If you ever lived in Lagos and used a public transport popularly called Danfo, there’s a possibility that you would have personally experienced your luggage getting missing when it was time to highlight at your bus stop.
Tolu is a a young man who just got a job in Lagos that requested that he relocates to Lagos. This was his first time in Lagos so he wasn’t familiar with all the tricks of the public transport system.
I know you may say he could have taken a ride-hailing cab to his destination, but unfortunately for him, he had a flat battery and it was late in the evening.
So he asked at the park where the bus that brought him from Akure dropped him for how to get to Ikoyi where he was meant to resume.
He found a danfo bus, after negotiating the bus fare, he hopped unto the bus hoping that the bus conductor would park his luggage into the booth of the bus.
Unknown to him, the bus conductor wasn’t sure which bag was Tolu’s out of the 4 boxes on the floor, so he picked two and left the remaining two.
One hour later, it was time to highlight and that was when it dawned on Tolu that his bags were still waiting for him at the park.
Don’t ask me why did he make such mistake because I also don’t know why.
Now imagine this happening to you in a foreign country or destination, what would you do? Please don’t say that it can’t be you, it happens to the best of us.
This is where travel insurance comes in..
What is Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is a form of financial protection that covers unforeseen expenses related to your trip, including medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost luggage especially on an international trip.
It serves as a risk mitigation tool, providing coverage for unexpected events such as trip interruptions, delays, or unforeseen cancellations due to emergencies.
If you have a scenario like Tolu’s which is very much possible, travel insurance can be your knight in shining armor.
Let’s not forget the part where losing your luggage is not intentional especially if you’re not on a direct flight, which is one of the reasons travelers are advised to always pack their important items in the carry-on.
This is a precautionary measure to avoid stories that touch when you get to your destination. For example, I once travelled to Cross River for a work trip and the airline forgot our tripod in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Thankfully, we had no need for the device on the day we arrived. They promised to get it to us later in the evening or first thing in the morning.
I once read a story of a young woman who travelled and somehow her luggage were left in Lagos, unfortunately for her, she didn’t have some of her basic stuff in her hand luggage which meant she was going to be stranded till when they send her luggage which could take days.
Types of Travel Insurance
1.Trip Cancellation Insurance
2. Trip Interruption Insurance
3. Travel Medical Insurance
4. Evacuation Insurance
5. Baggage and Personal Belongings Insurance
6. Business Travel Insurance
Advantages of Travel Insurance
1. Trip Expense Refund: In the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, injury, or a family emergency, travel insurance can reimburse you for prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel your trip.
2. Protection from Unplanned Expenses: Getting a travel insurance means that the medical expenses incurred during your trip, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and emergency medical evacuations are covered.
This is particularly crucial when traveling internationally, where healthcare costs can be high.
3. Personal Belongings Protection: Travel insurance provides coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and personal belongings during your trip.
This includes reimbursement for the cost of essential items if your baggage is delayed or misplaced by the airline.
4. Safety Measures: Travel insurance can include coverage for injuries or equipment damage while participating in adventurous activities like skiing, scuba diving, or hiking, providing peace of mind for adventure enthusiasts.
If you have plans to explore and be adventurous on your next trip especially during summer, you definitely need a travel insurance.
What to Look out for when choosing a travel insurance
1. Coverage Limitations: Insurance policies often come with limitations, exclusions, and conditions. Understanding the fine print is crucial to ensuring that the coverage meets your specific needs.
Travel insurance may not cover certain high-risk or adventure activities. If you plan on engaging in activities like extreme sports, check whether your insurance provides adequate coverage.
Ask as much questions as possible so you don’t end up with dashed expectations
2. High Deductibles: True, travel insurance amongst other forms of insurance can be expensive but which is better, suffering a disaster without compensation or suffering the disaster and getting compensation for it?
Imagine you travel to London, became sick and needed to use the hospital, your travel insurance would have saved you from spending that exorbitant amount on getting medical attention.
Conclusion
It is important to state that your repayment is based on the insurance plan you purchase. In some cases, it might simply cover your missing luggage or an health emergency or a cancelled flight or everything.
Ensure that you get adequate information on your travel insurance coverage.
