Travel insurance. Personally, I don’t travel without it. So much so that I even took out an annual policy!
But before I go on a tangent on how travel insurance has been a lifesaver through my countless trips, let’s talk about you.
Why should you care about travel insurance? I know you’ve probably heard countless times that travel insurance is important to protect you, your family and your vacation before and during your trip.
If what you’ve heard so far was enough, I bet you wouldn’t be reading this post. But since you’re here, that means you want to know more (or need a little convincing).
That’s why I’d like to share with you my top five benefits of travel insurance.
Travel Insurance Covers Medical Emergencies
Without proper travel insurance, if you have a medical emergency, accident or injury while traveling, you are on your own and will have to pay out of pocket.
In many countries, medical treatment for visitors can be incredibly expensive; the daily cost of a hospital stay can quickly run into the tens of thousands.
If you need a medical evacuation, the cost can be $100,000 or more!
I do not mean to scare you, but this has actually happened to many people around the world.
The good news is that travel insurance covers illnesses or injuries you suffer before you leave or while abroad. The right travel insurance can help you with medical, dental or legal emergencies.
If emergency medical evacuation or transportation benefits are included it will also cover medically necessary transportation to the nearest appropriate hospital, as well as the cost of getting you home following an injury or illness.
I must mention that not all travel insurance is the same.
As the U.S. Department of State points out “many foreign medical facilities and providers require cash payment up front and do not accept U.S. insurance plans.
Medicare does not provide coverage outside the United States.”
This means that medical insurance does not cover illnesses or injuries that occur outside of the country ( U.S.).
Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, but it is usually very limited or more expensive than third-party travel insurance.
So what should you do?
I recommend working with a knowledgeable travel advisor who will make sure you get the right coverage and take care of everything else you need.
That way, your trip will be fun and worry-free!
For example, some of the travel insurance policies I recommend to my clients also cover pre-existing conditions, provided you take out your policy within the required timeframe before your trip.
If you are planning a multi-generational family trip, there are also family insurance policies that cover all members of the group.
Acts as A Buffer From the Unexpected Delays
I know how important your vacation is to you. I also know that something unexpected can happen at any time. When those unexpected situations arise, it’s good to have a cushion to lean on.
Travel insurance provides that security by covering many of the things most travelers take for granted or do not think about when planning their trip.
Sometimes a vacation is delayed due to an illness of the traveler or their family.
A trip may be canceled by the traveler due to an accident, injury or, heaven forbid, death.
Sometimes it is adverse weather or a natural disaster that causes a flight cancellation, to come between you and your trip.
It is not uncommon for airlines to cancel or postpone flights. Often, airlines are not very helpful when it comes to finding another flight.
When flights are delayed or canceled, the wait times and lines to find a replacement flight are very long.
As a result, some passengers believe that airlines must compensate them with hotel or meal vouchers. However, this is a misconception.
This type of compensation is usually provided only under extenuating circumstances and only for return flights, not for outbound flights from your home airport.
Moreover, stranded passengers traveling on a budget airline never receive such amenities.
Unless you are flying first class or have booked your flight through a travel advisor rather than an online agency or low-cost airline, these benefits are generally not available to you.
With travel insurance, you do not have to wait in long lines. You can call your travel insurer’s emergency hotline or your travel advisor.
Your travel insurance will often cover the cost of such delays and/or cancelations.
You Don’t Want to Lose Your Vacation Investment
Life is unpredictable, and it’s impossible to know what might happen between planning a trip and leaving.
Let’s say you are gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime luxury cruise around the world or an intimate European river cruise.
Then something tragic happens a few days before departure that makes it impossible for you to take the cruise.
When you call the cruise line and explain what happened, while sympathetic they do not refund your money.
The company policy clearly states that there are no refunds if you cancel within 14 days of departure!
In situations like this, travel insurance is a lifesaver. If you have travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits, you can receive a refund of prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel for a covered reason.
Covered reasons include situations such as serious illness or injury to the insured, a travel companion or family member, death of the insured traveler, a travel companion or family member, a natural disaster or other events that renders your destination uninhabitable, etc.
I hope none of these ever happen, but it is a small relief to know that you will not lose your entire investment if something does.
Travel Insurance Has Become Mandatory in Many Countries
We all know what has happened in the world in recent years due to a certain pandemic.
The travel industry was forced to grind to a halt for months. When things finally got back on track, nothing was the same.
Travel insurance used to be voluntary – it was up to you whether you bought it or not. That’s no longer the case.
As a travel consultant, I have been on the front lines of all these changes. The requirements for travel insurance have become a bit more complex. Let me explain.
In many countries, travel medical insurance is now part of the visa requirement.
But Americans are often exempt from visa requirements, right? Yes, but some countries now require insurance coverage for all unvaccinated travelers, regardless of where they are from.
Other countries, such as the popular idyllic Caribbean islands of Aruba and Turks & Caicos, require every visitor to show proof of travel insurance that covers Covid-related medical expenses and hospitalization.
For other destinations, this special travel insurance coverage is not required.
These differences have made it increasingly important to do your research before traveling.
How To Choose The Right Travel Insurance
I hope you now have a better understanding of the benefits of travel insurance and are able to make an informed decision when purchasing travel insurance.
Travel insurance will save you time, money and headaches.
When you’re planning your vacation, you never think about the possibility of unexpected circumstances that could disrupt your plans, but they do occur.
If something unexpected happens, you can rest easy knowing you know you will not lose the money you invested in your vacation
So how do you choose the right travel insurance?
As a travel consultant, I am able to provide you with quotes from leading travel insurance providers that offer a variety of insurance plans.
If you have technical questions about insurance coverage, rates and policies, I’m more than happy to refer you directly to a travel insurance agent.
I want you to have a worry-free vacation whenever you travel, and that’s why I strongly recommend travel insurance. Get in touch to request a free travel insurance quote for your trip.
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