Murphy’s Law and Travel Insurance
Posted on 16 September 2008 by Justin
Murphy’s Law: “If something can go wrong, it will.”
I don’t like buying insurance because I can’t shake the idea that the insurance industry is a legalized and socially acceptable version of the mafia, with Murphy happily filling the role of the Godfather. Think about it. I buy insurance (read: send my money to the dark pit of oblivion) because I am afraid that if I don’t, something horrible will happen. For example if I don’t carry health insurance and I catch Pneumonia (while shoveling 3 feet of snow off my driveway in the freezing rain because the driveway will resemble an Olympic bobsled run the next morning if I don’t) what will it cost me to stay several nights in the hospital to avoid death? $5,000? $10,000? More???? The exact number is irrelevant. The point is that I want to know, while my goatee becomes burdened with pounds of frozen ice, that if I do catch phenomena all I will need is enough cash to cover the copay. No death. No cranky bill collectors. No liquidation of our nest egg. This is extortion. First of all, because I do have insurance, I could shovel every driveway on the block with out catching so much as a cold. Murphy is irritating like that. Secondly, the idea that not dieing is such an expensive proposition that I need to pay into a fund to afford to survive the next big storm that comes blowing down from Canada, seems a bit ridiculous.
I understand that doctors are highly trained and go to school for many years so that I can have some measure of confidence that when they stitch me back up, the scalpel they were using ends up in the trash instead of inside my body. I appreciate their expertise. Really. I just wish that I did not need to pay off Murphy so that I could afford it.
Whether health, auto, home, travel, or wedding insurance (oxymoron eh?), the concept is still the same. I pay money to these people, so that when something goes wrong, I can pay less money to these people than if I had not paid them in the first place.
As their is no getting around this legalized extortion, Natalie and I recently purchased travel insurance. After reading many favorable reviews, and feeling only a bit like I was paying of Uncle Murphy and his fearsome crime syndicate, we decided to go with World Nomads. (Their name is only a happy accident and did not influence our decision in anyway). Here are a few of the things I like about World Nomads.
Very Informative
The worldnomads.com has large amounts of information that answered all of my question. (“We cover this, this, and this, but not this.”)
Absence of Legal Jargon
Insurance policies usually read like an insurance law study guide. World Nomads decided to use something more closely resembling English. Plus, and this is significant, they provided easy to find definitions for terminology that might be confusing. This is of course necessary because Uncle Murphy’s insurance syndicate uses their own unique definitions for words like accident, baggage and family member.
Short or Long Term
World Nomads allow travelers to purchase a policy for a duration of 2 weeks to 6 months. This is handy as they may turn out to be just another insurance company with a good marketing scheme and a solid web 2.0 designer. What sweetens the deal is that every policy can be extended as desired using their website. I like flexible.
This is not a comprehensive list of why we chose World Nomads travel insurance but I trust, if you are interested, that you have your own unique questions and their website is good resource.
Why type of travel insurance do you have? Why?
I am a huge proponent of the ‘why do the research myself if someone else has done it’ school of thought. I purchase my (fabulous) camera based on a friend’s thorough research and am considering travelers insurance based on the same premise. World Nomads is, from what I can tell, the most popular travelers insurance company. People like you have done their research and, from the blogs I read, have chosen this group based on merit and, unfortunately, having to use it. I have briefly read through their documentation and it sounds pretty solid. Yes, I do plan on reading through it all before we go – but this is another solid recommendation – thanks!
No problem.
I am happy to hear I am not the only one who uses other peoples research to help make decision. It is also good to hear that I am not the only one finding positive reviews about World Nomads.
I don’t have any insurance, I am traveling to long to have a concern.
If something internal would happen, then I would head back to America and hit a Catholic hospital, they have to serve you even if our broke.
If I would break a bone, which I almost did in Cairo, but it was only a sprain, then I would get an xray at a hospital and pay for a cast.
If I would get a bacteria infection, I have antibiotics with me for that purpose.
Shawn,
Do Catholic hospitals really offer medical services to individuals who cannot afford them? I was not aware of this and the web is filled with conflicting statements. do you have any first hand experience with this?
I don’t have travel insurance, but I’ve heard good thing about World Nomads. Bootsnall.com recommends them. They also have a great affiliate program, so if you like them, adding a link to your site could earn you some cash on the side.
Christine,
Do you and your husband carry State side based medical insurance?
Thanks for the tip regarding the World Nomad Affiliate program. I am currently looking into it.
I use to drive (sedan airport driving) the board of directors (the sisters), from a Catholic hospital in Santa Cruz, and yes they have to serve you even if you don’t have insurance, and if a person cannot afford the care.
They don’t cover Rock Climbing
No worries though, is it really fraud if you’re frauding the frauders?
Insurance Mafia henchman: “How’d you break your leg and get all scraped up?”
Me: “I fell down a really long flight of stairs.”
Insurance Mafia henchman: “Wearing climbing shoes and a harness?”
Me: “They’re really steep stairs…”
Insurance Mafia henchman: “Oh say no more, I just got word we denied our quota of claims today. Here’s your check, I’m glad you were being safe and wearing a harness whilst climbing those steep stairs.”
“Is it really fraud if you’re frauding the frauders?”
Sounds like a question straight out of my College ethics class…
Either way your dialogue made my morning. Did you really do this?
haha, I’m glad it made your morning! And, no unfortunately I haven’t done this. Yet.
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When traveling it is not enough merely to take precautions when it comes to medical care, it is essential to be prepared so you can avoid expensive and inferior treatment and it is also often a requirement for entry into certain parts of the world that you have adequate insurance.
World Nomads is, from what I can tell, the most popular travelers insurance company.
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Nice post, I love the website.