Travel insurance is a necessary ‘evil’ when traveling to South America. You should not leave home without travel insurance.
South America, in particular, the tropical and rural areas in the central and northern parts of the subcontinent has many unseen dangers and health risks, and even the temperate regions like Argentina have their dangers.
Travel insurance should be top of your must have list when traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina and South America.
In earlier articles, travel health Buenos Aires Argentina, we had better explain the health risks, what preventative care you might consider and what type of health services you can expect in Buenos Aires.
Simply speaking, there is a higher chance of you or your family having minor illnesses whilst travelling South America. There is also a slim chance of contracting a more serious illness, and therefore, it becomes more likely that you may have to pay for private health care.
It is not rocket science – a good quality travel insurance product should cover you.
So far, we have just touched on travel health, add to this loss of luggage, flight delays, theft of your camera, loss of credit cards and losing your money – remember, you are on your way to cities and resorts where you will meet some of the richest and poorest people in the world.
Mainline Security Ltd, the company that owns the web brands Luxury BA Stay, Buenos Aires Stay and Argentina Countrywide sell travel consultancy and vacation rentals to travelers as an alternative to expensive hotels. Bueno Aires Stay provides support to clients whilst they stay in Buenos Aires by providing 24/7 telephone support and concierge services – our staff have seen it all and this section is not about selling you a travel insurance product – it is about lending our experience and without lecturing or boring you (we hope) and telling you the possible pitfalls before you travel. We promise to tell clients exactly like it is!
Insurance companies do not like claims. How many times have you felt duped by the small print found tucked away in a multi page Wording (terms and conditions) written to ensure it is impossible to understand and found yourself unable to claim because the ‘flaming hoops insurance companies ask you to jump through’ make your claim almost impossible.
Travel insurance companies run businesses that look to make a profit by selling ‘boxes’ that they wager have nothing broken inside. If those boxes are broken, they then attempt to fix the problem the cheapest possible way. There is no medical underwriting so Wordings exclude many pre-existing or chronic health problems.
Do not go for the cheapest possible travel insurance product that offers limited cover that does not cover your health care needs, cash and property in transit, etc. Evaluate your worth abroad and choose benefit levels that will ensure you and your family are safe.
Most travel insurance companies use a travel assistance provider or they are both the travel insurer and travel assistance provider.
Travel Assistance is so terribly important and so often, so very bad. The travel assistance providers should offer a one-stop ‘magic- call’ where you report your problem and they get it sorted by using local agents (doctors, lawyers, couriers, airlines, hotels and banks) – so often this breaks down.
Look for the big names such as Europ Assistance, International SOS, Mondial, AIG and Mapfre. These travel insurance and travel assistance companies provide excellent services to clients throughout the world – we know, we worked with them in sectors such as security and healthcare for nearly twenty years. Clients often ask about our origins so here are some links that show our pedigree before semi-retiring to wonderful Argentina – you will see that our businesses were very much linked to the international insurance sectors:
Google tells our recent past history in healthcare and security!
Political Evacuation, Repatriation & K & R!
If you have a pre-existing health problem, explore your requirements and cover before you travel and disclose it. Choose a travel insurance product that will cover for acute phases of your pre-existing health problems. Do not bluff, remember that you give insurance companies the option of writing to your doctor and, when making a substantial claim, you generally have to agree to full disclosure – so do not lie or hedge your bets.
Travel insurance is a very important- a most necessary evil – when travelling to Buenos Aires, Argentina or other parts of South America – please consider our advice.
Choose wisely, and remember those big names in travel insurance and travel assistance – AIG, Europ Assistance, International SOS, Mondial, and Mapfre.
Companies we do not like because of very poor user and provider experience – Assist Card – please add to my list by emailing your experiences – Andrew Rae McCance – raemac@bastay.com
Book a Tour
Business Owner
Trusted Partners
