An Edmonton teen hospitalized abroad. What to know about travel insurance

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An Edmonton teen hospitalized abroad. What to know about travel insurance

“I know when a lot of people book online they get their other flights or their package confirmed, and that insurance component pops up and they just click through it and say I don’t need any of that, but it can be really financially devastating, especially with medical costs, and even in extreme cases where somebody passes away at destination.”

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No one imagines a trip going sideways and costs mounting as happened to family of an Edmonton teen hospitalized in the Dominican Republic this month, but experts warn that travellers must be diligent to ensure they have travel insurance before setting out abroad.

Chase Delorme-Rowan, brutally attacked at a Dominican resort while travelling with his family, is on the mend but his mother said mounting hospital bills for the 18-year-old who suffered a head injury were another looming concern. The family had medical insurance through their personal insurance company but theirs is a cautionary tale about the importance of heading out of the country properly equipped with insurance.

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Donna Yargeau, an instructor in the travel and tourism program at Edmonton’s MacEwan University, said cases like Delorme-Rowan’s can happen at any time and in situations people wouldn’t normally anticipate. She said each year she has an industry expert come into her class to discuss travel insurance and the importance of it.

“It’s not something that we usually think about when we’re going on a trip, but it’s something that we really shouldn’t travel without, especially outside of the country, because you just can’t count on Alberta Health Care to pay for the costs when you’re not here, and it should really be a necessity,” Yargeau said.

Delorme-Rowan’s skull was cracked from the front of his forehead to the back of his neck. Doctors had to perform surgery to remove a blood clot the size of a grapefruit and remove part of his skull.

A man from Nova Scotia was charged last Monday in relation to the attack.

Travel insurance vs. credit card insurance

Some of the key differences between proper travel insurance and insurance on a credit card is the limits they will cover. Yargeau said some credit cards will have a limit of up to $2 million for medical insurance which can go a long way. But in some cases, like if a Canadian had a heart attack in the United States and required a long hospitalization, costs add up very quickly.

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Travel insurance, generally more comprehensive and including a variety of coverage options, can be purchased “piece by piece” to suit individual needs.

Filing insurance via a credit card provider, meanwhile, is not always straightforward and the parameters are not always met.

Yargeau said there are types of travel insurance which reimburse up to 80 per cent of a trip for whatever reason. Additionally, if something that required insurance were to happen at a destination, travellers only have to call one insurance provider who can look after the issue.

“I know when a lot of people book online they get their other flights or their package confirmed, and that insurance component pops up and they just click through it and say I don’t need any of that, but it can be really financially devastating, especially with medical costs, and even in extreme cases where somebody passes away at destination,” Yargeau said.

Benefits of booking with a travel agent

In this day and age where booking a flight can be easily done from the comfort of home, not many people look to a travel professional to book, but Yargeau said using one gives travellers a broader scope of options, allowing them to have a trip tailored to their specific needs.

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“With the travel professional, whether you’re calling or using their booking form or going in face to face, you can get more advice. They’re more unbiased so instead of being restricted to say, one airline or one tour package, they can give you a broader sense of what might be best for you and what you’re looking for,” Yargeau said.

A travel professional is also able to answer questions or provide details many travellers may not be aware of, including which countries still require COVID documentation and those that require a passport to be valid for six months after the return date.

[email protected]
X: @kccindytran

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