Travel Insurance Is A Must For Every Traveller

Insurance is an important and in some cases an obligatory aspect of a tourist’s travel arrangements, embracing coverage for all manner of contingencies.

Today in Ghana, the first requirement for the acquisition of shengen visa is whether the visa applicant has taken up travel insurance policy. It does not really matter whether you are already on the national health insurance scheme of Ghana. This demand from our European Union friends suddenly switched many insurance companies in Ghana into quick travel insurance packaging. As different as they are from each other, so are the packages different. Before we take a look at the various insurance packages in Ghana, let me indicate to those of you who are not conversant with what travel insurance does. Normally travel insurance would cover one or more of the following contingencies:

a. Medical care and hospitalization (and repatriation where the hospital is sub standard;

b. Personal accident;

c. Cancellation or curtailment of holiday;

d. Delayed departure

e. Baggage loss or delay;

f. Money loss;

g. Personal liability etc.

Some policies are now also including coverage for the collapse of the travel agent or tour operator through which the tour was purchased – an increasingly important option in view of the growing instability in the industry especially after September 11. Tourists may purchase insurance either in the form of a selective policy, covering one or more of the above items or more commonly in the form of a standard package, which will include all, or most of the above. The latter policy offers the best value if comprehensive coverage is sought for.

In Ghana, the travel insurance market has some rather interesting packages, both simple and complex, l do appreciate the creativity of the insurer in recent times to fashion out travel packages for the Ghanaian traveling public, but they first have to demystify themselves as insurers by working on the perception that making a genuine claim is as daunting as mining for gold or getting Accra clean of plastic waste. Both my father and my very self have been victims of some of their skirmishes and l still do not believe them when they say “oh, you will get prompt payment should anything happen” I still hold my reservation for their very swapping attitude when it comes to purchasing a policy and making a claim. In any case the issue is traveling has become very complex venture even when it comes to risks. So we need to indemnify our selves and property when we have to travel and pray that nothing happens. I was going to talk about what packages are available in Ghana isn’t it? Yes, the most interesting one is the one you buy right at the bus terminal, it covers you when the bus begging the journey and expires once the bus get to the destination and you disembark, what robbery is this? My problem with this very one is that the crafters were smart and would make money but no tourist in her right state of awareness would ever purchase that when there are more riskier ventures at the destination than sitting on the couch. Dear, reader, it is very important to buy travel insurance but do not rush into buying anything that comes as travel insurance, talk to your travel agent who should know better and so is capable of offering good counsel.

Tour operators also buy travel insurance for their clients; others have their own comprehensive policies that they will encourage you to buy. The tour operators’ policies, however, may be more expensive to purchase than a comprehensive policy offered by an independent insurance company, and since the travel agents earn commission by selling independent insurance, they have then incentive to convince you buy but, in any case the agents have sufficiently broad knowledge of what policy is right for your needs.

It is also incumbent on you the traveler to ensure that whatever policy you are buying is the right kind for you. There are many excellent packages available on the market for you in Ghana. Never travel without an insurance cover for yourself, baggage, and money. You need insurance, think about it before you travel.