Travel Insurance - Understand what you bought covers

[Muck]

I just wish to share a learning point from what I felt is a sad but true incident...

A retired social worker who dedicated the best part of her life looking after the underprivileged was invited to a wedding in bali by one of the children who had previously been under her care. She bought a ticket from a budget airline and took up the option of purchasing a travel insurance policy peddled by the same airline at the point of ticket purchase.

Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke while in Bali and was rushed to a hospital. Not assured of the quality of medical care that could be accorded to her, her family and friends considered an emergency medical evacuation. To their horror, the travel insurance policy told them that med evacuation was covered in the policy only for injury, and not for illness. Neither would any medical treatment due to illness be covered. Personal funds would have to be used for a med evacuation. The cost? One quote from a very popular company specialising in med evacuation was over usd30,000 for the trip back to Sgp.

Please please read the policy terms when you buy a travel insurance, ESP when offered in tandem for free or at a special rate with ur credit card purchase or thru a budget airline. Even the cheapest stand alone travel insurance plan from ntuc covers med evacuation due to illness. The purpose of insurance is to cover what you cannot comfortably afford to lose monetarily, so be discerning.

[CityFarmer]

I just wish to share a learning point from what I felt is a sad but true incident...

A retired social worker who dedicated the best part of her life looking after the underprivileged was invited to a wedding in bali by one of the children who had previously been under her care. She bought a ticket from a budget airline and took up the option of purchasing a travel insurance policy peddled by the same airline at the point of ticket purchase.

Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke while in Bali and was rushed to a hospital. Not assured of the quality of medical care that could be accorded to her, her family and friends considered an emergency medical evacuation. To their horror, the travel insurance policy told them that med evacuation was covered in the policy only for injury, and not for illness. Neither would any medical treatment due to illness be covered. Personal funds would have to be used for a med evacuation. The cost? One quote from a very popular company specialising in med evacuation was over usd30,000 for the trip back to Sgp.

Please please read the policy terms when you buy a travel insurance, ESP when offered in tandem for free or at a special rate with ur credit card purchase or thru a budget airline. Even the cheapest stand alone travel insurance plan from ntuc covers med evacuation due to illness. The purpose of insurance is to cover what you cannot comfortably afford to lose monetarily, so be discerning.

There is no free lunch in reality. Most of the time, we paid what we got.

My sympathy to the retired social worker, and appreciated her contribution as stated

It is our responsibly to read, at least to ask when buying the travel insurance.

Travel insurance is not medical insurance. The protection is clearly stated in the policy. Some medical insurance policy cover the SOS service from oversea to Singapore, but not with medi-shield and it derivatives.

The policy will not know the insured party is a social worker who dedicated her life looking after the underprivileged, thus provide special service.

[yeokiwi]

Example of travel insurance offers by one of the budget airlines

http://www.airasiainsure.com/sg/travel_p...012_EQ.pdf


(b)(i) Emergency Medical Evacuation
In the event of a sudden and unforeseen Injury suffered by the Insured Person during a trip in overseas and if in the opinion of the appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider, it is judged medically appropriate transfer the Insured Person to another location for medical treatment or to return the Insured Person to Singapore, the Company shall pay directly to the appointed Travel Assist Provider the expenses charged by appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider for such evacuation which may include air ambulance, surface ambulance, railroad or any other appropriate means up to S$40,000.00.
All decision as to the means of transportation will be made by the appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider, and will be based upon medical severity of the Insured Person’s condition and/or medical necessity.
Covered expenses are expenses for services provided and/or arranged by the appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider for the transportation, medical services and medical supplies necessarily incurred as a result of an emergency medical evacuation of an Insured Person.

The cost of the insurance is too dirt cheap. It is more like an accident insurance.
http://www.airasia.com/sg/en/flightinfo/...tions.page
AirAsia Insure Travel Protection (One-Way Plan) S$5.00
AirAsia Insure Travel Protection (Return-Trip Plan) S$10.00

A traditional travel insurance is priced based on the period of travel.

I am not a lawyer though but the family probably can try sueing the company based on misrepresentation of the policy.

