3 types of insurance to consider when traveling abroad

Travel medical insurance, on the other hand, covers eligible medical expenses, medical evacuation, and more in additionto providing supplemental travel benefits, such as lost checked luggage and travel delay.

Brussels, Belgium – March 16, 2016: Belgian soldiers on patrol in European Parliament zone due to a raised level of a possible terror attack in Brussels. (Photo: iStock)

Terrorism coverage

A travel medical insurance policy that includes a terrorism benefit is one of the ways to ensure you are covered if there is a terrorist attack.

A terrorism benefit may cover eligible medical expenses for treatment of injuries and illnesses resulting from an act of terrorism and can be purchased through a travel medical insurance policy or other travel insurance, something those traveling in 1970 could not have imaged as a necessity.

"Since the acts of terror are unpredictable, there is an ever-growing need to put protections like terrorism coverage in place before traveling internationally. Terrorism coverage provides financial security in the event of a terrorist attack, as many standard travel medical insurance policies do not provide protection for injuries sustained during acts of terror," Carney explained.

Today, this benefit is more essential than ever. However, terrorism coverage is not a standard benefit through all travel-related insurance policies, so reading policy documents and asking questions is warranted.

After reading the policy documents, if you still do not understand the coverage offered, ask questions like:  What is and is not covered under this policy? How do I activate my benefits in the event of a terrorist attack while abroad, and what sorts of attacks are considered "acts of terror"? Asking these questions will ensure you know what to do and what to expect from your insurance company in the event of a terrorist attack.

Furthermore, this benefit may not offer coverage in countries where a U.S. State Department travel warning has been issued, but is extremely valuable in other countries where there is a chance of an occurrence but no general reason to expect one. Keep in mind, countries that are covered will vary depending on the company from which the policy is purchased.

Additional protections

There are many additional benefits of purchasing a travel medical plan aside from a terrorism coverage-like benefit. A good policy will offer 24/7 assistance and cover medical expenses due to unexpected illness or injury. These policies may also offer the following additional protections:

• Emergency medical evacuation
• Repatriation of remains
• Local burial or cremation
• Common carrier accidental death
• Emergency reunion
• Crisis response-ransom, personal belongings, and associated fees/expenses
• Political evacuation
• Return of minor children personal liability

Two prime examples of situations in which a terrorism coverage would apply are the horrific attack that occurred in Nice, France, in July, when a man deliberately drove his cargo truck into a crowd, killing 84 and injuring 308, and when a teenager with German/Iranian citizenship shot and killed nine people and wounded more than 15 at a shopping center in Munich, Germany.

"It is my hope that we begin to see a decline in terrorist attacks. Until then, insurers need to keep adapting our policies so they provide the maximum coverage for our policyholders and the necessary protections in the event of a terrorist attack," Carney said.  

Eric (Ric) Starost is assistant vice president of marketing at Tokio Marine HCC – MIS Group, a provider of travel medical and international student insurance headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. Tokio Marine HCC – MIS Group is a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies.