Consider Anna’s* story. Anna’s daughter Sabrina* was offered an opportunity to participate in a school exchange program in Oaxaca, Mexico. Although Anna worried about her 15 year-old daughter being away from home, she agreed to the trip and helped her daughter plan.

A few weeks into Sabrina’s trip, while on the way to the market with her home-stay parent, the car in which she was riding was forced to swerve out of the path of an oncoming vehicle. Sabrina was thrown from the car and was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. As soon as Anna heard about the accident she contacted her travel insurance company’s emergency assistance line and was immediately flown to her daughter’s bedside. Anna and Sabrina stayed in Mexico for two weeks, while Sabrina recovered in hospital.

Since Anna had purchased travel insurance for Sabrina before she left, all expenses were covered, including Anna’s personal travel costs. The travel insurance company worked directly with the hospital in Mexico and Sabrina’s provincial medical coverage, allowing Anna to focus on her daughter’s recovery. Without travel insurance protection, Anna would have had to pay over $71,000 for her daughter’s medical bills.

Whether it’s a trip to Mexico, Manhattan, or just an inter-provincial road trip, travel insurance can protect against the unexpected, giving you and your family the peace of mind to enjoy your vacation the way it should be enjoyed.

To find the travel insurance plan that’s right for you, speak to a London Drugs insurance agent today at 1 800-681-6677, or visit www.londondrugs.com for a list of stores that provide insurance services. London Drugs Travel Insurance is provided and administered by Travel Underwriters, which also provides exceptional service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Travel Insurance Tips

1. Know what you’re covered for. Ensure your policy provides all the necessary types of insurance you may need—medical emergencies, trip cancellations, trip interruptions, lost, stolen, or damaged baggage, flight delays, etc. Your travel insurance plan should be tailored for you and the place you’re visiting.

2. Be sure to keep an up-to-date list of pertinent travel coverage information; this should include your policy number, insurance policy wording booklet, and the phone number of your insurer’s claims department.

3. If you have the misfortune of needing to claim while on vacation, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. They may liaise directly with the foreign medical provider and can review the medical procedures that are planned to ensure all work is appropriate. Often, your insurer will be able to ensure you won’t face any up-front medical costs.

4. Once you have contacted your insurer, they will send you the required forms to process your claim. Make sure you fill out all information requested; this should include all original, itemized bills, as well as details about any other insurance plans you may have.

5. When you have completed your claims forms, return them quickly; the faster you return your forms, the faster your claim can be processed.