From sampling street food to hiking great mountains, learn why travel insurance is important for exploring Asia.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Serving as home to more than half of the world’s population, we know there’s so much diversity Americans can experience when traveling to Asia. You can take your journey to new heights as you experience the majesty of the highest peaks - from Mt. Fuji in Japan to Mt. Everest in Nepal.
From our own experiences though, we know that any international travel can also sometimes involve those less-than-great moments - like sickness, missed flights, and lost baggage. Because of this, you may want to get a quote for travel insurance* for Asia before you set forth on your journey.
The flights to Sri Lanka are booked, you made the reservation for your guided safari at Yala National Park, and you found an adorable beach bungalow. It sounds like you planned the perfect vacation, but there are some things you just can’t plan for.
What happens if an earthquake hits Sri Lanka a few days before your trip and makes it impossible to travel there? Natural disasters can also strike while you’re already on holiday. American travelers may want to consider travel insurance for Asia that could help with trip cancelation, overseas emergency medical expense coverage, and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.
We recommend you think about the places in Asia where you’ll be traveling and the types of adventures and activities you’ll be participating in while you’re there. When you get a quote for travel insurance for Asia, you can compare the different plan options, and then choose the best travel insurance for your overseas vacation.
From trekking through Sumatra to see orangutans to scuba diving the Great Wall of China, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Asia. World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Americans traveling to Asia - including hiking, scuba diving, and surfing. (some restrictions apply)
Once you have your vacation in place, read up on different plans to find the one best suited for the activities and adventures you have planned on your trip to Asia. Not all activities will be covered by your plan. For example, if you’re eager to explore the Himalayas, hiking up to 19,685 feet, which even covers Everest Base Camp at about 17,600 feet-- is covered under all plans.
However, if you’re feeling daring and want to set out in a tuk tuk and conquer the Rickshaw Run through South Asia, consider upgrading to the Explorer or Epic Plan for increased coverage.
Motorbiking is common throughout many countries in Asia, and in some instances, it may be covered by your travel insurance plan. However, just because it’s easy to rent a motorbike or scooter in many Asian countries doesn’t mean you should ride one, and it doesn’t mean you’ll be covered.
We receive a lot of injury claims from nomads who hop on a motorized bike for the first time in Asia because it’s cheap and easy to rent, and they get hurt in an accident. You’ll notice that often safety is not a top priority for other drivers – speed and convenience are. The rules of the road and the road quality itself can be very different from back home in the United States.
Motorbike accidents are quite common (it’s one of our most common claims) and it’s very important to know that if you don’t hold the proper American license for operating a motorbike, if you are injured while operating a motorbike, your travel insurance plan for Asia won’t cover you.
If motorbiking is something you insist on doing, you’ll need to investigate getting the proper license for motorbiking in Asia before you leave the United States. You can get specific license requirements for each country you’ll be visiting on the U.S. government’s website. You’ll also want to review your plan wording carefully when you get a quote for travel insurance for Asia.
Before you leave the United States, consult your doctor to see if you may need certain vaccinations. Depending on where you’re headed in Asia, they may recommend vaccinations that protect you against things like tetanus, typhoid, and yellow fever.
We recommend making an appointment with Runway Health – an online travel clinic and our non-insurance service partner. The telehealth service offers affordable online consultations 24/7 and can help you obtain necessary medications for things like altitude sickness and malaria prevention. We also recommend packing a strong mosquito repellent, as this can help protect you from dengue fever and malaria.
While these preparations could help protect you, there’s still a chance you may get sick or injured during your travels. If you’re surfing in Phuket and break a leg, emergency medical expense travel insurance could reimburse you for certain medical expenses.
Keep in mind that there are over 2,000 languages spoken across Asia. If you are in an emergency, language barriers may get in the way. You may also find limited medical services available in some remote places. The 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team will be able to help refer you to a place that offers the level of care that you need. They can also help communicate with your medical team if they don’t speak English.
If your attending physician and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team determines that it’s best for you to go back home to the United States to get medical care, the medical evacuation and repatriation coverage that is included in your travel insurance for Asia may cover the costs to get you back home.
If your Asian vacation includes hiking in Nepal, you’ve likely packed your favorite pair of hiking boots. But if you land in Kathmandu and then realize that your bag isn’t waiting for you on the airport carousel, it can make an unpleasant start to your trip.
If your bag doesn’t show up at baggage claim at the same time you do, contact the airline first. If they aren’t successful, your travel insurance for Asia may help you cover the cost of delayed or lost goods.
The next step is to contact Blue Ribbon Bags, which is a non-insurance service that will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline. Make sure to have the file reference or record locator number and Property Irregularity Report on hand when you call Blue Ribbon Bags so you can file a lost luggage claim. Baggage information and receipts for lost bags and goods are needed to complete the claim.
Sometimes you have the perfect getaway planned, but things happen that can cause you to cancel, interrupt, or delay your trip.
Asia is a continent full of natural wonders, but unfortunately, there’s also the possibility of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis that can affect your travels. If your trip to Okinawa gets cancelled because a typhoon makes it impossible for you to get there, your travel insurance for Asia could help you be reimbursed for non-refundable tours and hotel accommodations that you paid for in advance.
If you’re already on your trip and something happens, your travel insurance for Asia can also help you out. For example, you may need to go back to the United States early if an immediate family member back home has an unexpected medical emergency. You may be eligible for reimbursement of unused, non-refundable trip costs and additional transportation expenses if your trip is interrupted.
Should your travel companion get sick or injured on the road and your travel plans are interrupted, you also can be reimbursed for expenses accrued (up to plan limits). For example, you and your friend have been sampling all the local street food in Bangkok. Your travel buddy comes down with severe food poisoning and needs to be hospitalized for a day or two to recover. Not to worry-- your expenses (up to plan limits) may be covered as well.
Make sure to keep all documentation and receipts for things you paid for in advance – you’ll need those if you make a claim.
Before you leave for your vacation, we encourage you to check out the US government’s safety warnings to review travel advice for the countries you’re visiting in Asia. You’ll want to review each country on your itinerary to see up-to-date warnings on any advisories that may exist at that time.
It’s also a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your plan number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens.
Finally, we recommend reading up on all the amazing experiences available. Some of our team’s favorite spots include China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. The hardest part of your trip may be deciding which Asian country to visit first!
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
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Contact Generali Global Assistance:
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+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.