Whether you travel for work or for play, having travel health insurance can help protect you if you’re ever away from home. According to The Barnes Firm, personal injury attorneys, “Traveling with health insurance, especially internationally, will ensure you receive the right care and that there aren’t any issues with medical expenses. Due to the change in currency and different processes, travel health insurance can keep you fully protected.” When it comes to choosing your travel health insurance, there are certain things you should look for. Check out these five tips for choosing the right travel health insurance.

  1. Know what you need.

When it comes to travel health insurance, there are different options, so it’s very important you find the one that makes sense for your specific needs.

  • Travel Medical Insurance Plan: A travel medical insurance plan will not only provide health insurance coverage for accidents and illnesses, but it also offers travel benefits, such as reimbursement for trip interruptions, natural disasters, lost luggage, etc.
  • Global Medical Plan: A global medical plan is designed to provide worldwide medical insurance for individuals and families.
  • Standalone Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation Policy: This type of policy will cover medically necessary evacuation or medical facility during an emergency situation only, and will also cover repatriation of mortal remains to your primary residence.

All these policies can keep you protected while traveling to the beaches in Europe or business trips in Shanghai, and everything in between.

  1. Compare plans.

Once you’ve decided what type of coverage you need, the next step is to compare different companies. Do some research to find the top travel insurance companies and then compare their policies and prices. It may be in your best interest to call each one and speak with a representative to see what they will provide to you. In addition, be sure you fully understand the fine print, as you don’t want to end up with something that isn’t what you anticipated. Finally, be sure to read reviews on the different companies and policies you’re looking into, as you’ll likely find out more information from people who’ve used it than you will the company’s website.

  1. Pay attention to price.

In addition to comparing the policies in terms of coverage, it’s also important to pay attention to the cost. Be fully aware of what your budget is when it comes to travel insurance and then use that to help you weed out policies that may not be a good fit. If there’s a plan you like but it’s outside of your budget, talk with a customer service representative and see if there’s something you can do to cut the cost. In order to get your business, these companies may be willing to provide you with discounts or help you get to a price you’re comfortable paying.

  1. Know what’s not covered.

While you’re likely paying close attention to all the things that are covered in your travel insurance policy, you should also pay attention to what’s not covered. For instance, some policies may not provide coverage if you sustained injuries while under the influence of alcohol, during extreme adventure activities, pre-existing conditions, etc. Make sure you’re fully aware of reasons your insurance policy may be compromised and keep that in mind while you’re traveling. After all, the last thing you need is a high medical bill because you were being reckless. If you really want to keep your coverage intact, be sure to follow the rules determined by the company.

  1. Keep your timeline in mind.

The cost of your travel health insurance will vary based on the length you need it. If you travel internationally for work on a regular basis, then it may be a good idea to have this health insurance coverage year-round. Doing it this way may provide you with discounts that make it more affordable for you. However, if you are just traveling for a few weeks, then be sure to choose a short-term policy. These will fit better within your budget as well and will provide you with the coverage terms that make sense. Paying for year-round coverage when you don’t travel that often will only be a waste of money.

If you’re lucky enough to travel, it’s important you find the right ways to protect yourself. Travel health insurance is one way to do that, but it’s important you truly look into the different companies and policies to ensure you’re making the right choice.