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Travel Insurance is not for me, is it? Why travel insurance…Top 10 reasons
Traveling for vacation is supposed to be care free. However, unexpected and unwelcome events have a way of happening. While we have little control over unforeseen events we can take steps to minimize their negative impact on us. One of the best and least expensive ways is to buy travel insurance.
Have you or a friend ever had one of the following happen to you?
1. I'm too ill to travel
It is very disappointing to fall ill before your departure date and not be able to leave on that long-planned for vacation. But there is a second disappointment, that of losing your vacation investment. You can avoid this loss and soften the overall blow by having trip cancellation insurance, a benefit under a travel insurance plan.
2. I'm ready to go but my travel supplier is bankrupt
How many times have you read of a travel supplier going bust and leaving its customers stranded? Add to the inconvenience and disappointment heaped on these unlucky souls are the added costs of alternative flights, accommodation and meals. If you don't like the sound of that you need a comprehensive travel insurance plan.
3. My daughter has a stomach ache but how do I explain that in Spanish?
If you need medical assistance in a foreign country finding a qualified and English speaking doctor may not be easy. Most good quality travel insurers have 24/7 assistance lines and have established networks of contacts throughout the world. They can connect you with prescreened, English-speaking medical professionals any time of the day or night.
4. When we arrived at the airport to return home the airline was on strike
Your travel insurance plan can include trip delay benefits to cover additional accommodation and living expenses and also the cost of tickets on an alternative airline.
5. I arrived in Cancun but my luggage went to Boise
A vacation without a change of clothes is not much fun. Your travel insurance plan can reimburse you for replacement clothing and personal effects while you wait for your belongings to show up. If your luggage is lost your plan should cover some or all of the replacement value.
6. My mother-in-law had a freak accident. I can't leave her alone.
A good travel insurance plan recognizes that family events, other than sickness among those traveling, can prevent you from leaving. These events trigger the trip cancellation benefit. Some plans include a "cancel for any reason" benefit and reimburse between 75% and 90% of the trip cost. However, it is important to read the policy wording to be clear about the conditions.
7. We missed our connection because the previous flight was delayed
The travel delay benefit covers the cost of meals and accommodation while you wait for the next flight.
8. I got seriously ill while we were traveling
Sometimes a medical emergency requires evacuation from your vacation spot to a major city where proper care can be provided. In other cases it may require repatriation to your home country. Your plan should include medical evacuation. This is not just a matter of cost, it could be life saving!
9. Terrorists just struck a city in my itinerary
Terrorist acts are becoming more common and should be covered. Whether national or international, terrorist acts are sufficient reason to cancel a trip and qualify you for reimbursement. However, the act must have occurred within a reasonable time before your departure to qualify.
10. My credit cards and/or passport were stolen
The insurer's 24/7 emergency assistance staff will help you in reporting the loss of the cards and also any documents lost. They will also make arrangements for emergency cash and some plans will cover losses due to unauthorized use of your cards.
A travel insurance plan cannot make unpleasant events go away but it can minimize their negative impact on your finances and on your vacation. The reimbursement can ensure you have the funds to vacation another day. Remember, plans differ from package to package and from insurer to insurer. The comments above are general. You must decide what coverage is important to you and what limits you are comfortable with.
But don't let cost deter you. As the Australian Government says on its website: "If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel."
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