Do You Need Travel Insurance?
Your vacation may have taken months to plan. Ensure your investment in minutes for non-refundable losses with a travel insurance policy.
Travelers often overlook travel insurance when booking their trips, thinking they are already covered by their employer’s medical insurance. This may be true for some plans, but for others, injuries or illnesses suffered while abroad may not be covered. It’s important to check with your insurance provider to see what’s covered before you travel. For situations in which you are not covered, travel insurance can help fill the gap.
Coverage in Action
The first thing you notice when you walk into Bill and Martha’s living room are the photographs: London. Paris. Bangkok. Hong Kong. And countless others. According to Bill, there is one picture for every city the couple has ever visited. Based on the sheer number of photographs, it’s safe to say that Bill and Martha love to travel.
On a recent trip to Japan, these experienced world travelers got more adventure than they bargained for. While attempting to position himself on a ledge for the “perfect” photograph, Bill lost his footing and suffered a severe leg injury. Bill was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. During his recovery, the couple racked up huge medical bills and incurred a host of unexpected travel expenses.
Thankfully, the couple had invested in travel insurance prior to the trip. The policy ended up saving them thousands of dollars in hospital, evacuation and medical expenses.
In addition to medical coverage, travel insurance can cover you for loss of baggage, pre-trip cancellation, trip interruption, dental work, acts of terrorism or cancellation for any reason. Travel insurance is often sold in a package deal, giving you the biggest bang for your buck, and the peace of mind that if the worst should happen, you will be covered.
Travel insurance can protect against the loss of non-refundable travel costs, such as airfare, hotel and tour expenses. Other types of travel insurance offer protection against losses due to medical emergencies, damage to personal property and death, which may occur away from home on vacation.
Trip Cancellation/Delay/Interruption Insurance:
- Trip cancellation: Reimburses you for pre-paid travel expenses if you aren’t able to take your trip because you or a family member becomes ill or dies.
- Travel delay: Reimburses you for pre-paid expenses if you aren’t able to take your trip because of a travel delay, such as a flight delay or cancellation.
- Trip interruption: Reimburses you for prepaid expenses if your trip is cut short because you or a family member become ill or die or because of any other misfortune listed in policy. Covered reasons might include bad weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, jury duty or damage to your home.
Medical/Accidental Death Insurance:
- Emergency medical expense: Reimburses you for medical and emergency dental expenses that you have because of an illness or injury while you’re traveling.
- Medical evacuation: Provides emergency transportation to take you either to a hospital near your area of travel or for transportation back to a hospital near your home.
- Accidental death: This coverage is usually split into three parts:
- Air flight accident: Covers death or dismemberment during flight only.
- Common carrier: Covers death or dismemberment while traveling on public transportation such as a plane, ferry, train, bus or taxi.
- Accidental death: Covers death or dismemberment at any time during a trip.
Baggage and rental car damage insurance:
- Baggage loss: Reimburses you for lost, stolen or damaged personal items. This usually doesn’t cover personal items that may be lost or damaged by an airline. If you buy baggage insurance be sure to review the policy for the list of property that wouldn’t be covered. Some of your property may exceed the limits allowed.
- Rental car damage: Reimburses you for damage or loss to a rental vehicle. If you have this coverage you may decline the “collision damage waiver” rental car companies’ offer. This coverage doesn’t provide liability protection.
No travel policy can guarantee your safety when you’re traveling, but knowing you’re covered for medical emergencies or the loss of personal property may help you relax and enjoy your vacation.
Call Marshall & Sterling before your next trip to ask how travel insurance can keep you and your loved ones safe.
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Disclaimer: This is provided for informational purposes only. The information provided herein is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should it be construed as advice regarding coverage. Eligibility for coverage is not guaranteed and all coverages are limited to the terms and conditions contained in the applicable policy.