Your itinerary is mapped out, your accommodation booked, and you are already looking forward to the trip. It is understandable that you are not thinking about the fine print of your travel insurance right now. But it would be better to do so.
First of all, we recommend that you contact your insurer as soon as you book a trip. We know you and your personal situation and will help you take out the right insurance. This way, you will not travel underinsured or double insured.
When you visit us for advice on your travel insurance, we will invariably emphasize two aspects:
of personal assistance (travel assistance insurance)which reimburses your medical expenses abroad and ensures that you and your travel companions get back home safely and smoothly
of cancellation insurance which reimburses costs already incurred if you are forced to cut short your trip or are unable to depart
In this article, you will read why they are so important. In addition, we highlight another often overlooked issue: What should you look out for when renting a car or scooter abroad?
Medical expenses abroad: health insurance or travel assistance insurance?
One of the first questions we often get here is:Am I not insured through my health insurance when traveling then?The answer is: yes, but often with serious limitations. Your mutual health insurance fund primarily covers urgent medical care within Europe, via the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
An example: someone from a neighboring municipality recently fell seriously ill during a tour of Sri Lanka and had to undergo surgery there. Fortunately, this lady had personal assistance insurance, because the mutual insurance fund does not cover her medical expenses abroad, nor repatriation.
Outside Europe, that coverage is usually insufficient; ‘personal assistance’ is. Even within Europe, the mutual insurance company generally only reimburses the costs of public hospitals. If you end up in a private hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself. Depending on your specific policy and your destination, your worldwide personal assistance insurance will cover a larger share of your medical costs in all hospitals.
How much does travel insurance (personal assistance) cost?
Calculate your rate
The price of solid travel assistance insurance (personal assistance) is lower than many people think. To give you an idea: for less than 100 euros, you get year-round personal assistance within Europe for a family with two adults and two children. (Rate April 2026à
Travel
Travel insurance covers damage while traveling: has your luggage been stolen or do you require hospital admission? Don't worry about the financial consequences.
Do you travel regularly? Then an annual contract might be more interesting for you than temporary insurance for the duration of a single trip: you are properly insured year in, year out, and it is more affordable. You will also be well protected during a weekend getaway in your own country or a city trip.
Cancellation insurance: financial protection if your trip is cancelled
Cancellation insurance reimburses your costs if you are unable to travel due to illness, an accident, or a death in your immediate circle. This insurance is also there for you in the event of serious damage to your home just before departure or if you are unexpectedly laid off.
The same applies if you are forced to cut your trip short. In that case, you will receive compensation for ‘early return’ proportionate to the number of travel days you missed.
As insurance agents, we unfortunately hear the question a little too often during the summer months:"Can I still quickly get cancellation insurance? We wanted to leave the day after tomorrow, but my father-in-law is in the hospital."Unfortunately, that is not how it works. We can only cover unforeseen events. Therefore, take out your cancellation insurance at least 30 days before departure. Or even better: at the moment you book the trip.
I remember a family from last summer whose little daughter had a chronic illness and had to be hospitalized regularly. As a result, their holiday fell through. Very unfortunate, of course, but thanks to their cancellation insurance, they had at least one less thing to worry about. In this case, postponement did not mean cancellation: the insurance reimbursed the cancelled trip, and later in the year, this family was able to book again without any problems.
By the way: sometimes your credit card already includes cancellation insurance. Feel free to ask us to review this and check if your next trip is sufficiently covered. This also helps us prevent you from being double insured.
Renting a car or scooter on vacation: checklist
Are you going on holiday by car? Then be sure to check yourcar insuranceAre you traveling in a different way? Then be aware that your own car insurance in Belgium never covers damage to a rented vehicle.
So be sure to check these things when you rent a car, scooter, or other vehicle abroad. This will prevent the rental company from presenting you with an extra bill upon your return.
Do you have the right driver's license?Is your Belgian driving licence valid for the type of vehicle you want to drive and in the country where you are? Without the correct driving licence, you will run into problems.
Just recently, a customer in Indonesia rented a scooter for a trip inland. During a fall, he damaged another car, but it turned out the scooter was not insured for third-party damage. Because he was driving without the proper license, he also encountered difficulties with the local authorities.
Check the vehicle for damage.Take photos or a video of the rented vehicle before you leave the rental company's parking lot. Check for scratches, dents, the condition of the tires, the underside of the bumper…
A family that has been insured with us for years received a bill for the repair of natural damage to the car after a road trip through Iceland. The rental contract stated that such damage was their responsibility. Unfortunately, the family had not taken any photos before departure to prove that the damage was already present. However, based on our experience, we were able to dispute the claim. A few emails later, the rental company dropped the claim and our client did not have to pay anything, but this could just as easily have ended differently...
Ask about the rental company's car insurance.Can't they produce proof of insurance? Hurry to the exit and find another rental company. If they do have proof, check if it is comprehensive insurance and if civil liability is included.
What does your insurance agent do for you when things go wrong while traveling?
Booking a trip? Contact us immediately; we will review your travel insurance, point out potential pitfalls, and update your policy if necessary. Afterwards, we hope, along with you, that you will never need to make a claim.
Should that happen, we are truly there for you. You can quickly submit your declaration via our digital tools. For urgent help and guidance, simply call us in person: we will do everything in our power to put your worries aside.
Above all, remember: a holiday is an investment in memories. With good travel insurance, you prevent unexpected costs from overshadowing them. You are welcome at our office, where we will review the exact coverages and exclusions of your policy together, so you can soon depart on your trip with 100% peace of mind.
