We recommend travel insurance to all of our clients every time - but why? Why is travel insurance a good idea? A lot of travelers decline insurance because they don't know just how much it covers. Here are 5 things you probably don't know about travel insurance coverage.
It Covers More than Trip Cancellation
Most travelers think of travel insurance as cancellation coverage, and it's true that travel insurance offers coverage for nonrefundable, pre-paid expenses if you cancel your trip for a covered reason - but, that's not all that insurance covers.
If your trip is delayed or interrupted due to a covered reason, travel insurance can cover additional expenses such as flights or extra nights at a hotel. Travel insurance can also offer coverage if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged. Most travel insurance policies also offer 24/7 emergency assistance, where they can help you find the nearest hospital, organize emergency transportation, or provide telephone interpretation services in an emergency.
Medical Coverage
This is one of the biggest things that travelers often don't think about when it comes to travel insurance. While you're probably covered by your health insurance plan within the United States, it's much less likely if you're traveling abroad. Many American health insurance companies do not offer coverage outside the United States, and Medicare definitely does not. Travel insurance can offer not only medical coverage for emergencies abroad, but also coverage for medical-related emergencies such as emergency medical evacuation.
Pre-Existing Condition Waiver
Many travel insurance policies will not provide coverage when it comes to pre-existing medical conditions - however, most insurance policies will also provide a waiver for this exclusion if guests purchase insurance within 14 days of deposit. If you're traveling with a pre-existing conditions, it's especially important to be aware of this so that you can have access to coverage under your travel insurance policy. Coverage in general is also better when you purchase your policy
Cancel for Any Reason
Pretty much all travel insurance policies come with some sort of trip cancellation - but, some guests don't realize that there are restrictions on the reasons for cancellation. Most regular trip cancellation coverage will only kick in if the cancellation happens for a covered reason. If you need coverage that lets you cancel for any reason, then you need coverage that specifically allows you to do so. Many insurance plans offer a Cancel for Any Reason option that you can purchase, and note that it usually needs to be purchased with or shortly after your trip deposit.
Annual Policies
If you're a frequent traveler, you may want to look into an annual travel insurance policy, which covers your travel for the year rather than insuring a single trip. This can be more cost-effective if you're traveling more than just once or twice a year, and it's worth it to compare the cost of buying separate insurance policies for each trip.
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