many credit cards’ travel insurance only cover a set amount of days each year, and it’s usually limited to 30 days. Any claims you make while travelling after you’ve used up the 30-day quota will be ignored. Wah, must strategise and make sure I don’t travel more than 30 days a year wei!

Buying travel protection from an insurance company on the other hand actually gives you the flexibility and confidence to be protected whenever you’re travelling.

 

6. Prepare to spend extra money if your luggage gets delayed

While reimbursement for damaged or lost luggage is common, travel insurance by credit card companies and airlines generally do not offer anything for delayed baggage. Imagine getting stranded for days without clothes, toiletries and other daily necessities!

On the other hand, proper insurance companies would actually reimburse its customers for purchase of essential items such as clothing and toiletries. Yay, clean underwear!

 

Well, there you have it, just some of the things that could go terribly wrong if and when you aren’t properly covered by an actual insurance company offering proper travel coverage.

In fact, if you’re planning a trip soon and looking for a travel insurance plan that suits your needs, you can always check out Allianz Travel Care. It’s super easy too!

Their many plans will not only promise you and your family a worry-free holiday both overseas and domestic, it also covers a wide range of needs including:

• Accidental death and permanent disablement
• Medical expenses
• Travel or luggage delay
• Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Programme

You can even opt for additional sporting activities on ice, sea and air! Also, don’t worry because the Allianz Travel Care has a plan catered for different needs, health conditions and age groups as well!

Find out more about the Allianz Travel Care here!