Many people leave on a trip convinced that nothing will happen to them during their stay. With such conviction, they forego taking out travel insurance. However, even the smallest injury can be costly abroad, which is why it's so important to be covered against the unexpected. Read on for a closer look at how to choose travel insurance and the main options available to you.
What are the criteria for choosing travel insurance?
Many travellers believe that travel insurance is unnecessary. However, it's clear that it's impossible to anticipate every possible risk. To travel with peace of mind and in good conditions, it would be wise to take out travel insurance. This procedure is essential to cover all situations. The choice of this contract is not so simple. That's why there are a number of points to consider before choosing your travel insurance.
Factors that influence prices
Price is certainly one of the most important selection criteria for many travellers. It's important to know that a number of factors influence the price of travel insurance. Age is the most important factor: The older the traveler, the greater the risk. As a result, the cost of insurance increases. From the age of 70 onwards, it becomes increasingly difficult to find a travel insurance company willing to insure the traveller. Rates also vary according to the duration of the trip. In fact, it's a good idea to opt for an insurer that offers a sliding-scale rate.
Third-party liability and repatriation
During your trip, you may cause damage to another person. Whether the damage is material or immaterial, opt for third-party liability insurance would be an ideal solution to cover these costs.
A rarer occurrence, the need to be repatriated can take place. In such a situation, it's best to include this provision in the travel insurance contract, as the cost of such a procedure is enormous.
Special provisions
Travelling is an ideal time to take part in activities such as diving, parachuting, paragliding, kitesurfing, etc.. However, most insurance policies do not cover these extreme sports, even though they present a high level of risk. So if you're planning this kind of activity, it's a good idea to opt for a solution tailored to the nature of the sport you'll be doing. That way, you can travel with peace of mind.
If you plan to ride a two-wheelerIf you are planning to travel, you need to take out travel insurance that will covers scooter accidents. The latter are more common in South Asian countries. Also, be sure to choose an option that covers expenses incurred during pregnancy, if you or a member of your family is pregnant. This extension of coverage helps cover medical expenses in the event of complications.
Expenses covered
A travel insurance policy covers certain expenses incurred during a trip. These vary from one contract to another, depending on a number of factors. For this reason, it's important to check medical expenses covered during the trip. Not all insurances offer the same reimbursement ceiling, which varies according to the destination. Generally speaking, insurers offer special coverage for in the United States and Canada. These two countries have very high medical costs compared with other countries. So if you choose these destinations, make sure they are included in your travel insurance policy.
Another point to check is whether your insurer will reimburse you up to the 1st euro or if it is a social security top-up.
Options to include
Before taking out a travel insurance policy, you need to think about the options and coverages to be included. If you're planning to carry your luggage in the cabin, there's no point in opting for a luggage insurance. On the other hand, the latter is of great importance if you have valuables or computer equipment. In this case, it's a good idea to check the terms of your contract, and always carry your invoices with you. You should also check the conditions for reimbursement in the event of loss, theft or damage.
If you've decided to leave at the last minute and have opted for a "last minute" booking, it might be pointless to choose another option. trip cancellation insurance.
Is my credit card insurance enough?
Many banks offer credit card travel insurance. If you buy your plane ticket or make your hotel reservation with your card, it is possible to benefit from coverage.
Indeed, with Visa or MasterCardThese cards offer a number of advantages in a selection of countries. In addition, users of these cards may be entitled to repatriation assistance, death and disability insurance, and coverage of certain medical expenses. However, credit card insurance is not enough because it's very limited. The list of destination countries is very limited. What's more, coverage is limited to the first 90 days of your stay. Medical expenses are reimbursed in addition to social security. This option carries a high deductible in the event of a claim.
Covid: the importance of travel insurance coverage
When traveling, it's important to take out all the necessary cover against unforeseen events and potential risks. This measure is increasingly necessary in the case of the Covid 19 pandemic. To this end, insurers have put in place guarantees for this health situation. These include in particular medical and hospitalization expenses. As a result, if the traveler picks up the Covid virus during his or her stay, the insurer will reimburse ambulance, hospitalization and medical expenses and fees.x. And don't forget that some countries require covid on travel insurance.
The best travel insurances
Choosing insurance is not the most fun part of planning a trip. Especially since there are so many companies offering this type of coverage. The choice is becoming increasingly difficult. In this section, we invite you to compare the offers of different insurers.
Chapka
Founded in 2002, this insurance company offers packages tailored to both private and business travelers. It also offers products for a wide range of travel styles: study abroad, PVT, backpack... Chapka has been able to design a range of coverages to cope with all eventualities during a stay abroad. It covers you with a limited budget. What's more, the offer is presented clearly and precisely. This helps you understand the terms of the contract and any exclusions.
This company offers a wide range of products, from travel insurance for stays of less than three months, through to round-the-world tours, including trips for expatriates or people on short-term contracts. The rates offered by this insurance are in line with those charged by other insurers. Coverage, deductibles and ceilings are much more attractive with Chapka.
Get a 5% discount at Chapka Assurances
Allianz
Formerly known as Mondial assistance, Allianz insurance company offers a wide range of products and services for travelers of all types, and at various levels of financial outlay.. This insurer is recognized for its management quality. This is a very important asset, especially when the traveler encounters problems abroad. The offers proposed by this company are very in terms of coverage.
Customers of this insurance company especially appreciate the ease of use of its website. In addition to being responsive, this insurer's customer service team provides relevant and sound advice. If this company's prices are a little higher than the average of its competitorsshe presents the advantage of local service. In fact, this insurer has a large network of branches. So it's easy to find a local advisor to discuss your needs.
Axa
Axa travel insurance offers a number of advantages. It is distinguished by clarity of offers and by variety of formulas to suit all traveler profiles. The short-stay option is particularly popular, thanks to the guarantees it offers. Seniors can be easily insured at affordable prices, with no rate increases.. With this company, he is easier to travel to countries like the USA and Australia, where medical costs are very high. For these destinations, Axa offers very high coverage limits.
With this insurer, travellers can take advantage of the Sports Leisure. Thanks to the latter, it is possible to cover people and equipment such as hyperbaric chambers. However, Axa offers basic packages without third-party liability and cancellation option. As a result, travellers are obliged to take out packages with higher levels of cover.
AVI
This travel insurance allows its user to benefit from extensive international coverage. In fact, this insurer's offer is satisfactory in several respects: number of guarantees included, processing times, quality of customer service, compensation ceilings, etc.
AVI travel insurance is a solution with many advantages. First, you're entitled to coverage of medical expenses from the first euro, with no deductible. In certain situations, the insurer will pay abroad on your behalf. So you don't have to pay in advance. In other respects, compensation ceilings of โฌ300,000 for people under 61 years of age for destinations outside Europe. This insurer's assistance team is multilingual. It handles your requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The disadvantage of this option is the absence of a cancellation guarantee. So if you can't go abroad for any reason, you can't be compensated.
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