DID YOU KNOW?

Travel Medical/Trip Insurance, the differences explained and why you might opt to sign up for both!

When you leave your home country, your medical insurance might not travel with you. That means once you leave, you are on your own, and even if your home medical insurance plan includes emergency medical expenses in a foreign country, they never cover medical evacuation expenses. (Medical evacuations can be anything from an ambulance ride, an airlift from a remote location, or medical transport back home after a serious injury).

Travel medical insurance is temporary medical insurance that covers you for the length of your trip. It pays for emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuations.

Other names for travel medical insurance include: International Medical Insurance, International Travel Insurance or Worldwide Medical Insurance.

When signing up for travel medical insurance be sure to include high altitude trekking in your policy.

There are many travel insurance providers to choose from and most of them offer the following:

Option A: You can buy a standalone Travel Medical Insurance policy. This would cover medical emergencies, evacuation, and assistance services.

Option B: You can buy comprehensive Trip Insurance. This covers medical emergencies as well as cancelled trips, baggage, delays etc.

The cost of Trip Insurance is surprisingly affordable and depends on:

• The length of the trip

• The age of the traveler

• The medical and evacuation coverage limits

• The cost of the entire trip (i.e. covering a $1000 cruise would cost less than a $3000 Safari or Kilimanjaro climb).

Although Local Moshi Adventures refrains from recommending specific insurance providers, we do highly recommend you cover yourself with Comprehensive Trip Insurance.

Detailed Information regarding Travel Medical/Trip Insurance

The Hidden Costs of Unprotected Travel

When traveling, we often don't think about what we could lose if something unexpected happens. For example:

• Trip cancellations can cost thousands in non-refundable payments.

• Your regular health plan may not cover medical emergencies abroad, leaving you with expensive hospital bills.

• Lost or delayed luggage can ruin your trip before it even begins.

• A delayed or canceled flight can add additional hotel and meal costs.

Without comprehensive travel insurance, unexpected events can become expensive and potentially ruin the trip.

Choosing the Travel Insurance Plan

1. Trip Cancellation Insurance

If unforeseen events such as illness, jury duty, or a family emergency, requires a trip cancellation, this coverage reimburses 100% of prepaid, non-refundable costs. For extra flexibility you might want to ask if your insurance offers an add on of "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) covering up to 75% of the cost.

2. Travel Medical Insurance

As mentioned above, your regular health insurance may not provide coverage abroad. Travel medical insurance includes coverage for:

• Doctor and hospital visits

• Prescription medications

• Emergency treatments

  
  

3. Emergency Medical Evacuation

If traveling to a remote location, this coverage pays for transportation to the nearest quality medical facility or an airlift back home. Some plans offer up to $1 million in coverage.

4. Travel Delay Insurance

Compensation for unexpected delays due to weather or airline issues. It covers:

• Meals

• Accommodation

• Essential purchases (e.g., toiletries, clothes)

  
  

5. Trip Interruption Insurance

If you need to cut your trip short due to an emergency, this covers:

• Non-refundable trip costs

• Last-minute flights home

  
  

6. Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage

Lost luggage? This coverage reimburses you for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance Plan

Consider the following factors to find the right policy:

• Your Destination: International travelers need medical coverage, while domestic travelers may only need trip protection.

• Trip Cost: Higher-value trips with prepaid reservations benefit from cancellation coverage

• Activities Planned: Adventure travelers should look for plans covering extreme sports.

• Flexibility Needs: If you want the option to cancel for personal reasons, opt for CFAR coverage.

• Covid-19 Coverage: Some plans specifically cover Covid-related cancellations and medical expenses.