#TravelInsurance MUST BUY EARLY!

When booking for an overseas holiday, buying travel insurance might not be the first priority on your mind right?
Instead, you may first be thinking of increasing your flight baggage allowance to cater to your overwhelming shopping loots or pondering if you should go buy more winter clothing for the unexpected change in climate, etc, etc. I am not saying that these considerations are not important but I felt that getting a travel insurance as early as you confirm your holiday booking should come FIRST. Why do I say so?

It is because Travel Insurance covers 'Trip Cancellation'.
Normally, the insurance companies will reimburse the insured person up to the maximum limit applicable to the selected plan for irrecoverable travel, accommodation expenses and cost of entertainment tickets, that were paid in advance consequent upon the cancellation of the trip within a stated time frame (usually is 30 days) before the commencement of the trip as a result of:
1) Death, serious injury or illness or compulsory quarantine of the insured person or his/her relative or travel companion.
2) Unexpected strike, riot or civil commotion, not arising from political unrest and beyond the control of the insured person at the planned destination.
3) Bankruptcy of the Singapore travel agent which the insured person has booked his/her travel and accommodation package.
4) Serious damage to the insured person's residence in Singapore from fire, flood or similar natural disaster (typhoon, earthquake, etc) occurring usually within 1 week before the departure date and which required the insured person to be present at the premises on the departure date.
This coverage is only effective if the travel insurance is purchased before the insured person becomes aware of any circumstances which could lead to the disruption of his'her trip.
5) The insured person being summoned by the Court of Law to be a witness.

If those who were hit by the recent closure and bankruptcy of a big travel agency that you should have already known by now, they will be able to claim their travel insurance for the above reason #3).

Travel insurance has become essential to safeguard one against unforeseen circumstances when overseas. It provides peace of mind should things go wrong, and offers recourse and protection against inconveniences. The recent spate of natural disasters, calamities and civil commotions around the world has made travelers even more aware of the need to have a good travel insurance coverage.

And another very important reason, with respect to the recent #MH370 incident, that I liken with the quote below,

"INSURANCE IS NEEDED not because we must die
But we or our loved ones must LIVE!"

Travel insurance also covers accidental death and disablement benefits on top of other life and personal accident insurance coverage that one might already have.

There are still many other benefits that are covered by a travel insurance policy like
+ Medical expenses incurred during the trip
+ Loss or theft of money and personal belongings while oversea
+ Travel delay
+ Emergency Medical Evacuation
+ Hijack
and many more benefits that might vary among insurance companies.

Hope my inputs will help you to have a better peace of mind, to enjoy for your next holiday.
Cheers!