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Preparing for a career break is different for everyone but safeguarding your journey with travel insurance is a definite 'list topper' for anyone taking extended travels. Why? Because travel insurance is a safety net that catches you if and when things go wrong and statistically speaking, the longer one travels the greater the chance you'll need that peace of mind protection.
Offering all kinds of coverage from cancellation, to evacuation to major medical, travel insurance is a powerful tool to have and this travel insurance overview will start you on your way to becoming an educated consumer, choosing the right coverage for your special career break needs.
1. PERSONAL ASSESSMENT
Whether assisted by InsureMyTrip.com's Customer Care team of licensed insurance experts or embarking on a do-it-yourself quest for information, answering a few simple questions first can put you well on your way to determining the type of travel insurance you need.
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? Are you a U.S. resident and citizen?
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? Where are you going?
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? How long do you anticipate being gone?
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? Do you plan to re-enter the U.S. during your travels?
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? When you return, do you anticipate seeking employment right away or after some period of time?
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? Do you currently have health insurance?
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? Will you be keeping your health insurance from your current/former provider?
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? Will you anticipate needing prescriptions refilled or wellness visits?
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? How old are you?
2. WHAT DOES TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER?
Career breakers benefit most from a few basic types of travel insurance coverage:
Package Plans
Comprehensive Package Plans provide coverage for a wide-range of travel risks including trip cancellation (if you have to cancel), trip interruption (your travels are brought to an unexpected and premature end), medical coverage (you need international coverage or to augment your current health benefits), and medical evacuation protection (air ambulance service). These plans provide the best protection for the investment you have made in your trip.
Travel Medical
Most regular health insurance plans provide only partial or no coverage at all while you are traveling in another country. Medical travel insurance plans provide coverage above and beyond your regular health provider.
Providing emergency medical coverage in the event of an injury (broken bones) or illness (flu, sinus infection), travel medical insurance policies are a 'must-have' for people going abroad. These plans also provide emergency medical evacuation coverage for air ambulance transport to a proper care facility and can be purchased for travel up to a year in length.
Major Medical
These plans are designed for travelers who will be abroad for at least 6 months and provide comprehensive medical protection including emergency medical treatment, wellness care, and optional prescription drug coverage. Like most health insurance plans, these plans contain both in- and out-of-network coverage, deductibles, and co-payments. They offer added travel benefits such as accidental death and emergency medical evacuation protection. Major Medical plans provide regular, long-term health coverage and require an application process. You cannot buy Major Medical plans online.
Medical Evacuation
Medical Evacuation plans provide assistance in the event that you become seriously ill or injured while traveling. These plans provide emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate care facility or, with some plans, to your hospital of choice. Most plans include coverage for repatriation of mortal remains.
This coverage can be purchased as a stand alone policy or it may be included in comprehensive travel policies like trip cancellation or travel medical policies. It provides evacuation to the nearest appropriate care facility or, in some cases, to your hospital of choice depending on the company and plan. So if you are injured or ill in a remote area of the world where expert medical services are minimal, a medical evacuation plan will get you where you need to go for quality care and attention.
AD&D
Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) plans pay benefits if you should have a serious injury that results in dismemberment or loss of life. Loss-of-life benefits paid by these plans are in addition to any benefits paid by life insurance plans.
AD&D plans provide continuous 24/7 coverage or coverage specifically for flights. Review your Certificate of Insurance carefully before you purchase to make sure the coverage is enough for what you might need.
3. TRAVEL INSURANCE MUST DOS
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? Compare, Compare, Compare: Shop around to get the best plan for your needs at the right price. InsureMyTrip.com offers side-by-side comparisons of policies and prices to help you make smart purchasing decisions quickly and easily.
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? Buy From a Third Party: Typically, if you purchase travel insurance directly through a travel supplier such as an airline, cruise line, or tour operator, you can't protect yourself if that travel supplier goes bankrupt or becomes financially insolvent, so it is always best to purchase your travel insurance protection from a third-party source.
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? Understand the Details: Travel insurance coverage and premiums vary from policy to policy and even state to state so it's important to know exactly how your plan works and the protection it provides. Work with one of our unbiased insurance specialists to help select the right policy for you and review the coverage details together.
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? Keep Your Receipts: In the event you ever have to file a claim, keep your receipts for everything from pre-paid non-refundable trip costs insured under your policy to doctor's notes, as well as any receipts incurred from a travel delay such as meals, hotel accommodations, and transportation to/from the airport.
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? Call InsureMyTrip.com: For expert personal assistance choosing the right travel insurance for your needs, call InsureMyTrip.com's career break insurance line for Meet, Plan, Go! members only at 855-773-9375.
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Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am
I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂
Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am
Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).
In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!
Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm
Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!
Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm
Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.
Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm
Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!
Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm
merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!
shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am
you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!
Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am
[…] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels! Any […]
G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm
I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.