Risk & Business Magazine Cooke Insurance Spring 2017 | Page 31

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Could You Afford A Million-Dollar Hospital Bill ?

Questions To Ask About Travel Insurance

Consider the following questions :

• Are you relying on your doctor to tell you whether or not you can travel ?
• Have you had any changes in your medical history that the insurance company may be unaware of ?
• Are you traveling to a location in which the Canadian government has issued a travel advisory notice ?
• Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions ?
• Have you been prescribed any new medications or changed dosages on current medications in the last six months ?
• Is your travel insurance up-to-date ? If so , do you know what it includes ?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions , your travel insurance coverage might be in doubt . Now you have to ask yourself : Is that a risk that you can live with ?
Danny Corriveau , President of Cooke Capital , has a passion for consulting with businesses , large and small , seeking customized Group Health Plan solutions . His experience serving a broad client base enables Danny to respond quickly to the unique needs of both employers and employees enhancing long-term prosperity for his clients .
Many times , individuals will rely on the fact that they have insurance to be enough when , in reality , the type and extent of that insurance is much more important . Simply having insurance is not enough . If you have a change in medical condition , you need to check how this might affect your coverage before deciding to travel or else it could end up being very costly .
Some time ago , I remember reading a story about a Canadian family who were hit hard by a health issue while traveling . Put yourself , for a moment , in the shoes of a Saskatchewan mother who relied on her travel insurance when she went to the United States . She purchased travel insurance prior to going , got a green light to travel from her doctor , but never received a questionnaire from her insurance company . While traveling , she prematurely gave birth in the United States . That birth ended up costing her over $ 900,000 in medical bills after her insurance denied her claim due to a pre-existing condition . Could you afford to have something like this happen to you ? How might that impact your financial future ?
BY : DANNY CORRIVEAU , COOKE CAPITAL
While this situation may seem unique and extreme , it isn ’ t . Many people put themselves in that position without realizing it . The most common mistake is assuming that because your doctor has told you it is okay to travel , you are in the clear . Unfortunately , insurance companies have a different set of standards . What would happen to your business if you were to be saddled with huge medical expenses incurred in a foreign country ?
For anyone who travels on a regular basis , particularly business owners , it is essential that you have an understanding of what travel insurance is and what it covers . There are many different types of travel insurance policies , so each individual policy is going to be unique . A general understanding is crucial to knowing which questions you should ask regarding your specific case .
Ultimately , travel insurance is meant to protect you while you travel . It is important that you understand the limitations of your policy to avoid unpleasant surprises and putting your financial well-being at risk .
Before you travel , please take the time to review your policy and ask the right questions to ensure you avoid unwanted surprises . For more information or to find out more about travel insurance , contact our office at 800-566-5666 . +
SPRING 2017 | 31