What you need to know about travel insurance and countries with travel advisories
Travelling is a fun to get away. Exploring new places is exciting. But what happens if a travel advisory is listed for your destination? Should you still go? Will you be in danger? These are good questions and one's that need to be answered before you decide to jet off abroad.
Where can you check travel advisories?
If you're planning a trip to a part of world that is issued a travel advisory it's important to check the Travel Advice and Advisories on the Canadian government website before you book (and pay) for your trip. Check again before you leave to make sure it's safe to travel.
Travel advisories can be issued for a number of reasons, including (but not limited to) political problems, civil unrest, disease outbreaks, war, tourist kidnappings and ransom, or extreme weather conditions. There's no guarantee any of these events will happen to you while you're visiting a foreign country, but it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your personal wellbeing.
If the Government of Canada has issued a travel advisory for your vacation destination, they suggest you contact your insurance provider immediately to see if you can be refunded in full or partially for your travel expenses.
What you need to know about your travel insurance coverage
Although travelling to a country where travel is not advised is a personal choice, your insurance can choose to cover or not cover your expenses. These expenses include travel plans and accommodations if you cancel before leaving or need to come home while abroad as well as medical expenses incurred while in a foreign country.
It's very important to review your travel insurance policy before leaving so you can get all the details before you leave. The last thing you want is emergency medical treatment or evacuation while abroad and not know whether you're covered by insurance.
What happens if your trip is cancelled by the provider because of an advisory?
If your trip is cancelled due to a travel advisory warning, your expenses should be refunded through your trip cancellation travel insurance. Your expenses may also be refunded directly by the provider such as the airline if all flights get cancelled.
Sometimes you can choose an alternative destination or route (if the warning is issued for a layover destination) and sometimes you may need to come home as soon as possible for your personal safety.
Can you still travel if a warning is issued?
Yes, you can, but the real question is should you?
According to the Blue Cross: "If a warning is listed for a particular country, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t travel there." Ask yourself the following questions before deciding to travel:
Is the entire country impacted?
What is the warning for?
What is the real danger?"
Travel advisories give people information about what is happening in cities and countries around the world that may affect their personal safety. These include health concerns and viruses, local weather and natural disasters as well as security. These are things that need to be considered before you leave home for a foreign country, especially if a travel advisory has been issued.