Why travel insurance should be a must-have before setting off on your next holiday adventure.
Exploring the wonders of the world can come with an element of risk, which is why it is important to have travel insurance that includes assistance resources for medical and safety emergencies.
RACQ Travel Insurance* includes 24/7 emergency support for policyholders while they are overseas via its partnership with On Call International.
On Call International Global Security Services Manager Rob Grant said this support could range from basic medical or security advice to complex emergency evacuations.
Mr Grant said situations could quickly escalate for travellers and it was important to have emergency resources available any time you travelled.
“As we often see in the news, you can be in a country when an emergency strikes, like a natural disaster, and you need to get out quickly,” Mr Grant said.
“We facilitate the evacuation of people by whatever means we can.”
This can include, but is not limited to, commercial travel, if available, or other specially arranged air, land and water transport options.
On Call can also provide situational security advice and pre-trip destination information to travellers, arming them with the information they need to make informed decisions before and during their travels. The assistance process starts when a traveller calls the On Call International’s Global Response Center.
“We work with clients and travellers to provide the safest and most feasible escape options possible, based on their needs and coverage,” Mr Grant said.
“We also facilitate assistance for medical emergencies and even more common day-to-day travel hassles such as lost baggage, misplaced passports and prescription replacement scenarios.
“Typically, we find smaller mishaps are more common among travellers, and how quickly these mishaps are handled can make or break a trip.”
Medical Director at On Call International Dr Alae Brand said travellers requiring medical treatment while overseas could also incur substantial medical bills, especially if they were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) or required air ambulance transfer.
“Nobody plans to get sick or injured while travelling for work or leisure, but it can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time,” Dr Brand said.
“Without comprehensive travel insurance and emergency assistance coverage, these medical bills are an out-of-pocket cost that can impact a traveller and their family’s finances for years to come.”
Learn more about On Call International at oncallinternational.com.
*Terms and conditions apply. Review the PDS and TMD available on the RACQ website to consider if this product best suits yours personal circumstances.