Countries have eased entry requirements post-pandemic, including the Philippines, which as of May 30, 2022, no longer required travel insurance for visitors entering the country. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase travel insurance for an upcoming trip to the Southeast Asian country. In fact, you should purchase travel insurance anytime you venture outside of the U.S. 

People often think that factors such as a favorable political climate and good healthcare facilities mean that travel insurance isn’t needed for trips to many international destinations. Travel insurance can also protect you from losses due to trip cancellation and delay, and baggage loss.

Here’s why travel insurance is essential for a trip to the Philippines.

Medical Emergencies

Home to 10 percent of the world’s coral reefs, the Philippines boasts some of the best places to see these natural habitats while swimming or snorkeling. Imagine you are on a day trip snorkeling off the island of Mindoro. Your arms are outstretched in the blue waters as you swim over a large column on a beautiful reef. But your peaceful moment is interrupted by a stinging feeling on your side when you realize your skin has been scrapped by the coral; a common accident.

Ahead of such incidents, the purchase of travel insurance with emergency medical benefits is essential. You should know that not all domestic health insurance policies will cover you abroad.  Allianz Global Assistance offers benefits for a range of budgets, some of which are critical in emergency situations. Depending on your plan and situation, we can provide medically necessary emergency transportation to the nearest healthcare facility, and emergency medical benefits for losses due to covered emergencies.

Trip Interruptions

Successfully planning and executing a family vacation is a feat. Your trip could be sidelined for several reasons including your school-aged child getting the flu, or a severe hurricane weeks before your departure that renders your accommodations in the archipelago nation uninhabitable.

Allianz Global Assistance can reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you cancel your trip due to a covered reason. And if you’ve already departed for your trip and one of your dependents at home suffers a serious illness that requires you to return to the U.S., we can also reimburse non-refundable costs for the unused part of a trip cut short for a covered reason.

Baggage Loss

Your astoundingly beautiful destination wedding near the beaches of Cebu you spent two years planning, is finally happening. But on arrival, you discover the garment bag containing your Panina Tornai wedding dress has been lost by the airline. You take an unplanned trip to Manila from your Cebu resort and manage to find a stunning backup dress. Everything else goes off without a hitch.

Before you leave for the states, you check in with your airline to file a claim for the missing luggage. Unfortunately, you find out they will only reimburse you half the cost of the wedding dress. You didn’t know that airlines aren’t required to reimburse the total value of lost luggage. For international flights, the maximum liability for lost, damaged or delayed bags is about $1,780. The maximum baggage liability for domestic flights is $3,800.

Travel insurance may make up the difference. If your baggage is lost or damaged and you have baggage benefits, Allianz Travel Insurance can reimburse you for the actual price, cash value, repair or replacement of your luggage – whichever is less, based on the limits of your policy. To be eligible for this benefit, you must take reasonable steps to keep your baggage safe and recover it, as well as file a report with the appropriate authorities with all the needed details outlined in your policy.

Convenience

Many travel insurance plans include assistance services, which can help you deal with all kinds of travel emergencies. If you have Allianz Travel Insurance, you have 24/7 access to expert coordinators via our Assistance hotline or the Allyz® app We can make your trip smoother with services such as live translation, booking alternative accommodations and transportation if your travel plans are delayed, coordinating with your airline to retrieve lost baggage, and more.

Get a quote for travel protection for your next trip.

What do I need to travel to the Philippines?

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