Rumyana Betova to BNR: "The 'Travel Assistance Abroad' insurance provides us with peace of mind and financial protection while we are on the road."

Travel Assistance Abroad - Traveler insurance provides us with peace of mind and financial protection while we are on the move. It covers medical expenses in case of an accident or acute illness, including emergency dental care, medical transportation, and repatriation. This was explained by Rumyana Betova, Executive Director of Euroins AD, in an interview for BNR, conducted with the support of ABZ.

In the event of an insurance claim, the client must immediately contact the assisting company, which will direct them to an appropriate medical facility. In such cases, expenses are covered directly by the insurer, without the client having to pay on-site. In addition to medical risks, the extended insurance packages can also cover other events, such as theft or loss of luggage, flight delays or missed flights, loss of personal documents, as well as unexpected shortening or extension of stay abroad. If extreme sports will be practiced during the trip, it is advisable to add coverage for this against an additional premium, advised Rumyana Betova.

Another popular travel insurance — "Trip Cancellation" — provides protection in case of unforeseen events that prevent the trip from taking place. It covers expenses such as paid deposits, cancellation fees, and other costs. The specific events that "activate" the policy are described in the General Terms and Conditions. It is important that the policy be taken out within five days of booking the trip, as coverage limitations apply after this period. "During the pandemic, Trip Cancellation insurance was recognized by clients as a necessity; it was during this period that they started to take interest in it. Thus, it has remained in demand to this day, especially for clients undertaking long and expensive trips," explained Rumyana Betova.

One of the main advantages of Travel Assistance Abroad insurance compared to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is its territorial coverage — besides Europe, it can cover other continents or apply worldwide. Additional benefits include coverage for medical transportation, repatriation, loss/theft of personal documents, luggage, and more. "If a person travels with an EHIC within an EU member state, they can receive emergency and urgent medical care under the same conditions as locals. But if they are in Turkey without insurance, they will have to pay medical expenses themselves," gave as an example Rumyana Betova.

The cost of insurance is determined by various factors — the chosen coverage limit, the package of risks (basic or extended), the destination, and the traveler's age — but it is generally very affordable. For example, a policy with extended coverage and a limit of €10,000 for a seven-day trip in Europe costs around €5.

Rumyana Betova recommended seeking insurance protection even for tourism in Bulgaria. This is particularly important for hikers and skiers, as travel insurance includes coverage for rescue costs. This type of insurance also covers risks associated with various sports activities — hiking, extreme sports, and others.

When choosing insurance, it is important for consumers to familiarize themselves with covered and excluded risks. Events arising from war, terrorist acts, or civil unrest are typically excluded from coverage. If a client needs protection for a specific risk — such as chronic illnesses or extreme sports — they should check whether additional coverage can be purchased. Most insurers offer this option for an extra premium. It is also important to check the coverage limits, Rumyana Betova advised. She explained that policies with a €10,000 limit are often purchased, but this may be insufficient if complex treatments or surgeries are required. According to her, it is more advisable for the policy to have a limit of at least €30,000.

Regarding group insurance offered by tour operators, Rumyana Betova explained that their coverage does not differ from individual policies. Nevertheless, tourists should check the coverage limit of the tour operator’s insurance and, if deemed insufficient, purchase an additional policy.

Listen to the full interview here!