Does travel insurance cover non-emergency services?

You’re all set for your trip, you’ve got your flights booked, hotel room set up, and literary scheduled full of fun. Now you are looking at travel insurance, but you are not 100% sure what is covered. Are non-emergency services covered like they are at home with your benefits? Let’s have a look at what travel insurance policies can cover, and find out.

Am I covered for non-emergency services?

You may be wondering what sorts of services are covered by your travel insurance. Does it just provide emergency medical coverage in the event that something goes awry, or are you able to claim non-emergency services such as chiropractor visits, or massage therapy? In the majority of cases, the answer to that question is unfortunately no.

Traditional medical travel coverage only covers emergencies and the costs associated with immediate, necessary care. However, depending on your insurance provider, and the insurance plan you opt for, there may be some exceptions to that rule. For example, if you are a snowbird down in Florida for an extended vacation, limited chiropractor’s visits may be covered if they are medically relevant and pre-approved by your provider.

What does my travel insurance cover?

Here is a break down of the different types of travel insurance, and what it is they do cover.

Emergency medical – The emergency medical coverage is the most important part of your travel insurance, as it essentially acts a replacement for the health insurance you have while at home. If you happen to get sick or are in some sort of accident while travelling outside of your home province or country, then emergency medical insurance is there to cover the costs of any medical attention you may need.

Lost/damaged baggage – This sort of travel insurance covers you if your luggage is lost, stolen, delayed, or damaged. If you are going on a more extended trip and have multiple bags to check, or you are travelling with valuable items, this may be an option you’ll want to consider.

Trip delay/ cancellation – This coverage comes into play both before and during your trip. If for some reason your flight is delayed, resulting in missed connections or hotel deposits, or you find yourself having to cancel your trip, you’ll be covered. Trip delay/ cancellation saves you in the event that you have made non-refundable deposits and something does not go according to plan.

All-inclusive – If you are looking to cover all of the above, then it may be in your best interest to look into all-inclusive travel insurance. That sort of policy may cost you more than medical alone, but it will grant you the peace of mind that you are also covered if something happens to your baggage or if something goes wrong with your travel plans.

When deciding what sort of plan is right for you, be sure to shop around for different travel insurance quotes. It is also a wise idea to speak with a broker and ask any questions you may have regarding your coverage. Your broker is there to help you find the right insurance for your needs and help you understand the coverage you are getting.