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Insurance Basics for Traveling Abroad with Friends
There is nothing like spending time planning a trip with good friends.
However, as the travel date approaches, you may be wondering, "Will I be able to protect my friends who are going with me if I have more coverage on my own policy?" The question may arise, "Will I be able to protect my friends who are going with me if I have more insurance coverage for myself?
Trouble in a strange land can occur at unpredictable times. It is natural to feel anxious. However, as it turns out, the only thing that is covered by overseas travel insurance is "the cost of the insurance policy.Only you (you, the insured person) who applied at the time of contractingThe "M" will be "M".
Simply put, even if your best friend were to suffer an injury or sudden illness while traveling, your own travel insurance would not be able to cover the cost of his or her treatment.
Imagine a situation like this.
I was at the luggage counter at the airport when a friend of mine broke his leg trying to avoid a suitcase.
I was having lunch at a local cafe when my friend's precious phone was stolen.
I arrived at the spot and was taking pictures with my digital camera when it slipped off my hand and broke the unit.
When a problem like the one described above occurs, "your insurance policy as a third party" will not take the place of your friend's insurance. Conversely, if your friend does not have insurance, he or she will have no choice but to pay all the expensive local medical expenses on his or her own and deal with the hospital in English, which he or she is not accustomed to.
Why does the insurance only cover the individual?
In the first place, the basic insurance system consists of a precise calculation of the "risk that the person who has signed the contract". Therefore, if one person's policy extends coverage to surrounding friends, the probability of accidents and illnesses cannot be predicted. This is why even close friends (and even family members) are required to purchase insurance individually as travelers. Please picture a situation where a friend has a sudden fever and is examined by an interpreter while being confused by the local language.
Your insurance cannot pay for your friend's medical bills, so he or she must file the claim with his or her own insurance. Understanding this "line of responsibility" in advance may be the wisdom to act quickly in the event of an emergency.
What to expect when traveling with friends
Preparation before departure is the biggest key to avoid making your trip a sad memory. Let's make it a prerequisite that all travelers have adequate travel insurance. I will briefly summarize one point at a time below.
Friends are always welcome to join.
The basic premise is that your friend must purchase travel insurance.
With Tokio Marine & Nichido's overseas travel insurance, you can easily complete the application online with just one smartphone, so the procedure is quick and easy. The conditions for enrollment are as follows.
＜Terms and Conditions
Individuals who are at least 18 years old
Credit card in the name of the individual
Email address required
Since this is an overseas travel insurance policy, "the trip must be from within Japan to outside Japan" is required.
And remember the following
Must reside in Japan
Do not engage in dangerous physical activity.
Application is not accepted after departure from overseas.
For family members, a representative often applies for all members of the family on behalf of all members of the family. However, for short-term insurance, each person is required to apply for one policy, so you will need to complete the necessary procedures on the web for the number of people in your family. Therefore, we basically recommend that you apply in person.
However, depending on the situation, some of your friends may be able to complete the process on your behalf. Nowadays, a "single smartphone" is all you need to complete the process quickly, so you can send them the link.
Click here for the URL dedicated to the application
https://wcs.tokiomarine-nichido.co.jp/mfa_mypage/marine-passport/app_insurance/os_rp/st_accept?uk=1&cd=39C20191T9074#/
Please reconfirm with all members before departure to make sure that everyone has joined the program.
Match coverage details in advance.
Once you have successfully enrolled, the next step is to review the coverage again.
In many cases, medical expenses overseas are much more expensive than in Japan. It would make a difference to your peace of mind if you know the extent to which you are covered not only for medical expenses, but also for liability in case you break someone else's property or damage to personal belongings in case your belongings are stolen.
For example, if your friend drops his/her phone at a café and breaks the screen, your insurance will cover part of the repair cost if your friend himself/herself is covered by the personal effects damage policy. If you yourself break your friend's camera, for example, your own insurance will be just as useful. By knowing each other's coverage, you can be sure of your responsibility in the event of an accident.
Share emergency support systems
When a friend suffers an accident or illness, it should only be handled based on the friend's own contract. However, "emotional support" from you as a friend, such as calling the insurance company's Japanese-language support desk or checking directions to the hospital, would be of great help. This is also important because the person who has been injured is anxious.
Lend a shoulder to a friend who has a broken leg at the destination airport, head to the hospital, and discuss the future course of action with the insurance company ahead of time in between medical examinations. Your support will be most reassuring and reassuring to your friend who is anxious about the language barrier and unfamiliar procedures.
In that sense, sharing emergency contact information and PDF documents of insurance policies in group chats, etc. before the trip will enable quick coordination in case of emergency.
Notes for group travel
If you are traveling with a large group, make sure that everyone has completed the procedure.
Preparation you should do before your trip
The insurance policy can be saved in a photo, such as a screenshot on a smartphone or a PDF file, so that it can be immediately presented at the hospital reception desk in case of emergency.
It should be easy for everyone to see which plan you are on by making your subscription status visible, so that you can be contacted and processed in the event of an emergency.
Simply using a simulation such as, "If I break my leg," or "If someone steals my wallet at a café," as a topic of conversation will speed up the response to any problems that may arise.
summary
To make an overseas trip with friends an enjoyable and memorable experience, it may be important for all participants to have their own travel insurance, not just one of you.
If you go ahead with the plan without assuming that there will be problems, saying, "My friends are with me, so I'll be fine," you run the risk of having to take action.
Only by making sure everyone is covered and sharing emergency contact information will you be prepared to enjoy your trip wholeheartedly. Tokio Marine & Nichido's overseas travel insurance can be easily processed online at any time.
Before you pack your trunk, you need to make sure that you have a "All participants must be enrolled in the program.We heartily recommend "Travel Insurance". Travel insurance is a good defense against the unexpected. Please consider purchasing it.
| Contact Us |
|---|
| ▼ Tokio Marine & Nichido Customer Center Email address web-admin735@tmnf.jp Business hours 9:00-17:00 Monday-Friday (except national holidays and year-end and New Year holidays) |
| Agents |
| Daikou Insurance Service Co. Email address daikou@skyblue.ocn.ne.jp |
