Why take out travel insurance?
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is an insurance contract. In exchange for a fixed premium, the insurer undertakes to provide the insured with a set of guarantees to ensure that he or she is assisted and insured before, during and after a trip. Travel insurance allows you to minimize the financial impact of unforeseen events and benefit from assistance services when you need it. In short, travel insurance allows you to travel with peace of mind by protecting you against unforeseen events.
Trip cancellation, loss or theft of luggage, accidents or unexpected medical expenses... All these cover options can be chosen thanks to our travel insurance offers. As there are different ways of travelling, there are also different plans (Essential and Comfort) containing different levels of cover, adapted to all your travel needs.
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Is travel insurance really useful?
Who hasn't heard the story of the person who missed their plane because of a traffic jam, or the family who couldn't find their luggage on arrival, or whose house was flooded during their holiday? And have you thought about what would happen if you fell ill in a foreign country? Or if you had an accident? Without imagining the worst, it's a good idea to think of everything to avoid problems on holiday. That's what travel insurance is for!
A health problem while on holiday? Your travel insurance will cover the cost of treatment and help you if you need to be repatriated:
- Are you travelling within the European Union and the European Economic Area? The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) guarantees you the same access to public healthcare facilities as the citizens of the country you are in. You can therefore be treated on the spot and present the bill to your health insurance company afterwards, but you will need travel insurance to top up your cover.
- Are you travelling to a foreign country, outside the EU and EEA? If you're travelling to a country where medical costs are high, or if, as in the United States, the social health system is different, it's best to avoid unpleasant surprises. In the United States, if you do not present proof of insurance or a credit card showing that you have the capacity to pay for your medical treatment, you risk not being covered. It is therefore strongly recommended that you take out travel insurance that guarantees reimbursement of health costs incurred and repatriation if necessary.
Medical assistance, repatriation, trip cancellation, baggage theft, travel accident... Travel insurance policies offer a wide range of invaluable cover in the event of the unexpected, so you can travel with peace of mind, whether at home or abroad.
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One-off or annual travel insurance: what duration should you choose?
There are two types of travel insurance:
- Temporary: you take out travel insurance for a specific stay. Ideal if you don't travel frequently.
- Annual: this is practical for people who travel more than once a year. With long-term insurance, you're covered for a year for all your trips. So you can keep your spontaneity and preserve your peace of mind while being covered in Switzerland and abroad for short and long stays. Discover our Essential and Comfort formulas in our Annual offer, so you can travel with peace of mind all year round.
When should you take out travel insurance?
Would you like to take out travel cancellation insurance? If you cancel your trip, cancellation charges will be applied by the tour operator, whatever the reason for the cancellation. Calculated according to a scale indicated in the general terms and conditions of sale, these cancellation fees can be high, but they can also be compensated by your Europ Assistance travel insurance. Obviously, events that have already occurred or were known about at the time of booking the trip or taking out the insurance are not covered by travel and cancellation insurance.
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Whatever your destination, travel insurance is recommended for trips abroad, but may also be compulsory for travel to certain countries. The list of these countries - previously limited to China, Cuba and Algeria - now includes many more destinations following the Covid-19 health crisis. Before planning and booking your next trip abroad, don't hesitate to check the current regulations in force in the country of your choice.
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Does travel insurance duplicate bank card insurance?
Many bank cards also offer travel insurance cover, but this varies depending on the type of card and the issuing bank. Very often, they are subject to the card being used to purchase the trip. Remember to check the maximum cover amounts and the grounds for cancellation. Taking out travel insurance is often an essential addition to overcome certain limitations.
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