You’re trying to figure out how to buy travel insurance. There’s a lot to review, what with the different types of plans, all that crazy insurance jargon, and do you even really want to spend money on something you can’t touch and may not use?
Tips for Buying Travel Insurance
First, brush up on your vocabulary. Start by learning about terms you’ll find in most policies — for example: premium, deductible, coverage area, covered reasons — to help you understand your travel insurance coverage. You might try this guide to 12 insurance terms common travel medical insurance plans.
Once you have a basic understanding of the common terms, consider the tips below for buying travel insurance. Knowing how to speak the language of travel insurance could mean the difference between getting the right coverage and finding yourself unprotected in an emergency. Similarly, weighing the often-overlooked factors in our list can help you choose the right company to purchase from. Because it’s not just about the plan you’re buying, but the people who are there for you when you need them.
1. Look for leaders in customer service.
Yes, you can travel solo. It can be a fantastic experience, but it’s not uncommon to wish you had a buddy sometimes. Likewise, you can buy trip insurance on your own without input from anyone else, but you might end up feeling safer and avoid a few headaches when you have someone working alongside you.
Understanding different travel insurance options available to travelers
Seven Corners has a team of dedicated experts who can answer those questions before you buy anything. They can help with things like deciphering those pre-existing conditions waivers, identifying what parts of your trip are insurable, and more. Our team is available by email, phone, or online chat to clear up any confusion you might have.
Traveling with Seven Corners Assist
Even after you depart, you’re not alone. The Seven Corners Assist team is available to help you figure out what to do when the unexpected happens. This team is most often used by travelers who get sick or hurt during their trip.
Some of the non-insurance benefits you receive include help finding appropriate medical care in a foreign country, multilingual services to help you communicate with medical providers about your treatment, and emergency medical evacuation if you are unable to receive appropriate care in your location.
Many of our customers have found that these services made a key difference in their own recovery and their loved ones’ sense of relief, knowing they had experts working on their behalf in situations where they felt helpless on their own.
Trusting our commitment to customers
At Seven Corners, your experience is our priority. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest customer service standards in the travel insurance industry so that you can travel confidently, knowing you have support from the time of purchase to your safe return home.
2. Recognize the value of travel insurance.
One of the most common questions we hear is whether travel insurance is worth it. After all, if you’re lucky, you’ll buy travel insurance and not use it. We understand, though, that even if you don’t use your coverage, it still kind of feels like throwing away fresh produce you didn’t get around to eating.
So is travel insurance worth the cost? Consider this true story: Jamee G., a Seven Corners team member, recently took a short getaway to Mexico with friends and purchased travel insurance before departure. In return, they had travel medical insurance for COVID and other illnesses and injuries that could have occurred on their trip. “We didn’t have to worry about breaking a leg while hiking in the ruins,” she said. If they needed to interrupt their trip and come home early, they also had coverage to protect their financial investment in their trip.
Understanding value versus price
Because you don’t want to spend money on something you might not use, it can be tempting to look for a bargain. Depending on your budget and travel style, that might be enough for you. However, it’s important to recognize the difference between value and price.
You get what you pay for. Pay less, and you will typically receive less. If you buy a plane ticket on a budget airline, you might be getting a great fare, but you likely won’t get in-flight snacks, leg room will be limited, and you’ll probably pay extra to check a bag. If you buy a plane ticket on a different airline where those amenities are included, you will pay more, but you also get more. If the amenities are important to you, the more expensive airfare is a better value.
The same goes for travel insurance. Don’t confuse value and price. The cost of travel insurance will vary depending on coverage and the company that sells it to you. But remember: if you receive more — better coverage that fits your needs, better customer service — you might find that plan has higher value to you, making it worth the price.
3. Review customer testimonials.
If, at this point in your research, you still aren’t sold on a particular plan or insurance provider, look for testimonials. Comparison sites also often have customer reviews. And an insurance provider’s website may have more in-depth testimonials that clearly show another customer’s experience, from start to finish.
Emergency medical evacuation: Alysan’s story
Alysan, a premedical student working at a hospital in Ghana, contracted malaria during her trip. Her travel medical insurance covered the care she needed in Ghana, while the Seven Corners Assist team arranged safe transportation home for her when she was well enough to fly. Watch her story:
International medical care: Merah’s story
Sometimes we get sick while traveling, not because of the travel itself but because things like that just happen. Merah got kidney stones while honeymooning in Thailand and Cambodia. Her Seven Corners travel medical insurance reimbursed her for the full amount of her hospitalization, minus the deductible. Read her story.
Reunion benefit: Makenzie’s story
Towards the end of Makenzie’s graduation trip to Europe, she became very ill while traveling alone. Thankfully, Makenzie had travel medical insurance. One of her non-insurance benefits was access to the dedicated Seven Corners Assist team. A representative was not only able to help Makenzie’s mom locate her in a French hospital, but they also arranged flights and hotels so the mother-daughter pair could be united while Makenzie recovered. Watch their story:
Seven Corners has shared several success stories over the years. You can see some more of our favorite testimonials on our blog.
Seven Corners’ blog has a wealth of resources to help you learn the tips for buying travel insurance. We encourage you to take a look as you start planning your next trip. If you have questions or need help choosing a plan, talk to one of our licensed agents. You can also get a quick quote and purchase online if you’re ready to go solo.
