There are a few ways how your insurance provider can help you while you are in Europe after purchasing your travel insurance plan, which include the following:
- Medical assistance.
- Emergency assistance.
- Travel-related assistance.
- Repatriation assistance.
- Legal assistance.
- Assistance in case of death.
Medical Assistance
Your travel health insurance provider can help you provide medical assistance over the phone while you’re in Europe. Usually, they have an on-call doctor, nurse, or another healthcare provider who can help you. They can also point you in the right direction to find the nearest hospital to you, wherever you are in Europe.
Some health insurance providers have dedicated portals or apps for this service. For example, AXA provides a program known as “Dr Please.” This is a teleconsultation program with which you can call at any time you need medical help or advice. It offers services such as diagnosis, consultation with an English-speaking doctor, or even a medical prescription if required.
24/7 Emergency Assistance
Most travel health insurance providers have a 24-hour emergency phone number for any kind of emergency, not just medical issues. You could call the number the moment you need some kind of assistance, for example, if you were in an accident or injured, your trip was canceled, or your luggage was stolen.
In all of these cases, your travel health insurance emergency line is equipped to help you decide what to do next. They can help you contact the local authorities and the emergency department or even find transportation to the nearest hospital.
You can find this number written on your travel insurance certificate, card, and in the policy wording. But your insurance provider will also make sure you have this number on hand after buying your plan.
Travel Related Assistance
If you need to return earlier than planned or are having transportation issues wherever you are during your trip to Europe, your travel insurance provider can help. For example, they can help you find a new flight ticket, find local taxis or public transportation, or even book a place for you on the flight back.
Furthermore, if you’re traveling alone and need assistance on the return flight after being sick or injured during your trip, your insurance provider can help arrange a travel nurse or assistant to help you on the journey back.
Repatriation Assistance
If you or your loved ones get injured or sick and need to either be transported to another country for further treatment or return home, then your travel insurance provider will help. Your provider will organize and pay (as per the conditions of your travel insurance policy) for the transportation.
Additionally, they will also help and organize transporting your luggage to your home country.
Legal Assistance
Your travel insurance provider can also help you in case you need legal assistance. If necessary, they can contact a lawyer or point you in the right direction.
This kind of assistance can usually be included within the coverage for personal liability, e.g., if you cause an accident or if you were responsible for the damage to someone else’s property.
Assistance in Case of Death
In cases where accidents or illnesses result in death, your travel insurance provider will provide the following services:
- The return of the remains home.
- Assistance in finding an undertaker or funeral home.
- Assistance in contacting the local authorities if need be.
- The early repatriation of the family member of the deceased.
- The repatriation of the belongings and luggage of the deceased.
Please note that travel insurance providers do not help arrange funerals or cover the costs of burial or cremation.
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Additional Assistance
Depending on your provider or what kind of policy you have, your travel insurance provider can also help you in the following cases:
- Help for rescue and search costs in cases where you or a loved one go missing during your trip.
- Assistance in sending you essential tools such as glasses, contact lenses, or prostheses in case of theft or loss.
- Help in sending urgent messages to your family members in cases of emergencies.
- If you lose or your identity documents are stolen, your provider can help you find the nearest travel agency and/or consulate.
It’s important to note that you must contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible after the incident occurs to get the assistance you need.
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