Travel Insurance - Is it important to take out? - Heymondo

Travel Insurance, To Insure or Not to Insure...

If there are recurring questions here on the blog or whenever I go traveling, this is one of them. Believe me, it's one of the questions I get the most about my travels. Whether or not it's worth doing travel insurance.

My answer is YES. You should always take out travel insurance. There are various arguments about whether or not travel insurance is necessary. I'll explain why I never travel without insurance. My insurance of choice, plus a gift for you travelers, with 5% discount if you take out your insurance through the Blog.

Why you shouldn't even consider traveling without insurance

"Insurance Has Died of Old Age"

My mother used to say that "insurance is old news". Of course, if there's a popular saying, it's because it has some truth to it. And the saying "it only happens to others" is perhaps not the best motto in life. Preparing for the trip is one of the most important stages of the journey, because it will allow you to reduce uncertainty and unforeseen events. So that you can make the most of the trip, even if something doesn't go according to plan. And then the peace of mind and tranquillity are priceless.

Not to mention that, contrary to what many people think, travel insurance doesn't just cover health issues and accidents, it also covers other situations, such as damage to luggage, loss of passport, theft, etc.

There are also some preconceived ideas that it is important to clarify:

• European Health Insurance Card - I've often heard the argument that as a European citizen, and as long as you're traveling to a member state of the European Union, there's no need to take out travel insurance. I also have a European Health Card. And I advise all Europeans to get one. But you have to bear in mind that the coverage of this card has some limitations when compared to travel insurance coverage.

And as it says on the Social Security website, the entity responsible for issuing the Card:

The European Health Insurance Card is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover health care provided in the private health system or other expenses, such as the cost of repatriation or compensation for lost or stolen property.

• "You're never without help" - This is another phrase that people who risk not taking out travel insurance use a lot. At first I don't know if it's true or not. I believe they won't leave you to die without help. But with the hospital bill they're going to present you with, it's possible that "something bad might happen"...
• Private health insurance that covers trips abroad - Even if the private health insurance you have covers you abroad, you need to look carefully at the conditions, because since they are health insurance and not specialized travel insurance, sometimes the cover leaves a lot to be desired. And always take into account the type of trip you're going on (adventure, backpacking, etc.) and the countries you're traveling to.

The key questions you should ask when choosing your travel insurance are:

• What is the value of the medical assistance cover (the minimum acceptable is €100,000)?
• Whether emergency dental expenses are included
• Whether repatriation and early return are included
• Whether theft and damage to luggage is included 
• If it includes changes and loss of services (If your means of transportation is delayed, if additional hotel, food and transportation costs are covered. As well as the costs you will incur in the event of missed connections. Overbooking or last-minute cancellation of airline or hotel reservations).
• If it includes adventure sports
• If it includes cruise trips
• If it includes electronic equipment
• If trip cancellation is included
• If it includes Airhelp claims services
• If you need to advance the money 
• Provides assistance in Portuguese 24/365 days
• If you are exempt from deductibles

Now that I've explained why I never travel without travel insurance, I'm going to tell you about my insurance of choice.

My Choice Today - Heymondo Insurance

Of the various travel insurances on the market, my current choice is Heymondo Seguros. It's not that I wasn't satisfied with the insurance I used to use, but this insurance company really does have some advantages over the ones I've used when traveling.

I got to know Heymondo through the regular research I do to find out which companies offer the best conditions on travel-related products and services. I then had the opportunity to meet one of the company's employees. She answered all my questions and the possibility arose of offering a discount to Blog readers.

My readers have 5% discount in the Heymondo Insurance, compared to the prices charged on the insurance company's own website. This means that it's cheaper to buy here via the blog than directly from Heymondo. To access it, just click on the image below or on the right-hand side.

