Keeping fit and safe when you travel abroad: Medical aid for entertainers
Working abroad in the entertainment industry can be one of the most enjoyable, rewarding experiences of your life, especially if exciting foreign travel is also on the cards. When we’re picturing our glorious adventure, however, we rarely stop to think of the what-ifs- especially about our wellbeing If you’re working abroad, what do you do for medical insurance? Fortunately, we at Hencilla Canworth have the performing arts insurance solutions you need. Let’s take a closer look.
Medical cover options when working abroad as an entertainer
Working abroad, medical insurance is a key part of making sure you have total peace of mind. We tend to think of things like lost baggage, stolen belongings and flights we miss when we picture travel insurance, but a good entertainer’s travel insurance policy will also cover you financially for medical emergencies you may experience.
The key, however, is to realise that these coverage options are not standard in the industry, and will vary from policy to policy as well as between providers. Make sure you are always comparing apples with apples when you look for quotes! Of course, the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ tends to apply- but that doesn’t mean you can’t get comprehensive coverage for a budget-friendly price, either! You just need to know what to look for.
Credit Card Coverage
If you’re travelling abroad as an entertainer, chances are someone will mention you are covered through a credit card, and why would you need entertainer’s travel insurance? Many credit cards indeed do offer a default form of travel coverage if you use your card to pay for certain travel products. This is, however, aimed more at the holiday travel market, and may not cover a working person at all. Likewise, it’s contingent on you having spent on the card, and you may have your hiring party paying costs, or simply be opting for other ways to pay. They also tend not to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, high-risk activities (as performing arts can be) or certain age groups, so this one is best topped up with a more comprehensive and reliable product. They certainly won’t cover props and equipment, which typically require a business policy registered to a company, or a different form of insurance altogether.
Talking about ‘top-up’ policies, some insurance products will allow you to ‘top-up’ their existing travel policy with additional medical care, or to extend medical care on top of a credit card policy. While these can be viable options, it typically gets pricey and offers less coverage than a properly tailored inclusive policy for a very similar price.
International coverage from an existing provider
While it’s pretty rare to start with here in the UK, you may possibly have private medical insurance. These will often offer international coverage for medical emergencies within certain financial limits, if you inform them you are travelling. This typically requires pretty top-end plans, not hospital cover, and again pre-existing conditions may not be securely covered. Some will also decline to cover work vs pleasure travel. Likewise, remember any coverage for health insurance while working abroad will be subject to their usual clearance and approval process, excesses and more. While it’s worth chatting to your private medical coverage provider, should you have one, it’s probably best to not have this as your only medical coverage.
For UK citizens without private policies, the NHS does provide a very limited coverage within the networks of our European trading partners. This is limited, however, subject to you having a valid European Health Insurance Card AND travel insurance offering cover. It will also only be valid through 2020, after which there will be changes. Outside of the European Union, these provisions fall away entirely. So medical insurance for entertainers working abroad is a must!
Forms of entertainer’s travel insurance that will better suit your needs
While working abroad, travel insurance is a must. There’s a lot more that can happen than just a medical emergency, after all! Now imagine a policy that covered you for all the day-to-day issues you could experience- such as missed flights- as well as ensured you have peace of mind should a medical event occur. That’s where entertainer’s travel insurance has you covered. Not all policies are created alike, however.
Basic travel insurance
Basic travel insurance policies are a step up from credit card coverage, and usually offer some basic medical coverage too. For short trips to safe areas, it’s a fabulous option to keep your budget tight. For working travellers, however, and longer stays it’s often lacking. Tailored more towards the customer on vacation, the chances of finding a basic one-size-fits-all travel insurance package that will cover a working entertainer is a little slim.
Comprehensive speciality packages
Comprehensive travel insurance will give you better peace of mind, offering greater coverage for more events. For longer-term travel, just like a working travel experience, these packages are likely to offer the best combination of cost and coverage.
Note that you should always consider if you need hazardous activity coverage. Traditionally offered for adventure sports like scuba diving and skiing, it will also become a factor if you perform in, say, circus acts or other activities more likely to lead to injury than the average performance. This type of coverage can be limited by default, so you will want to look into the exact parameters of coverage and ensure that they fit your needs.
That’s why we’ve worked hard to develop entertainer’s travel insurance that fits your exact needs as a travelling performer. Medical insurance is one of the most important aspects of performing arts insurance you face when selecting your coverage partner. Why not chat with the friendly team at Hencilla Canworth today, and let us help you craft an entertainer’s travel insurance package that will cover your exact medical and travel needs?