Insurance

5 Things to Know Before Buying Online Travel Insurance

Buying online travel insurance? Learn about policy types, how to sign up, pricing, claims, coverage extras and terrorism cover before you pay.

Online travel insurance

Travel insurance has become an important thing to have, especially if you often travel, whether within Indonesia or abroad. If something goes wrong on a trip, it can be very hard to sort out on your own. With travel insurance, everything is easier and you don't have to worry about the worst-case scenario. You can now buy online travel insurance in just a few steps. There are, however, a few things you should know before buying this insurance online. Here is what to look for.

The type of insurance you choose

As with other kinds of insurance, travel insurance comes in many types. One of the most popular is international coverage. Travel insurance covers you against the risks that can arise on a trip, starting with medical expenses. Each type also has a different coverage period.

There is also annual travel insurance, which covers both domestic and international trips for a variety of purposes over one year. Other types include insurance for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, and insurance for students who are going abroad to study.

How to sign up

Today, you no longer need to travel to an insurance company's office to sign up for travel insurance. You can buy online travel insurance instead. The process is simple. Just visit a site that offers online travel insurance and enter your personal details, your destination and the length of your trip. Finally, choose the type of insurance you want. You can pay by credit card.

Price and how to claim

The premium for travel insurance is smaller than the total cost of the trip. However, the price and the coverage depend on the insurance company, and the type you choose also affects the price.

As for claims, there are two methods. The first is through a worldwide provider network, which makes claiming easy. If an accident happens, for example, you only need to show your insurance card to the medical staff. The second method works like other insurance: you must first get a letter from a doctor before you can file a claim. Not many insurers offer the first method.

What the insurer covers

Most online travel insurance covers all your medical care during the trip, whether domestic or international. Some policies also include extra coverage. One example is baggage protection, since many airline passengers have recently complained about damaged luggage. Other policies offer delay insurance, protection for the policyholder's home, and compensation for lost suitcases.

Terrorism

Given the recent terrorism cases, it does no harm to pay an additional premium for this coverage when you buy travel insurance. After all, what happens during a trip is impossible to predict.