One of the major societal breakthroughs has been the capacity to make travelling easier and more efficient. With the transportation methods, we have today, we can now travel wherever we want, whenever we want and at a fraction of what it used to cost. This guide will clear your confusion on how to purchase travel insurance online easily.
Although travelling has become more affordable, there are still some things we can’t plan for such as cancellations, delays, and medical emergencies, which can be extremely expensive. This is where having travel insurance comes in handy.
Travel insurance can help offset these unforeseen circumstances, which are often beyond our control. While it’s usually available as an add-on via travel agencies, it can be limiting and is usually not as updated compared to online companies.
With that said, in this article, we will explain why purchasing travel insurance online is a better alternative, especially if you’re on a tight budget. We will highlight its benefits as well as other helpful information you can use when you purchase travel insurance online.
Why Purchase Travel Insurance?
Before we dive into why you should purchase travel insurance online, let’s first go into why you need travel insurance in the first place.
As mentioned, having travel insurance can help you when unexpected events like flight delays or cancellations, medical emergencies, and even lost luggage happen. Aside from this, here are some of the other benefits of having travel insurance:
Helps offset the costs of these circumstances
We can’t plan for everything and unforeseen circumstances like the ones mentioned above can be extremely costly to cover, especially as out-of-pocket expenses. Having travel insurance can offset the costs of these events, ensuring you don’t lose all of your money while out of town.
Gives you that much-needed peace of mind
The last thing you need to have on your mind while you’re miles away from home is worrying about what will you do if something happens. Even seasoned travellers can encounter problems and travel insurance can help you have some peace of mind and enjoy your trip.
Speeds up the processes needed when something happens
Unexpected events aren’t just expensive – they can be a major hassle to deal with as well. When you have travel insurance, it can help expedite the processes you need to undergo in case of emergencies like lost passports or luggage.
Benefits of Buying Travel Insurance Online
Now that we have established the importance of having travel insurance, we can now get into the details of why buying travel insurance online is often better than the alternative.
Convenience
It’s undeniable just how convenient and accessible the internet has made everything. Nowadays, we can process everything online – from researching the necessary information to even financial transactions.
With the ease of access the internet has provided, you can now buy travel insurance online as well, allowing you to skip the long lines and receiving almost instantaneous feedback during every step of the process.
Buying travel insurance online allows you to browse and compare different insurance companies and directly apply and pay for your chosen insurance – all in the comfort of your own home.
Accurate and real-time prices
The internet never sleeps which is why it’s easy to update all the information needed, allowing clients like yourself to receive up to date travel insurance quotes when it comes to your specific trip.
Since these details are updated almost from second to second, they are more accurate than the quotes you will receive from travel agencies. This applies whether you’re using a comparison engine or checking out the prices on the company website itself.
By buying travel insurance online, you can select the best policy for your budget, preventing you from paying more than what you have to.
Complete access to your policy details
Another reason why purchasing travel insurance online is better is the fact that it allows you to access your insurance policy anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re accessing it at home or when you’re already halfway across the world, as long as you have access to the internet, you can access your policy information.
In addition, most companies offering travel insurance provide a special area wherein policyholders can access and review their coverage as well as allow them to view their emergency contact information in the event something happens.
Customer empowerment
Because you can easily view different travel insurance policies online and compare them, this will allow you to make a more informed decision before you make your purchase. By doing this online, you eliminate the need to rely on a travel agent whose vested interests can limit the information given to you, therefore, empowering you as a client.
Increased transparency
Similar to empowering you as a client, purchasing travel insurance online promote improved transparency in transactions since the insurance company can no longer hide anything from you. You will receive all the information you need before buying, allowing you to be fully informed when making a decision.
More options to choose from
The internet has allowed us to have almost the entire collection of mankind’s knowledge at our fingertips. This applies to when buying travel insurance online. Not only will you have all the information you need, but you will also have more options to choose from as well.
This gives you additional freedom and wiggle room, allowing you to choose the best travel insurance provider that best suits your needs and budget. You no longer have to be limited to what’s physically accessible to you since there is an extensive range of options to choose from.
Easy background check and comparison
Another benefit of buying travel insurance online is the fact that it’s now easy to check the reputation of your chosen provider, allowing you to view whether or not their services are worthwhile.
In addition to this, you can also use this information to compare each company against once another and choose the best one for your trip. There are even comparison engines that allow you to view the pros and cons of each company in one convenient location.
Tips on How to Purchase Travel Insurance Online
Everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and the same applies to purchase travel insurance online. To help with your decision, here are some tips when opting for purchasing travel insurance online.
- Identify the coverage you need before you look for a travel insurance company. This will make your search easier and less of a hassle.
- Check out the things already covered by your bank or home insurance policy. This will save you on costs as it prevents you from paying for what’s already covered.
- Make use of comparison engines to find the best deal for your trip. They typically reflect up to date policies for your trip.
- Research your chosen company carefully. Read up on reviews from fellow travellers and check out how comprehensive their policies and services are.
- Read the details of your chosen coverage carefully. This is because some companies exclude certain age groups and medical conditions, rendering the policy useless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Doesn’t my health insurance cover my medical expenses even abroad?
They do but most do not cover the entirety of your medical expenses. This is because most health insurance policies only offer partial to zero coverage of your medical expenses when out of the country. Some countries offer “universal” health care and they can cover minor expenses, but they’re not required by law to do so.
Doesn’t my credit card also provide travel insurance as well?
In a way, it does, but it’s not as comprehensive as a dedicated travel insurance policy. Credit cards that provide travel insurance can only cover your expenses to a certain amount, unlike a separate travel insurance policy.
While it can cover cancellations, interruptions, and travel delays, it only does so to a certain extent. Moreover, the majority of credit card providers don’t cover medical expenses or evacuations.
If I have a pre-existing condition, will I still be covered?
Yes, since there are already numerous plans that provide a waiver to remove the exclusion. However, there are certain conditions, namely:
- You need to be insured for the full cost of the trip.
- You need to purchase the plan immediately or soon after your first payment for your trip.
- You need clearance that you’re medically fit to travel at the time of your purchase.
Final Thoughts
The innovation that led to the improvement of our transportation methods has allowed us to enjoy the opportunities and experiences presented by travelling. These improvements have also paved the way for more budget-friendly travel options, giving opportunities to more people to go beyond their immediate neighbourhood and explore.
However, unexpected things can happen such as accidents or lost items – things that are often beyond our control. This is why having a travel insurance policy is important, especially for trips abroad.
The convenience of the internet has allowed given us more options when it comes to the selection and purchase of travel insurance, offering enhanced transparency and comprehensive information, empowering us as clients.
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