Booked your tickets for a vacation in Portugal? Now is exactly the right time to buy the travel insurance that best fits the trip you’ve planned.
We’ll explain why earlier is always better, and which points matter most when traveling to Portugal.
A travel insurance policy for trips abroad can include a wide range of coverage, from trip cancellation and compensation for stolen luggage to illness, hospitalization, medical evacuation, and more.
Not all policies are the same, though, and not all travelers have the same needs. That’s why it’s important to tailor your travel insurance to each individual traveler and to each specific trip, so you’re properly covered.
This essential coverage could save you an enormous amount of money if you need hospitalization or emergency surgery abroad. It’s important to make sure that, in an emergency, there is someone back home who can manage your medical care and arrange evacuation to Israel if needed.
So don’t cut corners on travel insurance!
Click here to get advice (and perks!) from the agent who insures us and Klicco readers…
What does overseas travel insurance include?
In general, your travel insurance has 2 parts:
1. Basic coverage – mostly essential, with a structure that is fairly similar across companies (though not in price…). This layer does not vary much from one destination to another.
2. Add-ons (additional coverage) – available for an extra charge.
The medical coverage included in basic travel insurance covers treatment and hospitalization costs, prescription medications, emergency dental care, rescue and evacuation to a hospital in the event of an accident, air evacuation back to Israel, and related medical expenses.
When traveling to Portugal, the add-ons are what really matter. You don’t want to limit yourselves at the last minute just because you suddenly realized the insurance doesn’t cover a certain activity.
Which add-ons are especially important for travelers to Portugal?
> Most important: extreme activities and adventure sports –
(But take note… ) According to some insurance companies, activities such as cycling, mountain sledding, ropes courses and zip lines, kayaking or boating, cable cars, skiing, and various snow activities are all considered adventure sports!
So if, for example, you plan to ski in Covilhã, go kayaking in Coimbra, or ride a bike through the streets of Lisbon, make sure those activities — along with skiing, amusement parks, and other activities — are covered by your insurance.
Because if you take part in one of these activities, something happens, and you didn’t purchase the add-on, that’s bad news — you won’t be covered ☹
The thing is, you usually don’t know in advance which activities you’ll end up doing or when, especially on a trip to Portugal, which is full of options like these.
Also, it can be hard to know ahead of time what is and isn’t included by each travel insurance company, so it’s worth making sure you’re covered for all days of the trip.
> Rental car excess reimbursement insurance –
Check whether the policy offers this optional add-on. It provides coverage if you end up paying out of pocket for the deductible due to damage to or loss of a rental car (and that deductible can easily range from €750 to €2,500).
Please note: you should purchase this add-on if you did not receive full deductible waiver coverage from the rental company.
> Baggage and luggage insurance –
Even if your policy says it includes baggage coverage, in many cases that coverage does not include a cell phone, laptop, or other valuables. So if you’re bringing an expensive camera on your trip, or planning to splurge on a luxurious dinner at one of Lisbon’s gourmet restaurants, make sure your glasses, jewelry, and any other valuable items you’re taking with you are covered as well.
> Pre-existing medical condition worsening –
If you are traveling with a pre-existing medical condition, know that it is not covered automatically. The insurance company will want to know about it in advance. Most likely, it will charge an additional premium — and not a cheap one — to insure you against a worsening of that existing condition during the trip.
> Travel during pregnancy –
Here too, not every company will agree to provide coverage, and not at every stage of pregnancy. The more advanced the pregnancy, the greater the risk…
> Personal accident coverage –
In broad terms, this means you may receive a one-time cash payout in cases such as injury or hospitalization, depending on the policy, if it happens during your trip to Portugal.
Where should you buy good travel insurance for Portugal?
You can buy travel insurance directly from the insurance company, or at the same price through a good insurance agent. If you decide to buy through an agent, it’s better to find one with real experience in travel insurance for trips abroad (unfortunately, not everyone knows the field well enough…).
The advantage of buying through an agent is the personal service. If you need to activate the policy or file for reimbursement, you’ll have guidance and support from someone experienced in dealing with insurance claims. That means you won’t be left on your own מול a call center staffed by young representatives who change from day to day.