[CityFarmer]

Example of travel insurance offers by one of the budget airlines

http://www.airasiainsure.com/sg/travel_p...012_EQ.pdf


(b)(i) Emergency Medical Evacuation
In the event of a sudden and unforeseen Injury suffered by the Insured Person during a trip in overseas and if in the opinion of the appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider, it is judged medically appropriate transfer the Insured Person to another location for medical treatment or to return the Insured Person to Singapore, the Company shall pay directly to the appointed Travel Assist Provider the expenses charged by appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider for such evacuation which may include air ambulance, surface ambulance, railroad or any other appropriate means up to S$40,000.00.
All decision as to the means of transportation will be made by the appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider, and will be based upon medical severity of the Insured Person’s condition and/or medical necessity.
Covered expenses are expenses for services provided and/or arranged by the appointed Travel Assist Provider or an authorised representative of the appointed Travel Assist Provider for the transportation, medical services and medical supplies necessarily incurred as a result of an emergency medical evacuation of an Insured Person.

The cost of the insurance is too dirt cheap. It is more like an accident insurance.
http://www.airasia.com/sg/en/flightinfo/...tions.page
AirAsia Insure Travel Protection (One-Way Plan) S$5.00
AirAsia Insure Travel Protection (Return-Trip Plan) S$10.00

A traditional travel insurance is priced based on the period of travel.

I am not a lawyer though but the family probably can try sueing the company based on misrepresentation of the policy.

As layman, which parts of the statement in the policy are misrepresented in your opinion?

[yeokiwi]

As layman, which parts of the statement in the policy are misrepresented in your opinion?

Me also layman, but the name of the insurance gives the insuree a false impression that it is a full travel protection insurance.

If she bought over the counter, then the chance is better.

[CityFarmer]

As layman, which parts of the statement in the policy are misrepresented in your opinion?

Me also layman, but the name of the insurance gives the insuree a false impression that it is a full travel protection insurance.

If she bought over the counter, then the chance is better.

Full travel protection insurance does not include medical insurance.

Sad to say that ignorance does not justify a case of mis-representation.

[Muck]

Yup, I guess it's really our own responsibility to read what we bought. So I thought I'd try to highlight to anyone who may mistakenly think they're covered. This was a learning experience for me and I thought it'd be good to share.

[Temperament]

SECTION 7 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION
When as the result of Injury or Sickness commencing while You are Overseas and
if in the opinion of Travel Guard, or an authorised representative of Travel Guard,
it is judged medically appropriate to move You to another location or to return You
to Singapore for medical treatment, Travel Guard, or the authorised representative,
will arrange for the evacuation utilizing the means best suited to do so, based on
the medical severity of Your condition. We will pay Travel Guard directly the covered
expenses for such evacuation specifi ed in the Selected Plan under Section 7.
The means of evacuation arranged by Travel Guard, or an authorised representative
of Travel Guard, may include air ambulance, surface ambulance, regular air
transportation, railroad or any other appropriate means. All decisions as to the
means of transportation and the fi nal destination will be made by Travel Guard, or the
authorised representative, and will be based solely on medical necessity.
Covered expenses are expenses for services provided and/or arranged by Travel
Guard for Your transportation and shall include medical services and medical supplies
necessarily incurred as a result of the emergency medical evacuation.
EXCLUSIONS
We will not pay for:
1) any expenses incurred for services provided by another party for which You are
not liable to pay, or any expenses already included in the cost of a scheduled
Trip; and
2) any expenses for a service not approved and arranged by Travel Guard, or
an authorized representative of Travel Guard, unless We decide that such
expenses were necessarily incurred and for reasons beyond the control of You,
Your Relative or Travel Companion Travel Guard could not be contacted during
the emergency. In any event, We reserve the right to reimburse You only for
those expenses incurred for services which Travel Guard would have provided
under the same circumstances and up to the limit specifi ed in the Selected Plan
under Section 7.

As a layman i really not sure how "much" i am covered and when i am not covered.
Can some experts (lawyers) explain in simple terms.
Thank you.

[CityFarmer]

...

As a layman i really not sure how "much" i am covered and when i am not covered.
Can some experts (lawyers) explain in simple terms.
Thank you.

I am not lawyer. Similarly as buying life/medical insurance, lawyer is typically not engaged, but consulting with agent.

[Temperament]

O. K. will do. So can any insurance specialist explain in simple terms?