Insurance and Trip Registration

drayman86 · Post by **drayman86** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 01:00 pm

Perhaps a bit paranoid, however I've been doing a bit of research into avoiding any unpleasantries during my trip and have come upon the following:

Travel Insurance - You can get a wide variety of coverage, however the most valuable part of the package is emergency medical transport. Say I step out in front of a Tram and am wiped out, spending a week in the hospital. I'm released, yet cannot fly standard commercial and require special travel accommodations back to the states. Emergency medical travel is covered for up to $100,000 or more (depending on the policy you get), and you will be flown to the hospital of my choice back home. Insurance rates are about $50 to cover my week-long trip.

Registering w/ your government - The U.S. State Department offers a service whereby you register your trip with them entering your dates of travel, passport number, and most importantly emergency contact information. It's passed onto the embassy or consulate at your destination so they know you're around in the event of an emergency, etc. You can also receive travel advisories and warnings by email. Face it, due to the actions of the U.S. government during the past eight years, Americans aren't too popular abroad. I expect nothing but friendly Amsterdamers, but I'm simply taking precautions.

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Perhaps other governments offer this service?

Anyway, I just like to be prepared.

cheese · Post by **cheese** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 01:07 pm

travel insurance is always good to have, especially if your trip is a bit away. you never know what can come up or change between now and then and its always good to have some cancellation or health insurace for travelling.

i wouldnt worry about registering your trip.. i would say worry more about what shop your gonna hit first, or what hash you want to try first before you register your trip... lol just my silly opinion.

good luck dude

Pala · Post by **Pala** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 03:57 pm

I don't get it.

nehctik · Post by **nehctik** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 04:20 pm

I always thought travel insurance was essential and you had, to have it.

murphyscafe · Post by **murphyscafe** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 04:36 pm

nehctik wrote:I always thought travel insurance was essential and you had, to have it.

you do, unless u wanna foot the massive bill at the end! you would need a second morgage to clear it!!!!!!

lucknumber13 · Post by **lucknumber13** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 07:23 pm

Travel insurance is a good idea, but you should check the small print in your policies. Most state that you aren't covered if you are under the influence of drink or drugs, counts us out!

drayman86 · Post by **drayman86** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 08:58 pm

lucknumber13 wrote:Travel insurance is a good idea, but you should check the small print in your policies. Most state that you aren't covered if you are under the influence of drink or drugs, counts us out!

Excellent point. I'll read any policy thoroughly before I sign.

SoulRider · Post by **SoulRider** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 09:47 pm

I never get travel insurance, but then that's the way I am. If you think you need travel insurance, then you need it. If you think you don't need it, then you don't

nehctik · Post by **nehctik** » Fri 16th Jan 2009 10:46 pm

See again im a bit stupid (well not knowlagable), everyone i know always has travel insurance so i thought it was legally required lol, yet again my idiot shows

Ingwey Gooblebogger · Sat 17th Jan 2009 07:09 am

Insurance might be a good idea.

However, dude, do you really want the Yank goverment knowing that you were in Amsterdam? They might turn around and use it to bust ya at some future date.

If you never use when in the US, then it would just be an unpleasant search. (It would be easy to get the search warrant, given the bullshit power they have. Although, maybe with Obama in office, you might just get your constitution back. ) On the other hand, if you use and or grow stateside, then registering might not be a good idea.

drayman86 · Post by **drayman86** » Sat 17th Jan 2009 12:43 pm

Ingwey Gooblebogger wrote:Insurance might be a good idea.

However, dude, do you really want the Yank goverment knowing that you were in Amsterdam? They might turn around and use it to bust ya at some future date.

Not too worried about that. If the government wanted to learn about who was where, they can always search airline flight rosters or collect information at customs when I return state-side.

Although, maybe with Obama in office, you might just get your constitution back. )

+1 on that; I'm looking forward to getting my country back. Glad I'm traveling to Europe with Obama in office as opposed to that fascist Bush. Obama's popular with Europeans, and I look forward to raising many pints (and spliifs) with Amsterdamers to celebrate his victory.

drayman86 · Post by **drayman86** » Sat 17th Jan 2009 12:47 pm

cheese wrote:.. i would say worry more about what shop your gonna hit first, or what hash you want to try first before you register your trip... lol just my silly opinion.

good luck dude

Thanks, Cheese. I've already got a basic plan. Upon arrival:

1. Walk from Centraal Station to Baba headshop to pick up a bong and weekender.
2. Check in at Greenhouse Effect Hotel. Celebrate arrival w/ pint of ale in the bar.
3. Head straight to Hill St. Blues. I'd love for my first coffeeehouse get-high experience to be RIGHT next door to the local police station. What irony.

CHELSEA_SMOKERS_SOCIETY · Sat 17th Jan 2009 01:03 pm

i always opt out of any insurance for all trips to dam. just the cheapest flight i can get. i even try fit all my stuff into hand luggage so i dont have to pay for luggae either. didnt have any going to spain or greece etc on two week holidays either.

ive got one of the nhs card thingies, so god forbid i fall under a tram, i should be ok (not that i have any idea if they actually wok?), but when it come to travel insurance, i have never bothered.

(travelling is a different matter of course).

drayman86 · Post by **drayman86** » Sun 18th Jan 2009 03:25 am

CHELSEA_SMOKERS_SOCIETY wrote:ive got one of the nhs card thingies, so god forbid i fall under a tram, i should be ok (not that i have any idea if they actually wok?), but when it come to travel insurance, i have never bothered.

(travelling is a different matter of course).

Here's something to check out; does the NHS card cover medical transportation cost?

You fall under a tram and spend a couple of weeks in the hospital. You're released, however you required a 3 month stay in an assisted living facility for rehabilitation care. You're discharged from the hospital and have to get to the assisted living facility back home, but your condition makes regular air travel impossible and your require special medical transportation. It's UBER expensive, and this is the sole reason I'm getting travel insurance. My health insurance here in the states will cover my treatment when traveling international, but not emergency medical transportation. Like all insurance, check the fine print about just what coverages are included, and their details.

Sorry to be so on about this, it just interests me.

Ingwey Gooblebogger · Mon 19th Jan 2009 04:53 am

i even try fit all my stuff into hand luggage so i dont have to pay for luggae either. didnt have any going to spain or greece etc on two week holidays either.

Yeah, who needs underpants, pants, or socks?

You'd be surprised how much room people give you when you're not wearing pants!

Even a place like Grey Area would likely clear out.

Here's something to check out; does the NHS card cover medical transportation cost?

I think that it might not be necessary since, as a European, there would be reciprocal agreements on medical treatment. (i.e. If you are a citizen of one European country and you get injured in another European country, then you would get medical trreament in that country gratis, just like in your home country.)