The recent earthquake in Nepal brought home to all the importance of having a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Two of the insurance companies that we work with (Harel and Clal) had extensive “search-and-find” teams on the ground within hours of the earthquake.
We had one student insured with whom contact was lost after the first quake. When we checked the policy details, we found to our dismay that the policy had already ended, due to a human error on the part of the parent who took out the policy! We immediately contacted the insurance company, explained the mistake, and she was added on to the list of missing Israelis. Baruch Hashem, the next day she managed to contact her worried parents and soon after that, returned home.

A few lessons to learn:
Never, ever travel overseas without comprehensive travel insurance. For a reasonable amount of money, you cover yourself for up to $1,000,000 with options for pre-existing conditions, maternity, medical evacuation, extreme sport, etc.
Make sure you have an insurance agent that you can call in the middle of the night in case of emergency! (Whereas you can purchase travel insurance through your Kupat Cholim / travel agent – who, but your devoted insurance office (that’s us), will:

• Issue a policy as you board the plane, having completely forgotten in the rush.
• Extend your policy if you need to stay on unexpectedly.
• Issue a policy even if you only realize two weeks into your stay, that you forgot.
• Make sure that your Sabba’s heart condition and your daughter’s maternity is properly covered.
• Deal with your claims personally and professionally when you return.
• Even with the best planning and effort – everything is essentially in G-d’s hands!