Travel Health Insurance

There are those who think travel health insurance is only necessary if you’re travelling to a developing country. Which country do you think won’t require travel health insurance – UK, U.S.A., Canada, Europe? You’d be wrong.

When most of us think of health insurance for overseas travel we think sickness like malaria or Bali Belly – sickness that is related to a certain country or area and that we don’t have here in Australia or in most Western countries. So if you’re travelling through a ‘Western’ country you might be tempted to think you don’t need travel health insurance cover.

Many viruses/bugs/illnesses are similar the world over. Just think of flu, pneumonia and glandular fever for starters, these can bring you down just as sick here at home as when you’re travelling but when you’re travelling it’s way more difficult and inconvenient and can really throw your plans out.

Ever had a friend who was sick with debilitating glandular fever? Glandular fever is common throughout the world and easily spread, is usually serious enough to be bedridden for weeks, can need hospitalisation and on rare occasions has complications such as anaemia and spleen injury. You’d certainly need assistance even with a milder form and all plans would be out the window – and what would that do to your pre-paid travel and bookings?

So you see, it’s not just the exotic, ‘foreign’, sicknesses you need to insure against with international travel health insurance, it can be something totally common you can pick up anywhere – and with the cost of hospitals, in the U.S. in particular – wow – you need cover.

But back up a bit to the good news. Great travel and health insurance can be real cheap as well – if you choose the right one.

iTrek have four levels of travel health insurance coverage, each providing an exceptional level of unlimited overseas medical and hospital cover plus 24/7 overseas emergency assistance including hospital case management and assisted transport to return home.

Your ability to choose to include or exclude certain areas of travel can also bring the costs down and as an online travel health insurance company our costs are cheaper still, because we have reduced overheads and pass the savings on to you and into providing outstanding customer service.

By rights, if you can’t afford travel health insurance you shouldn’t travel. There are times when you live in the moment and times you have to think to the future. It’s all about balance.

• Whatever you do, get your immunisation shots when travelling. Never be tempted to go without because of the cost or because you heard of someone else who didn’t get shots and didn’t get sick. It’s a bit like Russian Roulette really – and the cost is nothing compared to the long-term debilitating effects many of these exotic diseases can wreck on your body and your life.
• Best prevention for malaria is to cover up and use mossy repellent. Also take malaria tablets but talk to your doctor or immunisation centre about their correct use. Inform yourself and get professional medical advice.