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.
Travel insurance is so important to have because you never know what might happen and it’s better to be safe than sorry
Every time I’ve gone away I’ve bought insurance and thankfully I had it because I’ve unfortunately needed it
Great tips and will do some research before my next trip. Glad to hear all ended well.
Great advice…beautiful pics,
Thanks for sharing that story! I am always careful to have the phone number for the insurance with me on the trip, but it would likely have been in the suitcase in my room and I wouldn’t have time to call before making important decisions like that – whether it was ok to put it on a credit card never even occured to me… really smart to understand how that works first before going on a trip. I will try to be more prepared next time!!
I have bought travel insurance before and I, too, have not read through all the conditions. I would truthfully have no idea where to start if something were to happen. You’ve made me realize what a priority it is to be armed with that knowledge!
This is great advice, we have only travelled within Canada and thankfully our extended medical will provide coverage for that but if we left the country we would definitely buy additional insurance.
I’m guilty of leaving my policy stuffed in the bottom of my luggage. I usually carry the 1-800 number on me somewhere (usually in my purse).
OhMy goodness this looks beautiful
Luckily my medical and dental coverage through work also covers travel insurance so we never have to worry about buying travel insurance when we travel
Your story is very important!! I am sending my travelling daughter to your page, as she is headed to Cali in June and travels several times a year! I am so glad to hear that your daughter is ok. That is what’s most important!! 🙂
Travel insurance us important I wouldn’t travel without it!
Good reminder to make sure you know what to do if you need to use it, it is something we always buy but never really have looked into the details of it.
Those pictures are stunning !! We never go on vacation but definitely a helpful post and great tips for when our time comes
So sorry about your daughter, glad she was Ok. Must have been so scary. I always had travel medical insurance true work or my husband work. I would get the other insurance when booking with airmiles. I always highlighter the phone # on who to call in case of emergency but like you I keep it at the bottom of my luggage. I guess a person need to cary the phone # with them as it will do no good in your luggage.