You’ve probably heard the advice before: When traveling to certain destinations, be careful about eating fresh fruits and vegetables — and think twice before drinking the tap water. There’s good reason for that caution.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking precautions with food and beverages while traveling. Depending on your destination, that can include:
Even the most careful traveler can make a questionable food choice. Maybe that street vendor’s fruit smoothie looked too good to pass up, or you simply didn’t realize something you ate or drank could be contaminated.
The good news is that this kind of traveler’s illness is often temporary and may resolve without medical treatment. However, according to Mayo Clinic, some bacterial or parasitic infections can cause more serious symptoms and require medical attention.
Adults should consider seeking medical care if symptoms persist for more than two days or are accompanied by dehydration, severe abdominal or rectal pain, bloody or black stools or a fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
And getting sick during a trip can affect more than your health — it can also affect your wallet.
There are the obvious expenses, such as medical bills. But illness can create other unexpected costs, too. What happens if you’re too sick to attend a prepaid, nonrefundable guided tour? What if your condition is serious enough that you need to cut your trip short and return home for additional medical treatment?
Those expenses can add up quickly.
Travel insurance can’t prevent you from getting sick, but the right policy may help protect you from certain financial losses resulting from a covered illness.
Depending on the policy and circumstances, coverage may be available for eligible medical expenses, trip interruption, or prepaid, nonrefundable travel arrangements you’re unable to use because of a covered event. Benefits, limits, exclusions and eligibility requirements vary by policy, so it’s important to understand the coverage before purchasing.
With different carriers, coverage options and benefit levels available, comparing travel insurance policies can be complicated. Working with an established travel insurance aggregator can make the process easier by allowing you to compare options from multiple carriers based on your trip, needs and budget.
Travel Insurance Center® can help. Its licensed Travel Insurance Experts can research available options and help you identify coverage suited to your particular travel plans. Travel Insurance Center provides this assistance at no additional cost to you.
Planning a trip? Contact Travel Insurance Center at 1.866.979.6753 to explore your travel insurance options.