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why Travel insurance is a good idea

When good times turn bad, you'd better hope you have travel insurance.

'The Merry Groomsman'

In september 08 I attended a wedding in Germany of which I was one of 3 groomsmen. Due to 'financial constraints' I was unable to arrive in Germany in time for the bucks party. Had I been present I would have seen one of the other two groomsman injure himself quick spectacularly.

The 'merry groomsman' attempted to score high in an arcade-style punching bag game. His first attempt failed pathetically so he decided to take a 'running punch'. Unfortunately for the groomsman his punch did not connect with the punching bag and he instead delivered the full force of his drunken hit onto the metal bar supporting the bag.

The groomsman told me at the wedding that he only decided that his hand was in real trouble after drinking large volumes of alcohol all night and still finding the pain in his hand excruciating. Shortly afterwards he visited one of Berlins hospitals where his hand was operated on to remove bone fragments, re-straightened and set in a cast.

Operating Theatre

"I got the bill for my surgery. Now I know what those doctors were wearing masks for"

James H. Boren

It doesn't end there however as my friend had to return twice again to the same hospital in Berlin for further surgery before returning home. He had many immediate costs to cover including transport and accommodation. The bills for surgery he was told would arrive in the mail after returning to Australia from his holiday.

The good news for the groomsman was that he took out travel insurance before he travelled to Germany for the wedding. All his medical costs would be covered. However insurance companies will use any excuse not to pay out on certain costs including accommodation and transport unless it is an emergency. He also will not receive a refund for the accommodation he had already paid for that he did not use whilst he was a patient at the hospital.

So in the end even with travel insurance my friend ended up being about $1500 out of pocket. The merry groomsman is a contract plumber by trade and is unable to work until his hand has returned to normal functionality.

For small trips and holidays make sure you're covered. Or run the risk of having your own travel insurance story and debts to take home with you.

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