Senior travel insurance should be mandatory for those who want to be protected from the unexpected. Travel insurance is the perfect safety net in case you get sick, injured, or in case you have to cancel your ticket and travel plans due to illness.
The biggest problem is that obtaining cheap senior travel insurance is not an easy task. This is because insurance companies use age as a determining factor when decided the price of premiums. Seniors need to take a look and compare the different travel insurance that is available.
Why It is Important to Get Senior Travel Insurance
What happens when you visit the perfect destination and the unexpected happens? You might get incredibly sick, have a major accident, or you might even have a heart attack. Any of these situations could cost you a lot of money if you don’t have travel insurance. You will need prescription medicine, a doctor’s examination, hospitalization, and in the worst scenario, your body might need to be transported back to the United States for burial.
If seniors have a comprehensive travel insurance that covers all medical costs, prescription drugs, and doctors’ fees, they can better enjoy their vacations and feel confident that they are protected.
If you fail to have senior travel insurance, you will need to pay for all costs upfront. That includes your hospital treatment, which in many countries can be very expensive. Even the cost of certain medications can cost more than they do in the United States, because of the shortage of those medicines. This means that a simple stomachache can turn into something more serious, might cost you thousands of dollars if you are uninsured.
Tips on Obtaining and Using Senior Travel Insurance
Visit Your Doctor before You Look for Insurance – Naturally, it’s a good idea for seniors to get a check up before going on some international trip. However, most senior citizens probably didn’t know how important it is to have a good health stamp of approval before applying for travel insurance. This lets your insurer know that you are not a high risk person, and if you have any pre-existing conditions, you can find out if your insurance policy will cover it.
Hold on to Receipts – Make sure you save and make copies of all of your medical and prescription receipts. If you don’t have them, you might have to reimburse the insurer, or you might not receive any money if you pre-paid your bills.
Dangerous Activities – If you plan on participating in any potentially dangerous hobbies, such as paragliding, scuba diving, mountain climbing, jungle trekking, or other potentially risky adventures, ask before signing the dotted line on your senior travel insurance policy.
Visiting Dangerous Countries – Some travel insurance companies will charge you more if you decide to visit countries that are experiencing some conflict. There might even be countries where some companies might deny issuing senior travel insurance all together. Always be upfront about where you plan on visiting and what you plan on doing there.
How Long Do You Need Coverage – Most senior travel insurance is issued with time periods. For instance, you can purchase insurance for two weeks, a month, six months, or more. It’s important to have a general time frame in mind when you purchase your policy. Always check if you can get extensions on your insurance policy if you plan on staying longer at a destination. Also, make sure that the travel insurance policy will expire after a certain time, so you don’t get charged again for extra time that you don’t need.
Senior Travel Insurance – Conclusion
The cost of senior travel insurance will probably be on the minds of most senior citizens when they look around for a policy. Check the Internet for travel insurance companies, and also check around your area for companies that specialize in travel insurance. You can also ask your current insurance company if they have any travel insurance policies. It is always better when you have some kind of medical coverage when you are traveling abroad.