With the summer holidays upon us and COVID-19 restrictions a thing of the past, most teachers are jetting off on long vacations. Before you do the same, ask yourself: Am I adequately insured for my trip?

I completely understand teachers being swamped with work ahead of the summer holidays, and not wanting to worry about travel insurance. You may forget about securing travel insurance and be more eager to plan your summer adventure - especially now that you don’t need to do PCR tests or quarantine. Or you may just google travel insurance and buy the first policy you come across. 

Either way, I’m here to tell you that it’s not worth overlooking something as important as travel insurance. A holiday is meant to be a relaxing, stress-free time away from work. But it can quickly turn into a nightmare if anything goes wrong and you’re faced with sky-high medical bills or an insurer that refuses to pay them. 

So where do you begin in your hunt for travel insurance? Using the below checklist I’ve devised, you can get a better idea of what elements to consider when looking for, comparing, and securing travel insurance plans. 

1. How often do you plan to travel in the coming year?

If you’re only going on this one trip, then you should get a single policy. This will cover you from the start to the end of your trip. For those planning to travel throughout the year, it’s more cost-efficient to get an annual policy. This will cover you from the date of purchase and last a full 12 months, covering multiple trips during this period. 

Planning to get a single policy to cover only one trip? It’s advisable to secure travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked flights, hotels, and activities you plan to do on the trip. Doing so ensures that you’re covered in the event that your trip is canceled under the terms and conditions listed out in your policy. 

2. What countries are you planning on visiting?

Another important aspect to consider is the geographical area of coverage. If you’re planning to visit a single country, multiple countries within a region, or multiple countries throughout the world, then you can get travel insurance for those particular areas. This is why you may need travel insurance even though you already have a health insurance plan for a specific country. 

Be prepared for insurance premiums to vary significantly depending on your destinations. Some countries such as the USA are known for their exorbitant cost of medical care, which is reflected in travel insurance plans for the country. Do bear this in mind when planning and budgeting for your trip. 

Going on a cruise at any point during your travels? Make sure you get additional cruise cover. 

3. Will you be in any remote area or areas with limited access to good healthcare?

Medical evacuation is an important element of travel insurance plans. It typically covers the cost of air ambulance/transportation services and medical escorts from your current location to a third country or your home country in the event that the medical care you require isn’t available near you. 

While you should make sure you have medical evacuation coverage regardless of where you’re going, it’s especially important if you’re visiting somewhere rural, remote, or areas with an underdeveloped healthcare system. This is because the nearest adequate medical facility might be a flight away. 

4. Are you planning on doing any adventure sports or risky activities?

Don’t assume that you can get just any plain old travel insurance if you’re planning on skiing, bungee jumping, skydiving, or taking part in any other adventure sport or activity that’s deemed risky by insurers. This is because taking part in these activities typically makes you more likely to injure yourself and require a trip to the hospital. 

Don't worry - it doesn’t mean that no insurer will cover you if you want to take part in adventure sports or risky activities. It is indeed possible to find suitable coverage - you just have to make sure that the activity you plan to do isn’t excluded by the insurer. You can find these in the ‘exclusions’ section in the insurance policy’s terms and conditions. 

5.  Do you have any pre-existing conditions?

And last, but not least, is pre-existing conditions. These are conditions that you have before securing the travel insurance plan. It’s very important to honestly declare any pre-existing conditions you have or treatment that you’re undergoing. Insurers take this very seriously and failure to disclose these conditions constitutes insurance fraud and your claim might be rejected. 

Some examples of pre-existing conditions include:

• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Lung and breathing conditions
• Kidney diseases

With so much to consider before securing travel insurance, I highly recommend working with a brokerage like Pacific Prime Thailand. We can provide complimentary consultations and impartial advice, and help you find the best plan for your needs and budgets. We’re also on hand to support you with claims and insurer liaisons so you can focus on enjoying your holiday. 

Feel free to email me at ajarn@pacificprime.co.th or contact my team at Pacific Prime Thailand.