What to take into account when choosing travel assistance for vacations abroad

Although It’s not the first thing you think about when planning a trip.it must be recognized that It is an essential topicespecially if the vacation is abroad.

In addition to buying a ticket, reserving a hotel and choosing excursions, it is important hire a travel assistance service or medical insurance.

It’s understandable: no one wants to spend too much money or time choosing a product that they’re actually begging not to use. But if something happens during the trip, having the right service will be key.

Coverage for any health-related incident is one of the central issues of the traveler assistance service and lasts as long as one is traveling, be it a stomach upset, a flu, or more complicated situations such as a fall that requires plates and plaster or appendicitis, for example.

It must be clear that traveler assistance is not a prepaid or social work: it is not used to have a dental cleaning interspersed with a walk, but rather for a sudden toothache, to give an example.

“The incidence of risk is the same if you go to Punta del Este or Miami. The factor ‘I’m close to Argentina‘It doesn’t make sense,’ says Sebastián Bras Harriott, from Assist Card, in reference to those who believe that because they are geographically close to home they do not need to worry about this type of services.

For those who still doubt, he adds conclusive information: “The Medical costs outside the country double or quadruple depending on the destination. A hospitalization in the United States can cost US$10,000 per day and in Punta del Este, US$4,000 to US$6,000.”

“People began to realize the high costs of receiving care abroad. You don’t want anything to happen, but it’s better to be covered,” says Fernando Pérez, from Europ Assistance, a company with more than 50 years in the market.

Currently there are lots of offer and several alternativesbetween traditional companies and others that have emerged in recent times, with these services.

Even within the same company, the products – and rates – are very different depending on the type of trip and traveler.

An adventure trip in which you plan to practice extreme sports is not the same as a week of relaxation in an all-inclusive; A product for a business traveler, a young person, a digital nomad, a person over 70 years old or a family with small children is not the same. And a trip to a country in the region is not the same as to the United States, Europe or Southeast Asia.

It depends on what each one decides to contract, but medical assistance, loss, theft or delay of luggage and legal advice are usually among the basic things with different limits and conditions depending on the product.

Some may also include other items such as coverage against the need to cancel a trip, for example.

All the specialists consulted agree that, after the pandemic, there was a habit change among travelers and the penetration of assistance rose.

According to Bras Harriott, from Assist Card, 4 out of every 10 travelers contracted the service in 2019, while today we are already talking about 7 or 8 out of every 10 travelers. “There is greater concern about traveling protected,” he points out.

According to the specialist, at the top of consultations are medical issues such as flu, poisoning and trauma accidents.

Another point is luggage, which represents “14% of requests,” says Bras Harriott.

Just as one spends time compare air prices, stopovers or schedules, and looking at photos and hotel reviews is also important pay attention to what type of service is contracted and with which company. Travel agencies act as allies in these matters since specialized sellers can advise. Some points to keep in mind:

• Company history and reputation

The tradition of a company in the market, the support it has behind it, as well as the platforms and channels available to communicate and the opinions of other travelers are some of the keys to consider when choosing.

“Anyone can have a website or social networks, but that will not give you peace of mind. You have to know which company is behind it, how serious the company is,” says Diego Baron, from Universal Assistance.

Another important point is “the ease of requesting the service, how I connect if something happens, how they respond,” he adds and highlights, on the one hand, that more than 50% of Universal customers use the app or They open the case through the app and, in addition, all their products cover pre-existing conditions.

Read the general conditions, what is included and what is not, and the coverage limit. Take into account issues such as age, type of trip, activities to be carried out and, very importantly, previous health conditions – the famous pre-existing conditions – that may be outside coverage. Some products include them; others, no. You must be clear about whether they offer coverage in the destination you are traveling to or what they offer in relation to luggage.

“In case of pregnancy, it is also important to check until which week it covers,” advises Fernando Pérez from Europ Assistance. Their products, for example, cover up to week 32.

Check how the global assistance network works or its presence in the destinations you plan to visit.

It is true that cost is a key factor in travel planning, but the decision has to be to hire a good product and not a cheap one. Important: these services must be contracted before traveling, they are paid in pesos at the official exchange rate and no perceptions apply. Its validity can be extended in case of “stretching” the trip.

It is true that sometimes some prepaid cards or even some tourist packages include some type of assistance for traveling abroad. Again, review the scope of coverage and whether it is appropriate for the traveler.

“The model changed after the pandemic. Today, most card coverage requires certain conditions (that you have taken out the tickets with the card in question, for example). And the coverage limits also lowered a lot,” explains Fernando Pérez.

To keep in mind: annual coverage, pets and delays

Beyond the coverage that can be contracted for a specific trip, there are annual and multi-destination services. Experts say that if a person already knows that they are going to make two or more trips per year, it is advisable to take out this product.

“Currently, more than 35/40% of customers choose to purchase annual products,” says Baron

Universal also offers a product designed for animals (dogs and cats): medical assistance in the event of possible illnesses or accidents, whether outside or inside the home. That is, it covers animals that travel as well as those that stay.

Among the services contemplated: veterinary assistance (medical attention for any query from its owner, anywhere in the world); prescriptions for medications; advice to obtain information about hotels with a pet friendly policy; guidance on procedures for pets according to the chosen destination and reimbursement of veterinary medical expenses. The medical teleconsultation service with a veterinarian also works for when users are traveling around the world and their pet has problems.

Another interesting service to consider: the VIP Delay. Gives access to VIP lounges around the world for free in the event of flight delays of more than 60 minutes or cancellations (the service must appear on the purchased product).