When planning for travel, many things are considered in advance such as destination, ticket prices, accommodation, and travel document requirements. However, one crucial aspect is often overlooked by travellers - acquiring travel insurance before starting their trip.
Before the pandemic, most travellers may have considered travel scenarios such as lost baggage and flight delays as a trivial matter that is unlikely to happen. This has made travellers hesitant on spending extra money for travel insurance purchases. Now, more than ever, travellers are starting to realise that travel insurance is crucial for both financial protection and security. This is caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced many travellers to cancel their travel plans due to factors such as border closure, changing travel requirements and fear of getting infected with COVID-19 while travelling.
So, what are the benefits of having travel insurance? Here are several important reasons why travel insurance is crucial for travellers to avoid various possible travel risks:
1. Reduce cost of medical care
Whilst travelling, it's definitely unimaginable to think of an accident or illness, but these occurrences are possible nevertheless. Especially in the current pandemic situation, there's still a risk of contracting COVID-19. Not only are expenses for medical treatment overseas considerably high, being unwell in a foreign country can be very confusing and complex. Travel insurance gives travellers a benefit of medical and emergency coverage, which could help minimise extensive medical costs and alleviate some burden financially.
2. Protection against travel delays or cancellations
Travel planning can be unpredictable; whether it is natural disasters, flight delays, urgent family matters, or illness, travellers may need to postpone their departure short-noticed. Some travel insurance includes a coverage on re-booking ticket fees if they have to postpone their travel. Delays or cancellations by airlines are also included in travel insurance coverage, ensuring that travellers do not have to bear significant losses due to changes made by airlines that cannot be predicted.
3. Covers damage, loss, or delay of baggage
It's quite common to hear travellers complain about their baggage being damaged, delayed, or lost. However, many people don't realise that travel insurance also provides coverage for any unexpected damage, delay, or loss of baggage during a trip. This helps reduce travellers’ financial losses if there is any delay, damage or loss of baggage.
4. Protection for valuable documents and items
When travelling, especially to destinations where pickpockets are frequently heard of, losing documents and valuables such as passports or wallets can turn into a nightmare for travellers. In the unlikely circumstance that this may happen, travellers would need to spend their valuable travel time dealing with reporting the loss of important documents in the local area. Travel insurance allows travellers to get some benefit coverage if loss of documents or valuables do occur, minimising the financial losses incurred.
The above are some essential points on the importance of having travel insurance. Complete your vacation with Amanyaman, the first and only travel insurance in Indonesia that gives you 2X protection before, during, and after your trip. Amanyaman also provides EXTRA COVID-19 protection worth up to USD32,500 and total coverage of up to IDR3.75 billion!
For more information about Amanyaman's program options, check here.