Peter Greenberg in Nairobi, Kenya during the shooting at Westgate Mall
Travel insurance continues to be one of the more misunderstood essentials. When do you buy it? What kind? Of equal importance is WHERE you purchase it.
I’m a big fan of medical evacuation and repatriation insurance, and to quote an old American Express commercial, I “never leave home without it.” Why? Because if you get sick or injured while traveling, you need special coverage—insurance that will get you treated in the field, stabilized, and, if necessary, flown home to the medical facility and doctor of your choice.
Lots of companies offer basic types of this insurance, but few provide the kind of coverage that includes the crucial area of choice. After all, if you have a problem overseas, that last thing you want is an insurance company that sends you to the doctor and medical facility of THEIR choice!
For more than 17 years I’ve been insured by Medjet. I pay an annual premium, and thankfully I’ve never had to use the card, but I’m sure glad I carry it.
This week, Medjet announced it is adding an optional service to the coverage. It’s called “Horizon,” and this new service speaks to the reality of the world in which we live. Again, I call this essential coverage.
It’s a travel security and crisis response service—which provides 24/7 assistance that coordinates emergency services in the event of political threat, violent crime, terrorism, hijack, disappearance, blackmail or extortion, wrongful detention…even kidnap incidents.
The cost: an additional $139 over and above the annual Medjet premium. You don’t have to be an international spy (or an international man of mystery) to need this service. Like the Medjet medical evacuation and repatriation policy, it’s just something you should have every time you travel, and hope you never need. For a little more than $10 a month, it’s reassuring to know I’m protected if I’m ever blackmailed or extorted while traveling. Wait a minute, does this service cover unwarranted airline charges? In all seriousness, sign me up!
Want to learn more about travel insurance? Check out:
- Countries Where Medical Travel Insurance is Mandatory
- Travel Detective Exclusive: The Benefits of Having Travel Insurance
- When Traditional Travel Insurance is Not Enough
By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com
