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The USA has an average cost of almost 2 thousand dollars per service, while Europe charges an average of 780 euros.
Complex exams can run up to $ 10,000, and emergency surgeries can reach $ 100,000.
São Paulo, December 2018 – Less than a third of Brazilian travelers cross borders with travel insurance in their luggage, according to data from the Superintendence of Private Insurance (Susep) and the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac). Even so, the majority of this 30% only do so when there is a requirement in the destination country, such as the nations that are part of the Schengen Treaty, in Europe.
With the rise of the dollar and the euro, travel insurance is often seen as an additional expense, which could be spent on tours and meals, in the view of many tourists. However, in emergencies – ranging from robbery or theft to even sudden illness or accidents – in addition to exorbitant expenses, there is an entire situation to be managed.
“We usually say that it is not just about monetary issues, but the whole scenario that the person goes through in that moment, often needing to deal with consular procedures, issuing urgent tickets, repatriations, contact with family and when traveling alone, without the support of any friend or relative from the country of origin, things can get even more delicate ”, comments Fabio Pessoa, manager responsible for the Travel Insurance segment at Omint. “For this, we offer a well-structured travel insurance that, in addition to coverage, provides the entire intermediate structure with hospitals, clinics, airlines, government agencies and other locations”.
Can cheap become expensive?
According to the executive, if the traveler visits another country without travel insurance, for sure. “If the tourist is in the United States and gets sick, he will have to undergo medical care in which he will pay, on average, $ 1,900. Apart from the complex exams, which can range from 4 to 9 thousand dollars”, he points out.
According to Fabio Pessoa, if the traveler does not have travel insurance and has to pay on site, he may receive a charge from specialized companies, even after his return to the country of origin. “The United States, for example, has a highly professional structure. When the traveler does not settle his debts, he may even have diplomatic incidents”, stresses the executive.
Meanwhile, in Europe, countries that are part of the Schengen Treaty require a minimum coverage of 30 thousand euros for travelers to enter the continent. “Even if Europe has a public health system, there are expenses involved. Across the territory, the average service charge is 780 euros – 495 pounds in the UK,” he explains.
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, skiing in the Northern Hemisphere
With the arrival of winter in the United States and Europe, regions such as the State of Colorado and the European Alps attract millions of tourists who want to enjoy the snow and, consequently, ski. According to Fabio Pessoa, it is one of the activities that most generates injuries and, therefore, it is essential that the tourist is properly supported by travel insurance. “If the tourist gets hurt, depending on the mountain, there is no way for an ambulance to pick him up: he needs a helicopter. Only one flight can cost 2 thousand dollars. In addition, there are costs with tests, such as computed tomography and MRI, which are quite expensive: they can reach up to 10,000 dollars”, he warns.
The executive also explains that “in conditions like these, there are also frequent cases of injuries to the lower limbs, which need to be immobilized. As a result, tourists have to return first class, since it is not feasible for them to be packed into the economy, and this also creates costs. If these conditions are not met, he does not even get medical authorization to board, nor from the airline”.
Fabio Pessoa also emphasizes that Omint has the advantage of including ski coverage on a regulated trail. “Winter sports practiced for leisure is not charged as an additional fee by Omint, which ensures tourists the certainty of having a highly qualified coverage, supporting them in the most diverse situations”, he concludes.
