My husband and I are going on a safari and Kilimanjaro trek in Tanzania in June, and our outfitter recommends we get travel insurance. Does anyone know anything about travel insurance? Is it necessary to have? Do most medical insurance companies cover travel abroad? If not, are there any insurance companies anyone can recommend? How much should travel insurance cost us? What things should we be sure a travel insurance policy covers?

Dr Cookie,

Same thing, look up insurance in the search.

Kind regards,
Kaye

You can view different policies using www.insuremytrip.com or surf on the Internet for travel insurance. Costs depend on trip cost - if you want protection for delay, cancellation, bankrupt outfitter, length of stay and age of travellers - to name a couple. The choices depend on your tolerance for risk, coverage for pre-exising medical conditions and different levels of monetary coverage. Take a look.

Some people book it through their agent, I'm choosing to book it independently - probably Specialty Risk International Round trip protection. Others have discussion Travelex, Travel Guard and sure there are other people on the board have used.

You can look at expanding medical protection with MedJet http://www.medjetassistance.com/default.asp?partner=
Some policies do include evacuation coverage already - but may not allow you to be moved to hospital and country of your choice.

For Tanzania you might also consider Flying Doctors to transport you to Nairobi for medical evaluation from locations in tanzania. http://www.amref.org/index.asp?PageID=36

Great info lovetodiscover. Thanks. I just learned that my regular travel medical insurance will only cover transfer to the 'nearest hospital that meets standards' e.g. to Jo'burg from Kenya or Tanzania. Not to home!

Absolutely, get trip insurance. You've got an investment in your trip. You'd probably be best with Comprehensive which covers for cancellation/interruption, flight and baggage delays, baggage loss, medical/dental and evacuation (and life insurance). Price will be based on cost of your trip - air (if not using FF awards) land and your ages.

On the www.insuremytrip.com site you will find various insurers providing such policies, and will average about the same price. But do check all the drop-down menus for what's included and what's not.

You should also consider Flying Doctors which will, should the need arise, pick you up during daylight hours to tranport you to a hospital in Nairobi for further treatment. Their fees are minimal - $15 - $25/person that covers your entire stay.

Only Medjet, once you're at a major hospital, transport you to your home hospital.

All links are shown in this thread.

More than likely you won't need any of these policies, but you shouldn't consider the type of trip you are without being covered for some unforeseen something. A slip, fall or twisted leg is not much fun when your at 11,000-ft. and need serious medical care.

I don't know whether you pay the trip with your credit card and which card that is. But if you have a gold card or visa premier, you are very well overed without extra insurance , so this is worth to check

Insurance coverage from credit cards is usually limited to common carrier accident, lost/delayed baggage, and rental car collision. Credit cards do not generally cover emergency medical evacuation coverage or trip cancellation/interruption which I think are the two primary reasons people purchase travel insurance.

beat me to it Patty. There are a lot of things the credit card won't cover. Extra insurance is wise.

Patty is absolutely correct. Credit cards don't cover for what you really need for a prepaid trip - cancellation/interruption and especially for medical evacuation.

I don't know wether it is because my card is European, but medical evacuation, cancellation etc are all covered, I am sure as I had to use these services. Mind you I am talking about a GOLD MC or Visa PREMIER. Also when we had to cancel a trip to the Maldives(exp. package accomodation Full Board with flight) eveything was reimbursed and very quickly too.

Lucky you! Unfortunately, that kind of coverage isn't included with US issued cards. Could be some kind of EU regulation that requires it?