Navigating insurance before leaving on that jet plane

Winter months can be the time to get away from the harsh wind and snow.

But there are many things people should know before they head out to the sun and sand.

Buying insurance before traveling is something that is affordable and can save the traveler a lot of grief, said Maureen Johnson and Leslie Vanderlinde of Accent Insurance Services.  What the traveler gets out of it overrides the cost, said Johnson.

“You go to the United States and wind up in the hospital, you’re probably looking at thousands and thousands of dollars,” says Johnson.

“You’ll pay for that forever as opposed to paying $40 up front to have travel insurance and not have that worry if something happens.”

Even the minor things like minor accidents and precriptions can be covered and additional add-ons can be discussed before departure.
Knowing what is covered in an insurance policy is also an important part of making sure there are no surprises. Talking to an insurance provider on what is covered is very important.

The traveler must be in a stable medical state before leaving. John son said that this does not mean not feeling well,  but if doctors make a change to a drug plan, orders an EKG or orders blood work, this could spell a denied claim while they travel. The final say is not their doctor; it is the insurance company.

“Your doctor can tell you, ‘Yes, go travel,’ but he doesn’t know the actual wording (of your insurance policy),” Johnson said.

This state of medical stability varies between agencies and plans. Before having any medical care done, the traveler needs to ask the insurance provider if this would change their coverage in any way. What a doctor says does not override a policy, Vanderlinde said.

“People think that their doctor’s opinion overrides the wording of the policy, in which it isn’t true,” she said.

Pre-existing conditions does not mean the end of traveling.  As long as the condition and treatment has not changed for the allotted period of time, someone is considered stable medically, said Johnson.

Having a condition does not mean not being covered for other things.  Insurance companies may not cover episodes pertaining to the condition, but if someone with a heart condition breaks their leg, the cost to fix the leg is covered.

“It’s only the condition that’s excluded, not the policy,” she said.

Vacationing is a time for trying new things. But risky behaviour is not something that is covered under travel insurance.

“People go on holidays and they drink more, they will do things they typically would not do,” Johnson said. “Know what you have and be very careful.”

If there are any questions about a policy, ask before buying. Anyone over 18 traveling must have their own policy, even if they are covered under the parents’ plan. Dependent children under the age of 18 are always covered under the parents plan.

Don’t think about insurance just for those big week-long trips to Cancun. Even a few days in Alberta can incur huge costs if something happens.

“You don’t think about going to Alberta and needing to be air-vac’d, (which) is not going to be covered…you should have extra insurance traveling in Canada,” she said.

Getting coverage before departure is another mistake the women of Accent have seen. Travel insurance must be in place before leaving, including the date of leaving and the date of return.

“You don’t want to be on the road and calling us saying you left yesterday and I need coverage for yesterday,” Vanderlinde said.

Having protection in place before leaving for your home and property is another important part of traveling. Having someone to check the home and property at least on a daily basis is required by insurance companies, Johnson said.

Not having any visible signs of being gone is also important for securing the home and property.

“You don’t want it to be obvious you are gone,” Vanderlinde said.

Being gone for a week is different than being done for the winter, says Johnson. That can change the policy, she says.

“Then maybe you’re not living full-time in your home; maybe now your cabin at the lake has become your principal residence,” Johnson said. “Let your insurance advisor know what you’re doing and they will tell you, ‘You need to do these things in order to be covered.’”

It’s up to the homeowner to make sure their place is secure before they go. Insurance only covers accidents.