So you’ve purchased your travel insurance for an upcoming trip, but as you look over the description of coverage, your mind is spinning and your eyes are crossing. You raise your hands to the heavens and let out a yell:
What does it all mean?!
We deal with insurance all the time at Volunteer Card and even we get headaches from reading descriptions of coverage. Insurance companies don’t like speaking in Layman’s terms. Let us be your interpreter.
Before we get into the description itself, we’ll start by defining some frequently used terms.
*Note: “You” or “your” refers to the individual who has purchased the insurance coverage.
Business Partner – A person involved with you in a legal partnership and active day-to-day management of the business.
Children/Child – Your unmarried, legally dependent children under age 25.
Coverage Effective Date – Your coverage will begin at 12:01 a.m. on the scheduled departure date or the date and time you start a trip.
Coverage Termination Date – Your coverage ends on the scheduled return date for a trip or your arrival at your return destination.
Domestic Partner – Your opposite or same-sex partner who is over 18, lives with you, and shares your financial assets.
Eligible Persons - Any individual taking a trip for the purpose of volunteer organization projects or non-profit organization projects.
Emergency Evacuation - Emergency evacuation expenses incurred if you suffer an injury or sickness while on a trip that requires your immediate transportation to the nearest, safest medical facility or to your home.
Individual Coverage Term – The period of time between the beginning date of the insurance coverage and the ending date.
Injury/Injured – A bodily injury caused by an accident occurring while your coverage is in effect. The injury must be verified by a physician.
Insurance Effective Date – Your insurance will take effect as soon as you have provided proof of affiliation, paid for your card, and receive a verification email from Volunteer Card. (Note: You are not required to have received the card in the mail for your insurance to be effective.)
Insurance Termination Date – Your insurance will end 365 days from the insurance effective date.
Loss – Injury or damage you sustain as a result of an event covered in your insurance plan. .
Medical Expense Benefit - Medical expenses incurred within one year from the date of injury or sickness if your initial treatment was received during the trip.
Reasonable and Customary Charges – Expenses that are charged for treatment, supplies, or medical services medically necessary to treat your condition.
Repatriation of Remains - Transportation to return your body to city of burial if you die during the trip.
Sickness – An illness or disease diagnosed or treated by a physician.
Transportation – Any land, sea, or air vehicle required to transport you during an emergency evacuation.
Trip – A period of round-trip travel away from home to a destination more than 100 miles from your city of residence. (Basic Plan – trip does not exceed 60 days; Plus Plan – 90 days; Premium Plan – 180 days.)
Trip Delay – A trip delay of 12 or more hours caused by a carrier delay, a lost or stolen passport, quarantine, natural disaster, injury or sickness of yourself or traveling companion.
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Hopefully these definitions will help you navigate your description of coverage! Click the links below to see complete descriptions of coverage for all the Volunteer Card plans:
Volunteer Basic Plan
Volunteer Plus Plan
Volunteer Premium Plan
Keep your eyes opened for Understanding Your Travel Insurance Coverage part 2 to come.
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