Travel insurance comparison

What is the difference between insurance for 100 hryvnias and one that costs several thousand? Can cheap travel insurance be as reliable as an elite package of services? How to avoid falling for scammers when choosing a policy?

We answer all these questions and compare different types of insurance policies to understand them:

• The cheapest or the most expensive?
• Paper policy or electronic?
• Medical, travel and other types of insurance.

The cheapest or the most expensive?

The first thing that can confuse you when choosing insurance is the difference in price. One can cost even less than 100 hryvnias, while the price of another exceeds several thousand. Why is that?

The price usually depends on the factors and services included in the document. Such as:

• Duration of stay on the trip: 14 days, 1 month, or maybe 3 months.
• Validity of the document: only on the day of the trip or for the whole year.
• Countries where the policy is valid: it can be only one country, all of Europe, the USA, or the whole world.
• Amount of coverage: minimum for Europe - 30 thousand euros, but it can be increased.
• Purpose of the trip: it is just tourism, sports, work, treatment.
• What is included in the insurance: only treatment, coverage of expenses in case of other accidents during the trip.
• The client's personal data also affects: health status, age, presence of injuries or chronic diseases at the time of the trip.

So which policy should you choose: the cheapest or the most expensive option? The optimal solution: choose the document that meets all your expectations and travel conditions. And, starting from this, look for profitable offers.

Paper policy or electronic version?

Is there any difference between these two options? On the one hand, both are travel insurance that covers the costs of treatment in case of accidents during a trip. However, insurance companies are increasingly selling the electronic version at a very favorable price. Why is that? They do not need to spend money on renting offices throughout the country, hiring many employees. After all, the main thing is to ensure the operability of the site and managers, and the client will be able to buy a service in any city.

And what difference does it make to you, a paper document or not? In addition to saving money, the electronic version is advantageous in that it will not be lost or damaged. After all, you will always have a copy at the post office, you can simply download it again. You don't even have to print it, you can just save it on your phone.

It's convenient to search for both paper and electronic policies on the Internet, but you can buy the latter right away. You don't need to go anywhere or wait for the courier to deliver the envelope with the contract. In just 15 minutes, the finished policy will be in your smartphone. Even if you forgot about it at first and bought it at the airport.

Medical, travel and other types of insurance

The cost depends on the type of insurance. Regular medical insurance will cost the least. The one that includes other travel services, for example, luggage insurance, will already increase in price. Insurance that allows you to play sports or even work is also a different cost.

But, besides the price, what affects their type? Let's give an example: a client chose regular travel insurance and went on a trip to Bali. There he rode a motorcycle, went surfing, and tried some other sport. And then he got injured and went to the hospital. Regular medical insurance can cover the emergency call, but not all the treatment. Because the client ordered the cheapest insurance, and did not indicate that he was going to play sports.

Or, the client chose insurance for a year and went to live in another country. There, he got a part-time job and got injured during working hours. His treatment will not be covered, since this requires insurance for the purpose of a business trip.

To prevent this from happening, it is better to immediately choose a document that suits all parameters. Then it will not turn out that you bought it for nothing, and also paid for treatment after an injury.

What other differences are there in travel policies? One of the most important: the company that provides the services. If you have found the right type of document and are already going to buy it - do not rush. Check out reviews about the companies on thematic sites. Find out from clients whether they covered their treatment costs when such a need arose? Were there any scandals or delays in payments?

Conclusion: to choose the one you need from the many insurance documents, focus on the most important factors. This is the reputation of the insurance company, the type of policy and what it covers. And the price and the difference between a paper and an electronic document are secondary indicators. After all, the main thing is that the insurance is not just a formal piece of paper, but works. And, if necessary, it can be used.