7 tips for choosing your travel insurance

1. Know the type of trip you will be taking

To choose the ideal package for your profile, it is important to take into account your age, the reason for the tour, 
Traditional insurance does not usually cover accidents caused by extreme sports – in this case, you need to look for one focused on this type of trip. Many brokers and travel agencies offer products aimed at executives on corporate trips, exchange students and “backpackers”, meeting the specific needs of each public.

2, Check the regulations of the country you will visit

Tourists traveling today to most European countries need, by law, to be insured for a minimum of 30,000 euros for medical occurrences. The insurance certificate can be requested by customs upon arrival at the local airport.

Despite not being so common, it is possible that immigration sectors of some nations involve tourists without insurance, since accidents would generate public cost to the State.  

3. Prioritize medical care

Complications related to health and well-being can trigger millions of expenses for the uninsured international traveller. Therefore, experts in the field highlight medical assistance as a crucial item in travel insurance.

Some of the most desirable costs in this area are exams, medical and dental consultations, surgeries, hospital accommodation, pharmaceutical items, medical removal (rescue and transport of the victim from the place where the accident occurred), personal accidents (which cause disability), travel return (rebooking airline tickets for medical reasons) and medical repatriation (returning to the country of origin accompanied by professionals) and funeral home.

A good rule of thumb to follow is: the more remote the location you visit, the higher the health care coverage threshold should be. This is because, in the event of an accident, help will be longer and less accessible. The same goes for maritime travel sections. This detail is especially important if you are accompanied by the elderly or children.

Most insurances do not cover pre-existing illnesses, that is, those already possessed before leaving your country. So if you know you have a chronic illness, it’s worth adding these features to your insurance. In the case of pregnant women, it is necessary to contract specific insurance for this profile.

4. Understand which risks are covered in the contract

Coverage for theft of luggage and electronic devices is common in traditional insurance, but not all. So read the contract carefully before signing and study more than one insurance option before deciding which one will best meet your requirements.

If you want to make your package more robust, turn to add-ons. The offers today are extensive: they range from payment, home insurance and assistance with legal processes associated with the trip to concierge service – a professional who makes restaurant reservations, car rentals, ticket purchases, etc.

5. Buy group packages

Are you traveling as a family or with a large group of friends? It may be worth taking out insurance together: coverage is individual, but the price is discounted.

6. Discover the international service

Before boarding, check how to use your insurance during the trip. In most companies, it is enough to take the certificate, scanned or in hard copy, of your contract and the telephone number of the customer service in your suitcase. The client is instructed to call this contact directly as soon as a complication arises, through which he will be advised of the procedure to be performed and will know useful information, such as where the nearest hospital is. If you don’t speak English, find out if the insurance company’s international network has agents fluent in Portuguese.

7. Find out about the cancellation process

The cancellation of travel insurance does not always imply the reimbursement of its value, in part or in full, to the contracting party. This policy varies from company to company. Confirm it with your consultant and ask for the maximum period to cancel the contract at no additional cost.