Travel for business or leisure has increased many folds over the last decade. At the same time unforeseen risks that come with travel has also increased due to several unforeseen reasons. Business travelers are mostly shielded from uncertainties because their companies take care of travel insurance or they have local points of contact to help them in case of emergencies. Tourists are generally exposed to the risks that come along with travel but many of them are unaware of the dangers and usually do not bother to buy travel insurance before they set out to travel.
The common risk that you might face as a traveler is the loss of luggage, money and vital travel documents like tickets and passport. In this situation immediate help is required as family member's back home need to be informed and embassy representatives have to be contacted. If you manage to contact the embassy all they can do is inform your family back home and your family members will have to bear the burden of managing the logistics of helping you get back home. The embassy does not pay for repatriation which essentially means sending the distraught traveler home. However insurance for travel is useful in such times as it can cover majority of costs associated with the logistics.
Another problem which majority of the travelers face is health risks and illness due to change in place and environment. This is more common with people who are not used to travelling. The cost of medical facilities varies from country to country and can be very expensive at times. You would definitely not want to spend your entire travel budget on medical problems. If you select an insurance policy that covers medical care for commonly occurring problems, you can save a lot of money.
Next is a problem issue is accidents. Accidents can happen with anyone and may lead to temporary or permanent disability or death in extreme cases. The cost of flying a patient in an ambulance car across the world is very expensive and should never be left to chance. The costs can wipe out the savings of a family member in the absence of insurance. This is probably the single most important reason why you should never ignore insurance for travel.
Other problems that you could face as a traveler are legal problems or accidental involvement in unlawful activities. There may be a need to hire a lawyer which is normally an expensive proposition around the world. Your insurance can also help cover some of your legal expenses.
As a traveler you should remember that travel insurance for a single trip is one of the least expensive types of insurance. It always makes sense to pay for the insurance else you may have to spend unimaginable amounts in situations that you are not prepared for. While purchasing travel insurance do read between the lines to ensure that the cover is available for lost luggage, accident, illness, legal expenses, repatriation and ambulance car service. These options will keep you shielded from a number of issues.
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