Travel insurance: is it necessary?

Surveys and studies from various bodies (statistics agencies, insurance company studies, travel organisations, etc.) prove it: for several years now, the number of Belgians going on holiday for at least 4 nights has kept rising.
So it's no secret to anyone:

Belgians love to travel, and preferably several times a year.

Travel and risks

But travelling means exposing yourself to certain potential risks:

• a sudden medical problem;
• a mobility or transport problem (vehicle breakdown or accident);
• lost or stolen luggage;
• a problem affecting those who stayed behind in Belgium (hospitalisation, death, an incident);
• the need to cancel the trip;
• …

Even in a neighbouring country or one of the Mediterranean countries most visited by Belgian tourists, the slightest medical problem or silly accident can become a nightmare:

• a healthcare (infra)structure different from what you're used to in Belgium,
• being physically far from your personal support network (family, friends, GP, etc.);
• a foreign language you don't speak;
• greater dependence and a feeling of helplessness in the face of the situation,
• …

What's more, without good cover, assistance costs can quickly become astronomical.

And yet, nearly 30% of Belgians appear not to be covered by travel assistance when they go on holiday abroad.

How can you protect yourself?

Several sales channels and providers exist on the market to get insured:

Health insurance fund: A health insurance fund ("mutuelle"/Mutas) covers urgent, unforeseen medical care abroad. In some cases, financial cover is limited to a maximum amount. The fund only covers repatriation of the member when medical circumstances require it. It does not cover lost luggage, car breakdowns, or vehicle repatriation. Health insurance funds do not cover all countries.

Credit card: A credit card usually provides cover if the entire cost of your trip is paid with the card. Cover limits are often capped and assistance may be limited to the cardholder only.

Car insurance: The assistance included in car insurance generally covers accidents (and therefore not mechanical breakdowns). In most cases, no medical cover is provided. Conversely, manufacturer and leasing warranties only cover mechanical breakdowns. The driver and passengers are therefore not covered.

Hospitalisation insurance: Hospitalisation insurance covers the reimbursement of medical costs abroad if you're hospitalised (not outpatient care or day clinics). It generally covers neither the organisation of assistance nor the repatriation costs of the insured person and their companions.

Travel insurance (assistance contract): Assistance companies offer different types of products that match your needs and are often more comprehensive than those offered through the channels described above. You can choose from a wide range of assistance products and can supplement travel assistance with vehicle assistance (for the vehicle and its occupants), cancellation insurance and luggage insurance.

These insurance policies can be taken out directly (online), through intermediaries (brokers, banks, insurers, travel agencies, carriers, etc.), or are sometimes offered as an add-on to banking, insurance or travel booking products.

However, watch out for double cover! It's not uncommon to end up with double cover if you're covered through several channels at once.
So choose the most comprehensive cover. Read more on this topic: "What does a travel insurance contract cover?"