Journeywoman - Test Your Travel Insurance IQ

Question One...

Emergency Medical insurance was designed for only one reason -- to help you cope financially with unexpected health problems when you are travelling.

Answer: B -- False

Explanation: While it's true that Emergency Medical insurance was designed to help you cope financially with unexpected health problems, there is another very important aspect to this plan that many travellers aren't aware of. Travel insurance can be your friend in need when the unexpected does occur. Many travel insurance medical plans come with an emergency assistance phone number. In a crisis they can answer questions like: Where can you find a good doctor? What if they speak a different language? Are these medical facilities safe? What if you have to be air ambulanced to another hospital? Who will contact your family if you can't? It is wise to make sure that your particular policy has this emergency assistance option.

Question Two...

I want insurance protection for my trip in the event I can't travel on the date I planned to. The type of insurance I want is:

Answer: A -- Trip Cancellation & Interruption

Explanation: An unexpected illness might prevent you from travelling on the dates you planned or a death or accident in your immediate family could cause you to cut your trip short and return home earlier. Trip Cancellation insurance will pay you the non-refundable portion of your trip (i.e. if you've pre-paid for your hotel) and it will make the adjustments necessary to your airline ticket as well (i.e. if you must travel home immediately, there will be no extra costs on your new ticket). You may, however, be required to pay the additional charges on your airline ticket up front and your insurance company will reimburse you later. Always check the fine print of your policy for particular details.

Question Three...

Part of my trip involves cave exploring. Will emergency medical insurance pay for my claim in the event I injure myself while doing this activity?

Answer: C -- Better check the fine print

Explanation: Some policies exclude specific sporting activities from coverage. Spelunking or cave exploring, is viewed by some insurance policies as a hazardous sport and may not be covered by an emergency medical plan. Other activities that may be excluded are mountaineering, parachuting, skydiving, bungee jumping, etc. If you want to be sure, check the policy's fine print or ask the insurance company directly if you're covered.

Question Four...

My 11 month old daughter has raspy breathing and seems to be running a fever. We're in a hotel in London, England. I have emergency medical insurance for both of us. What should I do?

Answer: A. Call the hotel doctor
B. Call the Emergency Assistance number

Explanation: While we won't presume to administer treatment advice for a potentially sick child, we do recommend the first two options. Fortunately, since you are in London, you probably won't have much difficulty finding a hotel doctor or local physician. But what if you weren't? What if you didn't know the language? What if you didn't know the local customs or practices, let alone where to find a doctor? Even if you found a medical facility, how can you be sure you can trust the prescribed treatment? This is the exact time you should be using your emergency assistance telephone number. They will offer the support and advice that you need. P.S. We're glad that you have chosen insurance for both you and your daughter. Children are not automatically covered if one of their parents has purchased an emergency medical plan.

Question Five...

I have to take prescription medicine every day. If I run out while I'm travelling, will emergency medical insurance pay for the refill?

Answer: B -- No

Explanation: You will not be paid for prescriptions that you should have filled at home. A prescription refill is generally considered an "expected cost" rather than an "unexpected cost" by most insurance plans and, rightfully so. Your trip planning should involve taking the right amount of prescription medication with you when you travel. However, in the event that you do need a refill, there are two things you should know: - Remember that emergency assistance telephone number we were talking about earlier? Use it! While the insurance won't pay your bill, the assistance service can help you find a doctor or pharmacy to assist you in getting your prescription refilled. - If you're covered by an employer group plan in your home country, the costs for the refill may be covered under your general prescription drug plan. Save your receipts, just in case.

**Question Six...**
I'm six months pregnant and will be travelling for two weeks in another country. Will emergency medical insurance cover me in the event I go into pre-mature labour? Answer: C -- Yes Explanation: Most emergency medical policies would view pregnancy complications as a covered emergency provided the pregnancy is in the first or second trimester. However, look for insurance restrictions regarding the length of pregnancy. Some plans will cover you up to eight or ten weeks from the expected due date, others may not cover you at all. (While I've never yet seen a policy that specifically excludes emergency charges with respect to pregnancy, it's always smart to check).

Question Seven...

I've heard the term pre-existing condition used a lot in insurance-speak. What does it mean?

Answer: A.-- A chronic medical condition

Explanation: Buyer beware! In an effort to control excess claims cost, insurance companies have introduced the concept of pre-existing conditions (P.E.C.). If you have a pre-existing condition, check this provision very, very carefully as the definition of a P.E.C. can vary from company to company. Some policies maintain that if your pre-existing condition is Can I go?

"stable and controlled" for a specified period of time, then these conditions would be covered. Some policies may not even have a pre-existing condition exclusion if you're only travelling on a short trip. It pays to ask a lot of questions and know exactly what you're getting.
P.S. Make sure that you always report your P.E.C. truthfully when you are purchasing your policy. It's far better to pay a higher premium and be fully covered than to lie about your condition and, then, not be covered at all.

Question Eight...

How do I know which is the best travel insurance policy to buy?

Answer: C -- Buy the one that best suits your needs

Explanation: Cheapest or most expensive is not the criteria you should use when selecting travel insurance. For example, if you only want trip cancellation Suitcase

insurance, don't choose a more expensive packaged-plan that includes other coverages such as medical coverage. Or, if you want every possible aspect covered (cancellation, health, baggage theft, etc.), look to the combination packaged-plans as they will normally offer a better price. Again, if you have a pre-existing condition, you'll want to read the fine print to find the plan that works best for your particular needs.

Question Nine...

I'm on a beach in South America and I've lost my passport. What should I do?

Answer: B -- Call the Emergency Assistance number

Explanation: This is the beauty of emergency medical insurance and their emergency assistance number. You don't have to be ill for them to help you. While you might be completely unsure about how to solve this passport problem, the people at the emergency assistance centre have dealt with this same problem many times before. They know exactly what to do. They'll hold your hand and assist you in getting your new passport as soon as possible.

Question Ten...

I've had my trip to Tahiti planned for months and wouldn't you know it, I've been called to serve on a jury. Is there insurance coverage available that will reimburse the cost of my trip?

Answer: A -- Yes. It's called trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Explanation: Most trip cancellation policies will include a call to jury duty as an insured reason for canceling your trip. There are many other unavoidable situations that could cause a trip cancellation and you should review your policy for a list of the "insured risks" that are covered.

So? How insurance savvy are you?...

	Perfect 10	-- You're a pro, a Gold Star Journey Woman. Start packing!
	7--9 points	-- You need just a little brushing up before you can leave home.
	6-8 points	-- Be careful, you don't know enough yet and could get into very big trouble.
	5-7 points	-- Don't show anybody your score. It's clear you need more research time.
	5 points or less	-- Unpack your suitcase. Don't even think about travelling, yet!
Happy, safe, healthy travelling, ladies!