Why Bother With Health Insurance?

Heading overseas? Chances are, you'll need health insurance at some point.

The Australian Consumers' Association, publishers of that Aussie icon, Choice Magazine, (also Choice Online) advise all travellers to take the time to research the country or countries they’ll be travelling. But they’re not talking about temples, cultural and culinary diversity and nightlife – except in a safety context. It seems in a study conducted by their UK counterparts, 11% of those surveyed were affected by sickness, often due to that same culinary diversity, and injury while abroad. No wonder Choice also recommend medical insurance.

Interesting stats include 52% of visitors to India, 47% of visitors to Peru and 42% of those travelling to Sri Lanka becoming ill.

On the home front, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) report 700 plus hospitalisations and 100 plus medical evacuations each year – and they are just the cases the department was asked to assist in.

Travelling for adventure? Even if you want to test yourself just once, you need to be aware not all travel insurance companies will cover every extreme or even just plain adventure sport. There are some sports out there no company would touch with a barge pole. Therefore, check the accident insurance policy document carefully, and if you’re still unsure, get on the phone and find out. It will be well worth the small amount of time and inconvenience.

Same goes for the regions you plan on exploring. Studies have shown full and impartial advice is not always provided by some travel agents, so always get independent advice before you go. Some countries border on the unstable, either politically or medically, so you need to check with the DFAT web site – www.smarttraveller.gov.au – to stay current with advice and absolute 'no go' warnings.

Be aware if you ignore a warning you might as well forget about your travel health insurance as no company will cover you if you deliberately go where you have been warned not to go. Even if there is not a current warning or your destination is listed as safe, it’s always good advice to register on the DFAT site in case of an emergency.

When you start looking for cheap international travel insurance you might be tempted to simply go on price. Always get a quote direct from at least three health insurancecompanies and go for policy content every time.