Sun, Surf, and 911

With the summer season finally upon us many are planning summer getaways.  We pack our swimsuit, golf clubs, sunscreen, bug sprays, and all the other vitals, but how many are heading out without proper travel insurance?

If you are traveling outside of your province of residence you NEED to have travel insurance.  As we all know accidents and unplanned illness can happen to anyone at anytime, even you.  It is bad enough if we are in a car accident when we are home, but when it happens when we are traveling it can cause us a lot of extra financial grief.  An unexpected illness like a heart attack, or even something as simple as food poisoning, can cost more than you ever imagined.

Good travel insurance is cheap and something you never want to be without.  There are three main issuers of travel insurance and they are:  Group insurance, credit cards, and stand alone travel insurance.  Here are a few questions to ask when evaluating travel insurance:

1.  Is the coverage pay direct or is it a reimbursement plan?

2.  Does the insurance company have to be notified before seeking medical treatment or within 24 hours of an incident or hospitalization in order for the insurance to be valid?

3.  How does the company treat pre-existing conditions?

4.  What is the coverage limit?

5.  Does it cover you when doing "fun" activities such as scuba diving?

6.  Does it cover non-medical expenses such as travel and expenses for a family member to be with you if needed?

"I never thought about it until I broke my leg and realized I have to get insurance, ... The more I was traveling and doing work I realized I did need that, basically to protect my investment, which is myself."

      Scott Shaw