> Click here to get advice (and special discounts!) from the agent who insures us and Klicco readers…
Today, you can also purchase insurance directly online through international companies. Of course, there are also Israel’s health funds and credit card companies, which offer different types of travel insurance as well.
Click here for information about the leading travel insurance companies in Israel…
It’s important to remember that in countries like Portugal, communication can sometimes be challenging because of language gaps and even cultural differences. In those situations, it can be much easier to have an agent or representative who knows the field well and understands the people involved — someone who can speak with you personally and walk you through everything in your own language.
What should you definitely check before buying travel insurance for Portugal?
Price – The overseas travel insurance market offers a wide range of options, with major price differences between companies and policies. A higher price does not always mean a better policy, or one that suits your needs more closely.
Policy coverage and claim conditions – Make sure the policy covers you according to the needs of your trip, especially when it comes to adventure sports, rental cars, and valuable baggage.
Medical expense limits – In most good policies, the coverage limit for medical expenses exceeds $1 million and includes medical treatment, extended hospitalization, medical evacuation by air or ground, transport back to Israel on a special aircraft or on a regular flight accompanied by a doctor sent from Israel, transportation and expenses for accompanying persons, medications prescribed after hospitalization, continued hospitalization in Israel, and even psychological treatment. You should also check the coverage limits for search and rescue, as well as loss of or damage to baggage and the conditions under which these are covered. Each category has its own limit and terms.
Deductible – Some policies require you to share in the medical expense by paying a deductible of several dozen dollars. So if, for example, you received treatment costing $100 — and thankfully expenses are not always in the tens of thousands — the deductible alone could reach that same amount, making it not worth filing a claim.
Next to each section of the policy, it should state whether a deductible applies and in what amount for each case. There are many insurance policies and/or sections where no deductible is required at all. Deductible amounts vary widely from one policy to another, so it’s worth comparing and knowing them in advance.
Search and rescue expenses – This add-on is designed to protect you in the event of lost contact, disappearance, or an accident in the field or in remote areas.
Most importantly, the policy itself is just paper. What’s written in it — and let’s be honest, most of us don’t read it — is not enough to guarantee that you’ll actually get your money from the insurance company. In other words, it’s very worthwhile to ask the agent or provider you’re buying from about their claims experience with that particular insurance company or policy. In many cases, that turns out to be the most important thing of all. The words printed in the policy won’t pay the claim, and they certainly won’t manage it for you.
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How to handle things while abroad
- Before leaving for Italy, make sure your family members know which company you’re insured with and how to contact the company’s emergency hotline. It’s a good idea to save the company’s numbers in your phone. It’s also wise to carry a copy of the policy summary page with you.
- If there is physical damage (for example, to a rental car) or damage to your luggage, or if a medical issue arises, contact the insurance company immediately for instructions and guidance on what to do next.
- Check in advance what documents you would need to obtain in the event of a car accident or equipment theft, especially if, unfortunately, the incident happens on a Saturday.
- At the same time, contact your insurance agent to get guidance on how to deal with the insurance company.
Why does this matter?
Because in some cases, you’ll need to obtain certain documents at the scene (for example, a police report), and if you don’t, you may not be able to file a claim with the insurance company.
Of course, that’s only the financial side of it, and getting advice can help in several other ways as well.
Keep records and receipts for every expense that might be related to the insurance, including those of anyone accompanying you (something many people don’t realize — in some cases, their expenses are covered by the policy too).
When should you buy insurance for Portugal?
Most policies can only be activated starting 180 days before the trip. Our recommendation: take advantage of that and buy your insurance in advance.
Why? Mainly because it won’t cost you more, but it will give you coverage well ahead of time under the trip cancellation/curtailment clauses (because if you haven’t bought insurance yet and the trip is canceled, no one is going to refund your money… and situations like that happen every day!).
Keep in mind that insurance policies can usually be canceled with a full refund, as long as you haven’t already filed a claim or flown. So even if you bought insurance early and later changed your mind, it was probably no big deal 🙂.
Want help choosing the right policy at the right price?
Want free advice (and even a discount) when buying travel insurance from a specialist agent?
Click here to speak with the person who insures us on Klicco sites under some of the best terms on the market…
