By Juliana Octavini
Traveling to Orlando is the dream of many people. But like any trip, unforeseen events can happen. Whether it is a health problem, a cancellation of flight or even a miscarriage of luggage, you need to be prepared not to spend any time in your family and turn your vacation into a real nightmare.
So, Having travel insurance is fundamental, especially if you are travelling abroad.
In this post, you will understand why it is important to hire insurance, how to choose the best plan and what to consider at the time of your choice.
Why should you have travel insurance
When planning a trip to the United States, many tourists wonder if they really need travel insurance. The answer is yes, and I'm going to give you some good reasons for you to do one:
High Medical Assistance Cost: In the United States, the health system is private, and medical costs can be extremely high. A simple consultation or emergency room can cost hundreds of dollars, while hospitalizations or surgeries can reach thousands of dollars. Having a travel insurance guarantee that you will be served without having to bear these very high values.
Expected with Luggage and Flights: Long trips, like to Orlando, can have connections, and the chance of baggage loss increases. In addition, cancellations or flight delays are also common. Good travel insurance covers expenses for accommodation, food and transportation in the event of unforeseen events of this nature.
Medical and dental emergencies: In addition to ensuring emergency medical care, travel insurance can also cover emergency dental care, which is another area with high costs in the US.
Coverage for Travel Cancellation: Unforeseeable can occur even before boarding, such as diseases or accidents. Travel insurance can refund cancellation costs, avoiding significant financial losses.
What to Take in Consideration when choosing a Travel Insurance
There are several factors that you should analyze before hiring a travel insurance to Orlando. Check out the main points:
Medical coverage: That's the main reason for making travel insurance. When choosing, make sure the medical coverage is sufficient for the United States. A minimum coverage of $50,000 is recommended, but depending on your profile and the activities you will perform, it is worth considering wider coverage.
Coverage for Extraction and Luggage Delay: International travel, with connections, can increase the risk of loss or baggage delay. Make sure that your insurance covers these eventualities, including expenses for the purchase of first-needed clothes and items while the baggage does not arrive.
Specific activities: If you plan to perform outdoor activities such as walking jet ski, hiking or any activity involving any risk, check that the insurance covers these practices. Some insurances have specific clauses for adventure sports or risky activities.
Legal Assistance and Civil Liability Insurance: If you do any damage to third parties, good travel insurance can offer civil liability coverage, avoiding legal expenses and compensation. In addition, some policies offer legal assistance if you need legal help while travelling.
Dental coverage: Dental emergencies can occur, and the costs of simple treatment in the US are high. Check that the insurance covers emergency dental consultations and treatments.
Telemedicine and Support in Portuguese: Currently, many travel insurance offers telemedicine service, allowing you to have a medical consultation without leaving the hotel. In addition, it is important to verify whether the support is offered in Portuguese, facilitating communication in emergency cases.
How to Choose Best Travel Insurance for Orlando
When choosing the ideal insurance for your trip to Orlando, follow these tips:
Compare Policies: There are several insurance companies that offer travel insurance, and prices and coverage can vary significantly. Use insurance comparator sites to analyze different plans and choose what best suits your needs.
Read the General Conditions: Before hiring the insurance, read the general policy conditions carefully. Check which are the exclusions of coverage, i.e. situations where insurance does not cover, such as preexisting diseases, risk sports, or use of illegal substances.
Consider Your Age and State of Health: Some insurers may have limitations for people over 65 or who have pre-existing health conditions. If you have a chronic disease such as diabetes or hypertension, choose a policy that provides specific coverage for these conditions.
Check Out 24 Hours: Make sure that the insurance company offers 24-hour care and preferably in Portuguese. This is essential to ensure that you will have quick assistance in case of any emergency.
Choose Best Franchise: Some policies may require you to pay a franchise before triggering coverage. Check the franchise values, which may vary depending on the service used. Insurance with lower franchise or no franchise is usually more suitable to avoid surprises.
Travel insurance and travel assistance: what's the difference?
The main difference between Travel insurance and travel assistance is in the services offered and how they work:
O Travel insurance works in a similar way to traditional insurance. It covers unforeseen events such as health problems, accidents, baggage loss, cancellation of flights, among others.
In case of need (e.g. medical care), the insured person pays the expenses and then asks for reimbursement from the insurer, according to the coverage contracted.
Travel insurance offers broader coverage, including reimbursement for medical and hospital expenses.
The travel assistanceOn the other hand, it works as a convenience service. In case of an emergency, the person contacts the travel assistance center, and the company is in charge of organizing the necessary care, such as medical consultations, transportation or accommodation in unforeseen situations.
The person does not need to disburse values initially, because the care directly organizes the services.
Briefly, the Travel insurance offers coverage by refund, while the travel assistance takes care of providing services directly.
What to Do in Emergency During the Trip
If you need to trigger insurance during your trip to Orlando, follow this step by step:
Contact the Insurance Company: Before taking any action, contact the insurance service. They will guide you on the correct procedure to follow, such as going to an accredited hospital or triggering a telemedicine consultation.
Keep Your Documents in Hand: Always keep the insurance policy number and your personal documents handy. If you need medical attention, you will need to report them to the hospital or clinic.
Save All Proofs: If you need to pay for any medical care, medicine, or expense related to baggage loss, keep all receipts and receipts. They will be required to request reimbursement later.
Follow the Insurance Guidelines: Many travel insurance has local partners, such as hospitals and accredited clinics. When contacting the insurer, follow the guidelines to ensure that you will be served on one of these networks, avoiding additional costs.
Other Important Tips
Check Country Rules: Some countries require the tourist to have travel insurance to enter, but the US does not have that requirement. Still, be sure to hire insurance, since health in the country is one of the most expensive in the world.
Consider Travel Time: The price of travel insurance may vary depending on the length of your stay. If you are staying for a long time, consider insurance covering the entire duration of your trip.
Hireing travel insurance to Orlando is an essential step to ensure that your trip is smooth and unanticipated. Although it is more an expense in planning, it can save a lot of money and headache in emergency situations.
Compare different plans, read the general conditions and choose an insurance that meets your needs.
With all these tips on your hands, now just pack your bags and enjoy your trip quietly!
