BootsnAll Travel Community

I am posting this again as its own topic, b/c i need some more information. Do I need both travel and domestic insurance? Generally what does travel insurance cover? Obviously this varies, but for the most part does it just cover general emergencies... like evacuation, etc? Also, if you need domestic insurance, but are travelling for a long time then I assume you arent employed so where do you get domestic coverage from? thanks!

-helga

"Live hard, love hard, play hard, fight hard, and die hard."
from Living Life the Viking Way

ok, I think that I answered this somewhere, but here's what I've discovered after researching insurance for travel.

1. You only need domestic insurance if you're going to be doing the bulk of your travel in your home country.

2. Most travel insurance DOES NOT cover you when you're in your home country (though some plans offer 30-days of home-country coverage).

3. Travel insurance can cover as much or as little as you want depending on what you want to pay. For a barebones policy like many a traveler has gotten, basic emergencies are covered as are emergency evacuations (up to $500,000 with a $1000 deductible gives you decent barebones affordable coverage--cost to you being $600/year per person). Things that are normally not covered unless you purchase a premium plan are organ transplants, illness or injury due to extreme activites or previous injuries, maintenance doctor's visits (like checkups). Most barebones plans also offer emergency dental work and some lost/stolen luggage insurance (usually only up to $200). Some even offer a program where they'll fly out a family member to assist you if you're injured.

4. Helga, you can get any kind of insurance you want if you have the money and there are many many types to choose from. It's like buying a car--what make, what model, what options, etc. They're too many choices to list here.

Most people who are travelling for a long time forgo domestic insurance because the cost of paying for it AND travel insurance is too high. When you return from your trip, you might just have to be careful and tread lightly until you find a job that offers insurance. You're concern about a lack of domestic insurance is why politicians everywhere fight for a Universal health plan for Americans.

Take some time to run through the Boots insurance program on their site somewhere and read about the different plans, click on some links, do some research, read the fine print. That's what I did.

menudio,

thanks for all your help... in both posts. i looked through some of the bna info, but will go back to look at it more closely. basically you answered my most important question... that typical travellers do not have both at the same time. that does seem very expensive. thanks again.

-Helga

"Live hard, love hard, play hard, fight hard, and die hard."
from Living Life the Viking Way