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Types of Travel Insurance Policy

For many people travel insurance used to be one of those last minute emergency things that they did before they went on a trip, like checking their passport was still in date and making sure they had cancelled the milk.

Covid has changed all that, in ways that are likely to stay with us all for many years to come. The uncertainty that Covid created in the world order, has made travel insurance a key element of peoples freedom to resume travelling, and explore the regions of the world in a safe and secure manner.

Main Benefits of travel insurance include :

Travel insurance benefits vary by country and geographic area, typically aligned with distinct coverage zones. Generally, coverage areas are categorized to reflect regional risks and healthcare systems, affecting what benefits travelers receive.

For example, some policies cover “United Kingdom Only,” limiting benefits mostly to UK-based travel. In contrast, “Europe” coverage usually includes countries west of the Ural Mountains, Mediterranean-bordering countries, and certain islands such as the Canary Islands and Iceland. Travel insurance in this zone often includes emergency medical treatment, repatriation, and coverage for accidents or illnesses while traveling within these countries.

Coverage labeled “Australia and New Zealand” often allows for brief stopovers anywhere globally, with extended coverage if traveling for longer than two months. This zone typically emphasizes medical expenses, emergency transport, and repatriation for travelers in these countries.

Worldwide coverage generally splits into “Worldwide Excluding North America” and “Worldwide Including North America.” North America coverage includes the USA, Canada, and Mexico, reflecting the notably higher costs of medical care in those countries. Benefits for worldwide plans usually cover medical expenses broadly, including emergency evacuation, repatriation, hospital stays, and some kinds of trip disruption.

Many travel insurance policies also cover special cases such as cruises, where additional cover may be necessary due to limited hospital access. Important benefits often to look for include emergency medical treatment, transport costs like ambulances, repatriation in case of death or serious illness, support for family members to travel or stay with the insured, and sometimes coverage for pre-existing conditions if declared.

Insurance in different geographic areas may differ in terms of maximum trip length covered, activities insured (such as adventure sports), and whether transit locations are covered. Travelers are advised to ensure their coverage matches all areas they intend to visit, including stopovers and any multi-destination travel plans.

Overall, travel insurance benefits vary by country and area mainly based on regional healthcare costs, travel risks, and policy design to meet those specific conditions. The best travel insurance balances coverage needs with travel destinations to provide protection against health emergencies, trip disruption, and unforeseen events.

The main types of Travel Insurance include :