If travel insurance prices seem way too expensive, think about what you get for your dollar.

Invariably, the first positive listed for having medical travel insurance is peace of mind – ok – that’s a given. Of course any traveller is going to feel way more secure knowing he or she has back up. But peace of mind is more in the realm of touchy feely emotions. What about some cold hard facts?

Five Australians injured in a mini-van accident required hospitalisation and eventual medical evacuation to Australia. Fortunately they had travel insurance, as evacuation alone from Bali cost around $60,000 each.

Another Aussie, this time in the U.S., had allowed his cover to lapse. He was hit by a car with only days to go before his return, hospitalised in a country where hospital charges are notoriously high, and eventually evacuated home. Cost of evacuation alone - $80,000. With no insurance, his family took out a second mortgage on their home

What about these incidents

A retired businessman touring the United States rushed to hospital with a heart attack and eventually evacuated under medical care. His travel insurance covered his $100,000 plus bill.
A husband and wife travelling in Canada crashed their hire car. Eight days hospitalisation plus emergency expenses, loss of luggage etc came to around $40,000 – covered by their travel insurance.

An Aussie surfer, again in the U.S., dumped by a wave resulting in head injuries. Total hospital bill – $290,000 covered by insurance.

Do you think any of these people sat around thinking they’d paid too much for their insurance?

Online insurance company, 1 Cover, provides multiple levels of annual, single and multi trip insurance for backpackers, families, single and duos. After many years in the game, they say insurance companies do try to keep prices down to a reasonable level, but drop them too low and it’s impossible to provide the level of support required in an emergency.

Not one of the cases listed would have left home with any thought of impending disaster. Precisely because life is impossible to predict is why all travellers need travel insurance – cost has little to do with it.

Browsing the Web is the easiest method to find cheap travel insurance. Naturally, it’s vital to compare travel insurance companies – their varying plans, level of cover, excess on specific items and qualifying points such as pre-existing medical conditions.

Travel insurance prices and plans are not standard, so you need to consider carefully the quote you accept, but never consider travelling without.