Sigh, this was paradise. I sat on the beach chair under the palapa, book in my hand but not reading it, watching my kids play in the sand and swim in the calm turquoise ocean. They were shouting and laughing at each other without a care in the world. I was soaking up some of the last of the warmth of the day as the sun began to set on the famous 7-mile beach in Negril, Jamaica.
How did I get so lucky as to be right there, right then?
And in an instant, it all changed.
My oldest daughter Kali, 14 at the time, came running out of the ocean, but she wasn’t laughing, wasn’t smiling, or even breathing? She had tears streaming down her cheeks, had gone pale, and had a look of shock that immediately sent me running. She was holding out her arms, clutching her stomach, pointing at her legs. There were red marks, “stripes” everywhere and she was shaking. As soon as she was within arms reach I heard her gasp. “Mom, it hurts, it hurts so much.” A stranger on the beach announced. “That looks like jellyfish stings!” I yelled at my youngest to get out of the ocean, and we bundled Kali up in towels and headed straight to resort staff to try and figure out what to do. How did I not know what to do? My poor girl, she had managed to swim through a bloom of jellyfish and had the markings to prove it.
Thankfully we were staying at a hotel that had a medical centre on site and the nurse was there and ready to help.
We were quickly advised with this many jellyfish stings, we needed to get the Doctor to come see her at the resort. My daughter needed more medical attention than the nurse was able to offer. She needed more than a cream, in all likelihood, a shot to help her deal with the extreme pain and residual effects of the poison coursing through her system. The cost of the Doctor’s visit? It started at US$400.
I handed the nurse my credit card. “Put it on this. Get the Doctor.”
Kali was treated with compassion and kindness. In no time she was feeling better and rallied in time for a late dinner.
Me? I didn’t cry until later when the kids were sound asleep and couldn’t hear me. I felt like a fool. I had travel insurance. I’d made sure of that before I left the country. Why hadn’t I done my homework? When my daughter needed help. Medical care. I wasn’t sure what kind of coverage I had. I didn’t know if I had to call the insurance company when there had been an accident, before the Doctor came, or after? I didn’t even know what number to call to ask anyone these questions. I had all that info somewhere tucked in the bottom of my suitcase. It did me no good there. In the moment, when I needed to use that insurance all I wanted to do was make my girl feel better. Not knowing what to do, I panicked and put everything on my credit card. In the end, Kali was fine, but I had a big fat charge on my credit card that required a follow-up phone call and some required paperwork to have reimbursed. It could have been worse – her injury and the cost – but I had learned a valuable lesson. Travel insurance isn’t much help if you don’t do your research.
I’ve been traveling with my kids for 19 years, sometimes with my Hubby, sometimes solo, and I’ve had insurance every time, but this is the first time I’ve ever had to use it. Since that trip, I swore I would never be caught unaware again. Now when I’m planning for that next vacation I make including and knowing about our travel insurance all part of the process. You never want to assume credit card coverage is sufficient, especially when it comes to travel medical insurance. You also want to know who to call in an emergency and have all the important information at your fingertips. It’s as simple as that.
The next time you plan a trip, expect the unexpected and make sure you are adequately covered for your needs. Here are my tips for safe travels, based on what I’ve learned through my experience:
- Do a little research. Even if you have travel insurance through your credit card, it’s still important to check what’s covered, depending on where you go, and what you plan on doing.
- Even if you are traveling within Canada, you’ll need travel insurance because you may not be covered through your provincial health plan.
- We use technology for so many other things, so why not our health and safety? Whether you’re traveling south of the border or to another province, it’s important to have medical information at your fingertips. Travel smarter by making use of apps like RBC Insurance’s PATH, which provides local maps to help you find nearby medical facilities and contacts for local medical experts who can provide emergency assistance. When you arrive at your destination know how to get to the nearest medical centre or hospital.
- It’s not complicated. You can go online and obtain a quote in less than 2 minutes here.
- When you arrive at your destination know how to get to the nearest medical centre or hospital.
Don’t stop traveling, just travel smarter and make organizing your travel insurance part of the plan.
Happy Travels!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by RBC Insurance, however, the views and opinions expressed within represent my own views and not those of RBC Insurance a or any other party.
I feel for your daughter. So painful and frightening. Thanks for this article as I am hit and miss on travel insurance and this has made me realize it’s definitely worth getting it
I agree, everyone does indeed need insurance.
so sad when something happens to our kids. We want to think such a beautiful place has less hazards then say a city.
Insurance is essential in any part of the world and I wouldn’t travel without it.
We have travel insurance through my husband’s benefits and have had for a number of decades. I made sure I understand the requirements and what to expect should the need ever arise for medical treatment when traveling. Thankfully we have never had to use it but it’s good to know it’s there.
It really is a great feeling to know that should you need it, and hopefully you never do, that travel insurance is there for you.
Oh my gosh what a frightful way to realize just how important the insurance is when traveling. Thanks so much for the reminder as to how things can happen so fast and really throw us for a loop.
You’re so welcome. It was a frightful way to learn but thank goodness I had that travel insurance to lean on.
Thanks for the warning. Having travel insurance is important, and understanding your coverage is important too.
You’re welcome! A little bit of preparation can save your trip!
So glad it all ended up okay but I can just imagine how scary it was.
Thank you. It really did end up okay – and my daughter will never forget that trip 🙂 She’s a tough cookie.
I’d never travel without it. My girlfriend did once, just to the States and had to make a doctors visit for an ear infection. I think her bill was close to $800!
It honestly doesn’t take long for those bills to add up so I can see how this would happen. I bet your girlfriend gets travel insurance for every trip now 🙂
The stories you hear about those who had no travel insurance and the costs are astronomical!
They really are! And it can all be avoided at such a reasonable cost. So worth it.
Glad it all worked out. I always purchase travel insurance, but admit to not knowing all the fine print, despite working in the insurance industry for years.
I did learn it’s important to know what’s covered. It makes a difference in the moment so you can just take care of your kiddo.
Such a good reminder about the importance of travel insurance. Thank you for sharing your story.
I’m happy to share my story and to be a reminder that a little planning ahead can save a lot of trouble and heart ache later on 🙂
Thanks very much for this helpful travel insurance information, we always purchase it too. Thankfully, we haven’t needed to use it.
The best part of travel insurance is the peace of mind it provides. I’m so happy to hear you too are a regular buyer!
WOW! You just never know right?!? Scary, I’m just glad she got through it, it’s in the past and it was a lesson learned. I can imagine what was running through your mind.
It really was scary. The last thing a parent wants is to see their child in pain, and when you are away from home it’s even scarier! Thank goodness for travel insurance!
Oh hunny this post made me think. I will admit I “almost” always get travel insurance when I travel, but not always. And you’re right, this kind of thing could happen to anyone. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be thinking about this before we go away this March Break.
So happy I could provide a gentle reminder. We never think accidents will happen to us, but what if they do? Grab that travel insurance!