The Top 5 Most Overlooked Benefits of Travel Insurance

MIAMI, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether you have purchased travel insurance before or just buying it for the first time, InsureandGo wants to help travelers make smart decisions when choosing a travel insurance plan.

"One of the most overlooked benefits when comparing travel insurance policies is primary vs.  secondary coverage," explains Frank Trigo, General Manager of InsureandGo. The vast majority of travel insurance policies offer secondary medical coverage which is coverage in excess of all other valid and collectible insurance.  For example, if you already have a private or group health plan in effect, then the travel insurance medical policy with secondary medical will only pay the expenses in excess or over the amount covered by the other primary health insurance policy that you have at home.

Purchasing travel insurance with secondary coverage could have bigger consequences in the treatment that you might receive as well as the inconvenience. This can result in the traveler incurring out of pocket expenses, and then seeking reimbursement from their health insurance company back home. You could also risk receiving inferior care in a foreign country due to your ability to pay or even worse being denied medical care altogether. It may be worth paying a few extra dollars to get primary medical coverage.

Some cheaper policies may have higher medical coverage limits but if the coverage is secondary, that high limit might not be as valuable as a primary policy with a lower limit. Frank Trigo also states, "With primary coverage, you won't have to jump through hoops to find out if your private or group health care plan will cover you when travelling internationally, you won't have to incur out of pocket expenses and you won't risk being denied medical care in a foreign country due to payment. Isn't that why you purchased the travel insurance policy in the first place?"

Baggage and personal property is another benefit to consider. Most travelers think that this coverage only applies to baggage that is lost, stolen or damaged by the airline or carrier when in fact many policies cover your personal property regardless of where the loss occurs: be it in a cafe, on a tour or from your hotel room.  But be advised, many policies do not cover electronics such as tablets, phones or computers so it's important to check each policy carefully under the Baggage and Personal property section. For example InsureandGo USA's new Platinum Plan covers loss, theft or damage to personal electronic devices such as tablets, smart phones and laptops.

If you don't think Medical Evacuation is a relevant benefit, think again. The cost of getting airlifted from a cruise ship or flown to a hospital in air ambulance for care is astronomical. "Travelers should look for policies that have a minimum of $100,000 in medical evacuation," suggests Trigo. Also, the travel insurance company will make all the arrangements with the provider which is a tremendous benefit in itself.

Transportation of beside support person in case you are hospitalized is another overlooked benefit. Imagine you are hospitalized and alone in a foreign country. A good travel insurance policy will cover the costs to bring a person selected by you to your bedside if you are hospitalized for seven consecutive days.

24 hr. Emergency Travel Assistance is one of the most valuable but under marketed benefit of a travel insurance policy, urges Trigo. In an emergency situation, the travel assistance service which is part of most policies kicks in. The company can coordinate all aspects of your emergency such as directing you to a proper medical facility, guarantying your admittance, coordinating care, monitoring your condition and keeping loved ones back home apprised. Good travel assistance providers have local resources on the ground to help you and agreements in place with reputable doctors and hospitals to get you the best care possible. - It's like having someone looking after your best interests when you are in a foreign country.

For more information travel insurance provided by InsureandGo USA, call (888)491-9596 to speak with a travel specialist or visit http://www.insureandgousa.com.

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SOURCE InsureandGo