Travel Deals And Articles

What Happens If I Have No Travel Insurance And Take Ill?

Consider the worst-case scenario of an older person having their first, massive heart attack while on holiday in the U.S.A. Repatriation may not be possible, which could mean prolonged - and very expensive - treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital. The hospital bill could easily run into hundreds of thousands of pounds - which should be covered if you have a good travel insurance policy, subject to their terms and conditions.

Or imagine this - you walk into Bloomingdales in New York and visit their china department. You knock over a large, expensive vase which falls to the floor and breaks into a million pieces - and also breaks the toe of the shopper next to you. Your travel insurance policy should cover legal liability, accidental injury to third parties and damage to their property. Travel insurance policies vary, so make sure you read your policy document for the exact levels of cover.

The young, fearless, and healthy may feel their immune systems are strong enough to fight off any bugs or diseases. It's easy to be blas? and feel invincible when you're sitting comfortably at home dreaming of the adventures to come. No one wants to imagine themselves or a family member ill or hurt and lying in a hospital bed in a foreign country. At least with a good insurance policy, you'll have the security of knowing that help is at hand. More important - you won't be left to bear all the medical expenses alone. No pun intended - but they could be crippling.

You don't have to go bungee jumping or engage in extreme sports to get hurt. Accidents can happen in simpler ways such as tripping, falling down steps, engaging in ordinary sporting activities or road accidents. The medical costs can be exorbitant. Repatriation costs to the UK could set you back thousands. For instance:

Transport by air ambulance, or with a medical escort, from the United States could cost anything from ?10,000 to ?30,000

An emergency flight home from Tenerife or Majorca could set you back anything from ?10-15,000!

When purchasing travel insurance (through an agent or online) you will be asked to complete a medical screening process for each person named on the policy. If you have not been asked to do this you should walk (or click) away! It's vital that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions at the time you purchase your travel insurance otherwise any associated claims may be invalidated. If unsure, call and ask for clarification.

If you plan to travel within the EEC don't be lulled into a false sense of security by thinking the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) will provide total cover. The EHIC should be viewed as a supplement to your travel insurance policy - not as a substitute for it. In the major tourist areas of Europe the chances are high that you'd be taken to a private hospital - not a state hospital - which would not recognize the EHIC. This would leave you personally responsible for the bill unless you have travel insurance.

As with any insurance policy there will be exclusions and you need to know what they are -- so always read the small print! Exclusions will probably include alcohol or drug-related incidents, terrorism, acts of nature, and participating in high-risk sports without special cover. There should always be a cooling off period to cancel if you feel the insurance cover is not right for you.

Being armed with water purifiers, insect repellents, antibacterial wipes, and taking care with the food and drinks you consume may not be enough. Biting insects - especially mosquitoes - are one of the main causes of disease transmission in many countries. There are other nasties you may not think about - such as parasites (often in freshwater pools), jellyfish, and ticks which can transfer onto your clothing when out hiking or camping. You may need to use public lavatories at some time during your trip and hygiene standards are not always up to the standards we are used to! Debilitating stomach bugs (Delhi belly, Tourist trots, Montezuma's revenge, etc.) can be contracted through unsanitary food handling. E.coli and other anti-fun bugs like to hide in contaminated food and water.

The simple answer is that deciding to 'pass' on travel insurance could mean potential disaster - personally and financially. The cost of a policy is a small price to pay for peace of mind. It doesn't guarantee that nothing bad will happen, but it does mean that you can thumb your nose at fate - and the bugs which might plot to spoil your holiday fun!

Jean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for TIA Ltd who offer travel insurance and quotes - http://www.travel-insurance.net

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Examples Of Vacation Deals Only Available Through A Travel Agency
Let's say you have all the time in the world, you don't mind a couple headaches, and you want to plan a full vacation yourself without any help from a travel agent. Sometimes, you actually don't need a travel agent. If you need a ticket on short notice, if you're making a very short trip and you don't really need to make a big production out of it, etc&

Virgin Vacations Offers United Kingdom and Europe Winter Travel Deals
Virgin Vacations offers extensive winter vacation deals to the UK and Europe with 6 Night London packages from $749 per person.

Singles Travel International Raises the Bar for Solo Travel with 2007 Trip Calendar
Singles Travel International (www.singlestravelintl.com) takes the lead once again in 2007 and offers the best in adventures for single adults who love to travel and explore. Enjoy the true singles experience through luxurious trips all over the world and meet other singles just like you. It's easy to choose from a variety of trips in the new 2007 Singles Travel International calendar and book right online.

Take Shelter from the Economy with Great Summer Travel Deals from Extended Stay HotelsSM : Travel Discounts of $25 - $200 Make Family Vacations More
Airlines may be canceling flights and gas prices may be on the rise, but travelers will still enjoy discount hotel rates this summer when they stay at any of Extended Stay Hotels? 680 affordable properties in the U.S. and Canada. Guests can save $25 off short stays, $50 off weeklong vacations and as much as $200 off longer trips. Visit ExtendedStay.com/SAVE or call 1-800-777-6685 to book these great summer travel deals by July 12 with promotional code ?save.?*

Smart Travel Tip: 7 Things To Look Out For When Dealing With A Travel Agency
Many people are looking at price when searching for a discount travel agency, however, there are some other things you need to watch out for that can save you time, money and headaches when using a travel agency to plan your trip.

Virgin Vacations Extends Fall and Winter Travel Deals
Take advantage of exclusive winter packages to the UK and Europe with six nights in London from $749 per person

Hawaii Plus Spring Vacation Equals Great Travel Deals and Experiences
Attractive Airline and Hotel Rates Offer Travelers Savings

Vacation Travel Survey: 79% Say Economy Impacting Travel Plans
A survey conducted by Adventurous Wench, a women's tour company based in Arizona, showed that the economy is having a significant negative impact on people's travel plans. Seventy-nine percent of respondents indicated that they would be cutting back and modifying vacation plans during the next two years.

Online Travel Companies Join Forces Inspiring Travelers with Exciting Vacation Ideas & Travel Deals
Dunhill Vacations Inc. a leading travel internet marketing company, and SoGoNow.com, the rapidly growing and award-winning online travel magazine, have announced a strategic alliance to help travelers research, plan and purchase their next vacation.

What To Take On Your Vacation Travel Deal
Packing is actually a general headache to a lot of those preparing for travel This is so because, more often then not, one finds himself/ herself bringing too many of the so called necessities although they are, at the end of the day, not

Travel-Hungry Consumers Use Value-Added Vacation Packages And Discounts To Make Great Vacations Possible
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Resorts Announce Value-Added Packages

ECHO River Trips Offers Great Vacation Deals on Idaho's Middle Fork
This summer looks to have the best river flows in over a decade due to a well above average snowpack in Idaho. Bookings are down for rafting trips on Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River so and outfitter is lowering prices to compensate for the poor economy and increased travel costs.

VirtualTourist.com Announces Launch of 'The Real Deal' Travel Deals Newsletter
VirtualTourist.com, one of the world's largest sources of unbiased, 100 percent user-generated travel content, launched The Real Deal newsletter this week. The newsletter, which will be sent to subscribers on a weekly basis, will contain deals related to all aspects of travel.

Vacation Using A Hotel Travel Deal Package
A real good vacation is not all about the spots to visit, nor the things to do At the end of the day it boils down to real enjoyment and comfort that you've always longed for