Must have travel App and do i really need travel insurance for my trip?

Before your vacation begins is the time to set things in order. One important aspect of your vacation is travel protection insurance. Another is a great travel app to help you find important locations around you as well as a language translator. Allianz Insurance has a must-have app to help your vacation go smoothly. But do you really need travel insurance and how does it work? Today we are talking travel protection and why it is so vital...

We have heard it said, if you cannot afford travel insurance for your vacation then you cannot afford to travel. Well we believe this is true. As travel advisors we hear the stories daily of people who needed travel protection and didn't have it and we even hear the stories of those who protected their trips with travel insurance. We can attest first hand that the stories of those protected are the grateful ones for having travel protection, those who were not protected have many woes to tell.

So what does travel insurance cover? Well there is not an exact answer because all insurance policies are different so you must read the policies fine print and know before you purchase what exactly it does and does not cover. And if it does cover a situation know how much it will cover should you have an emergency. 

What Travel Insurance Covers
Trip Cancellation-covers the costs if you cannot go on your vacation because of illness, accident, or a death of a close relative. However you must purchase travel insurance when you book the tickets for your vacation and not the week before you leave. Important note: not all travel insurance covers cancellations, plus some cover your non-refundable, pre-booked costs if your trip is interrupted. Again it is vitally important you read and know what the insurance policy covers and what it does not cover. 

Luggage and Your Personal Belongings - covers your luggage and personal belongings however, the insurance companies  do expect you have been taking 'reasonable care’ of your items before they were lost or stolen. This means you cannot lay down and important item and leave it. Know what the policy says is covered. And take care of your items; be smart when traveling. Should your luggage be lost by an airline or cruise line, then your policy may cover this - just read to make sure it does! Protection is key but make sure it is covered. 

Medical Emergencies and Evacuation- this is the most important one to us. Should you need medical care when traveling you need to be covered. If you are out of the United States most medical insurance policies do not cover you so check with your medical insurance company and if it does cover you when traveling internationally, know exactly what it does and does not cover. Please know that when you arrive at a hospital internationally and need medical attention, the hospital requires payment up front in full - even if it is a surgery! And what if you needed to be evacuated? Evacuations alone can cost over $100,000 dollars! So please be covered adequately. And a little unknown fact - what if you have pre-existing conditions, will the travel insurance cover in the event that something happens? A lot of the times the insurance company says it was because you were on a medication and this is considered pre-existing and they will not pay! It happens, so get a policy which covers pre-existing conditions and again know what the policy covers and does not cover!

You Purchased Travel Insurance 
Good for you! You purchased the travel protection and you read your policy to know you are covered the best way all the way around. It is important to take a copy of your policy with you and the important phone numbers should you need the insurance company while traveling. We love Allianz Insurance Company for many reasons and one is their convenient travel app. You simply add your policy to the app and all your important information is right at your finger tips. 
More reasons to love the app..
-You did not need to have purchased travel insurance from Allianz Travel to use it
-If flying it gives you flight updates
-Medical translator translates common aliments into many languages for example “sprained ankle” in English to “Esguince de tobillo” in Spanish!
-Plus so much more, just watch...