The mistake Israelis tend to make: The important warning before the flight
New data reveals that most insured individuals purchase travel insurance only in the final days. Why is this a mistake that could cost you dearly, and which destination leads in medical inquiries?
Most Israelis purchase travel insurance abroad at the last minute, with about 60% doing so in the ten days before the flight and about 13% on the day of the flight itself, with no difference between families with children and young backpackers.
In terms of treatment destinations, Thailand and the USA lead by a significant margin in the number of medical inquiries from Israeli tourists, with Thailand showing a volume of inquiries almost double that of the USA. Following them on the list are the Netherlands, Vietnam, Italy, Japan, Greece, France, Germany, and England.
Uzi Ezra, manager of the Life and Health division at Bituch Yashir, stated:
"We see that most insured individuals still purchase travel insurance in the final days before the flight, even though there is no advantage to this. Early purchase does not make the policy more expensive, but it provides coverage for unexpected events that may occur even before leaving the country, and therefore it is recommended not to wait for the last moment."
The nature of medical inquiries varies depending on the destination. In Thailand, a common reason for seeking treatment is contact with animals, including dog, monkey, and cat bites, as well as jellyfish stings and sea urchin injuries, so it is recommended to avoid contact with animals to avoid the need for vaccinations. In Greece, on the other hand, most inquiries are related to physical exertion and heat conditions, such as dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion, ear infections, and sprains from hiking.
"Israelis invest a lot in planning their vacation, but they tend to leave travel insurance for the last moment," notes Efrat Sagi Ofir, co-founder and CBO at Air Doctor. "A medical incident abroad does not have to stop the trip. Prior familiarity with treatment options and payment methods reduces stress, provides peace of mind, and allows for quick and simple help in real-time."
To avoid distress, it is recommended to purchase the policy weeks in advance; the action does not increase the cost and provides coverage for pre-flight events such as hospitalization or receiving a Tzav 8 (emergency reserve call-up). In addition, it is important to expand the policy if extreme activities not included in the basic coverage are planned, such as rafting or jet skiing, and to ensure there are clauses covering cancellation and shortening of the trip due to a complex medical condition of the insured or a close family member.
Already at the planning stage, it is worth checking how the insurance works in an emergency and what the options are for remote medical care. In cases of mild symptoms such as allergies or the flu, it is better to use a video consultation that includes a local prescription to save an unnecessary trip to a foreign emergency room. Advanced services like those of Air Doctor allow for coordinating video calls with doctors or ordering a doctor to the hotel without payment on the spot and without bureaucracy, which significantly reduces stress during a medical incident abroad.
