When you’re travelling, anything can happen so it’s important to stay prepared. Our hotline assistance team provides aid to thousands of tourists each year who are dealing with a significant medical emergency abroad.
There are strategies to lessen your chance of injury, but there is no way to foresee every conceivable emergency. Getting travel insurance that covers emergency medical and emergency medical transportation coverage is the first and greatest thing you can do to protect yourself.
Combining these advantages can help you receive the finest care possible in the event of a serious, insured medical emergency without having to pay astronomical out-of-pocket costs. This is why an international travel insurance policy is a must-have.
Here are a few things we advise tourists to stay away from when they are abroad, even after theybuy travel insurance.
- Steer clear of motorbikes and mopeds.
We frequently witness visitors getting seriously hurt when riding mopeds, motorbikes, and motorcycles, which present a huge risk to tourists. There are some nations where the risk is greater. Motorcycles are the primary cause of American fatalities in accidents in Thailand and Vietnam. Visitors and cruise ship passengers seeking a fun, affordable way to move around Bermuda frequently use moped rentals.
- Avoid riding ATVs.
All-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, are common on cruise excursions and in many major tourist locations. In Cabo San Lucas, Belize, or Dubai, you may take an ATV into the desert or across a swinging wooden bridge. However, we truly hope you won’t.
When an ATV flips over or collides with something, it can be dangerous. Our hotline assistance crew has witnessed a number of tragic ATV collisions, some of which have been fatal. Medical insurance for travelcan be very helpful in this situation.
- Avoid driving in nations with heavy traffic
Driving abroad is tense, even in the best-case situation, like cruising down a country road in France. You have to get used to new traffic laws, signage in other languages, and strange car controls. Because of this, we advise against driving in nations with notoriously chaotic traffic.
- Avoid travelling in a car that seems dangerous
When going abroad, you cannot assume that every vehicle will meet the safety standards. However, use common judgement and refrain from boarding any vehicle if it seems risky or if the driver seems inebriated or driving recklessly. Don’t forget to buckle up as well. Buckle your seat belts without waiting to be instructed.
- Don’t take risks near water
In several nations, such as the Bahamas and Costa Rica, drowning is the main reason why Americans visit there. In order to lower the chance of drowning while travelling:
- Swim only in lifeguarded areas like beaches and pools.
- Keep an eye on the kids.
- Swim with a partner.
- Beware of strong currents and rip tides.
- Never plunge in; always go in feet first.
- Never go swimming after drinking.
- Abstain from taking any actions that are expressly forbidden by the terms of your travel insurance policy.
When purchasing travel insurance, carefully read the plan documentation, particularly the section titled “General Exclusions.”
Your international travel insurance policy will not provide coverage for them. Additionally, you are not protected against any loss brought on directly or indirectly by any of the following activities, without limitation: Extreme, high-risk sports and activities include skydiving, base jumping, hang gliding, or parachuting, bungee jumping, caving, rappelling, or spelunking, skiing or snowboarding off-piste or in an area only accessible by helicopter, free climbing, any activity that takes place at a high altitude, fighting sports, racing or training to race any type of motorised vehicle or watercraft, free diving, or scuba diving.
Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.