Advantages of taking out travel insurance with Heymondo

1. Service in your language - It has a 24-hour call center, 356 days a year, in Portuguese. This may seem irrelevant, but believe me, when you're stressed, the last thing you want is to have to think in a language other than your own to solve the problem.
2. They have free service calls - You've been left without your belongings, you're in a foreign country, well it seems to me that I don't need to explain why it's relevant...
3. No deductibles - The amount you paid for your insurance is the only amount you'll pay. If you have to take out insurance, you won't have to pay anything more. Heymondo covers the cost of assistance from the outset, so you don't need to put any money down. You won't have to worry about whether you have the money to pay the bill in advance. Nor will you have to worry about reimbursements, which in many cases are time-consuming and extremely bureaucratic (with the exception of cancellation insurance).
4. Specific insurance for all types of trips and travelers - They have insurance suitable for every type of trip and every type of traveler. From weekend getaways to long journeys. Or insurance with cover for cruises and sports and extreme activities, among others. I recommend that you always check the detailed coverage of each insurance policy to ensure that the insurance you choose is 100% suited to your needs.
5. It has the most important coverages in travel insurance - Such as medical assistance abroad; transportation and repatriation in the event of illness, serious accident or death; theft and damage to luggage; and cover for equipment such as computers and cameras. And COVID-19 cover.
6. Competitive prices - It has insurance with different cover options and prices, but always competitive with the competition.
7. Fast, simple and easy to hire - Taking out insurance is done online and takes no more than 5 minutes. Then you'll receive all the documentation in your e-mail and you'll be on your way with peace of mind. And it's available to view whenever you need it on Heymondo's mobile app.
8. Assistance 24h/365 days - Medical assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including Covid-19 infection.
9. Booking refunds - Optional trip cancellation cover (including COVID) can be taken out even if more than 7 days have passed since the trip was booked.
10. Travel assistance app - Free service calls and incident management in the palm of your hand.

What kind of insurance should I take out?

As there are different types of travel insurance for different types of trips (both domestic and international), you have the opportunity to choose the insurance that best suits your trip. And you can customize your travel insurance according to the characteristics of your trip, and the specific needs of each trip. You can add additional cover by adjusting the cover limits. All insurances have COVID-19 coverage, and are suitable for any type of traveler (families, friends or solo travelers).

At Heymondo you have 4 types of insurance, to which you can add additional cover and change the cover limits:

1. Travel Insurance

Includes:

• Medical expenses up to €6,000,000
• Repatriation and early return included
• Theft and damage to luggage up to €3,500
• Reimbursement of expenses if you don't travel
• COVID-19 coverage

2. Annual multi-trip insurance

If you're a frequent traveler, this could be the ideal insurance for you, as it covers all the trips you make during a year. However, each trip must not exceed 90 days. In the case of trips lasting longer than 90 days, Long Term Travel insurance will be the most suitable.

Includes:

• Medical expenses up to €3,000,000
• Repatriation and early return included
• Theft and damage to luggage up to €2,500
• Change and loss of services up to 300€
• COVID-19 coverage

3. Long Term Travel Insurance

You can take out this insurance for a minimum of 90 days and renew it as and when you like. Prices are shown in advance before renewal, so you know in advance how much you will pay for insurance if you decide to renew.

Includes:

• Medical expenses up to €500,000
• Repatriation and early return included
• Theft and damage to luggage up to €1,500
• Alteration and Persian services up to 200€
• COVID-19 coverage
• 100€ deductible

4. Cancellation Insurance

Includes:

• Up to 42 reasons for cancellation
• Reimbursement without delay
• Insurance up to €6,000/traveler for travel expenses

What optional cover can I choose? 

There are various optional coverages you can choose from, depending on the type of insurance you take out. Here are some of them:

• Electronic equipment
• Trip cancellation
• Cruise
• Adventure sports

How do I know how much I'm going to pay?

You choose the type of insurance that best suits your trip, decide which optional cover you want to include or not, and then all you have to do is use the simulator and calculate the insurance quote.

More info

For more information consult the Heymondo Seguros website, or get in touch via e-mail or the chat in the bottom right-hand corner of the site.

Website: www.heymondo.pt

E-mail: contacto@heymondo.pt

Note: The purpose of this article is to inform you of the importance of taking out travel insurance and to provide general information.

I hope you enjoyed it, have a safe journey and see you in the next article.