The Importance of
Travel Health Insurance

Travel health insurance is something that I never travel without.

Here’s a quick story that affected a friend of my dad’s. His friend traveled extensively but never bought travel health insurance when he went abroad.

Over the years, he’d probably saved himself a fair bit of money not buying insurance when he traveled as he’d managed to avoid getting sick or being injured while on vacation. In this regard, he was lucky.

Then his luck ran out.

He went on holiday with his wife and broke his leg in an accident several days into the trip. Nothing life threatening, nothing too terribly serious – when you compare it to other things that could have happened – but needless to say, it ruined his vacation (and his wife’s) and he had to be hospitalized.

All said and done, the medical expenses, the hospital stay, the early flight back home and other expenses associated with the injury cost him almost $15,000 US.

And that’s not including the fact that the trip was ruined (they didn’t have travel insurance either).

$15,000.

For a broken leg.

Imagine what it might have cost if he’d been in intensive care or something even more serious?

Whatever money he might have “saved” by not purchasing travel health insurance in the past went out the window with his accident.

Believe me, this is a small amount compared to some of the cases I’ve heard about. I’ve read some stories where people were injured while on vacation and racked up hospital bills of over $100,000.

And to think, he could have avoided it with an insurance policy that might have cost $100 or even less.

If you’re traveling to Toronto – and I certainly hope you do – not getting travel insurance is a gamble you really shouldn’t take. It’s just not worth it when you compare it to the cost of medical care that you might have to pay for out of your own pocket if you are hurt or fall ill.

Regardless of what country you’re from – or even if you’re a Canadian traveling to Toronto from another province – a travel health insurance policy is your best bet.



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