International Travel Assistance: Responding to Worldwide Catastrophes
What would you do if you were traveling abroad and you were caught in a flash flood or
hurricane? Or you suffered an unexpected stroke or were injured in
a motor vehicle accident? Or you unwittingly broke a local law and ended
up in prison or facing a stiff fine? What if no one in your party spoke
the native language?
One of the first things you should do is call your travel insurance or assistance company – if
you purchased a policy before you left home.
Worldwide travel assistance is often included in most travel insurance plans sold in the United
States. Or travelers can opt to purchase travel assistance services
directly from a travel assistance company. It offers 24-hour,
multilingual emergency help to respond to any number of
emergencies anywhere in the world. Assistance services can help
travelers navigate complex
local requirements, serve as translators, arrange for medical
evacuation in the case of an
emergency, and help facilitate medical or legal assistance abroad.
According to Brad Finkle, president of the US Travel Insurance Association, “Travel
assistance is available 24/7 to help safeguard travelers and
coordinate often times complex arrangements
when things go wrong. When traveling abroad, travel assistance
is even more critical, especially
in today’s world where something can go wrong at any time.”
How it Works
A toll-free or collect call connects the policyholder with a round-the-clock multilingual hotline
which offers help in case of emergency. When illness or injury occurs, the travel insurance
provider or assistance service coordinates with medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, and
medical evacuation providers in order to facilitate needed help.
The service can help direct you to reputable facilities and doctors,
arrange for necessary medical procedures, consult with
treating physicians, update family, employers and insurance companies,
and coordinate
repatriation where warranted. Specialists can also coordinate
direct payment of covered medical expenses or help arrange for fund transfers
so treatment is uninterrupted.
Lesser Known Benefits
Lesser known, but very important assistance services include medical
evacuation, legal support, and security services. According to
a UStiA Consumer Study released in 2006, the vast majority
of people are unaware that medical evacuation is often included
in comprehensive travel
insurance policies. The study noted that fully 50% of people
who buy travel insurance were
unaware of medical evacuation coverage. Among non-purchasers
that number rose to 84%.
When local facilities are not capable of offering the quality of care
needed, medical evacuation services provide special transport
arrangements, which can range from ground ambulance to
medically-staffed air ambulance. Depending on the patient’s condition,
transportation may be to the nearest medically adequate facility
or to a hospital close to home. Such assistance can save
travelers tens of thousands of dollars for the cost of such transport
services.
Many people are also unaware of legal assistance available through most
comprehensive travel insurance policies. For instance, legal
blood alcohol levels while driving differ from country to
country; U.S. drivers may not understand traffic signs and get
into an accident in countries where
customs and laws differ; or a traveler may unwittingly purchase
and export an ancient vase
classified as a protected antiquity under local law. Assistance
services often have affiliations
with legal specialists who can negotiate with local authorities
and provide referrals to appropriate
legal counsel. And in cases of arrest, legal assistance will
try to get the traveler released from
jail.
Travelers going to destinations with political instability may also
want to check out special travel insurance policies that provide
security services and repatriation for U.S. citizens in case
of war or civil disturbances. When violence threatens the safety
of travelers, these security services
often include transportation and accommodation, updates to family
and employers, including
specialized transport arrangements, which can range from coordination
during government-led
evacuations to armored ground transport and chartered planes.
To Buy or Not to Buy
According to UStiA research, major reasons for purchasing travel insurance
are peace of mind, protecting against the unforeseen, and being
able to recoup nonrefundable expenses. When
deciding if travel insurance, and/or travel assistance, is right
for you, Finkle suggests that you
determine how important peace of mind is to you, and consider
what you could conceivably lose
(your health and your wallet) due to illness, emergency or catastrophe.
Finkle advises that one
comprehensive policy can insure all parties traveling together,
covering them against a wide
range of possible mishaps. Travel insurance and assistance can
be purchased on a per-trip or
annual basis for frequent travelers.
About UStiA
UStiA promotes fairness, integrity and a commitment to excellence in the travel insurance
industry. With a mission to educate the public on travel insurance while maintaining high
industry standards, the UStiA is a non-profit association of insurance carriers and allied
businesses involved in the development, administration and marketing of travel insurance and
assistance. In 2004, UStiA member companies provided travel insurance policies to more than
17 million people. Travel insurance is available from travel agencies, airlines, tour operators,
hotels and resorts, and insurance brokers as well as through
the Internet. For more nformation
on UStiA visit www.ustravelinsurance.org.