Before you finalize your vacation plans, be sure you give careful thought to whether you need to purchase travel insurance. There are circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. Travel insurance may provide the extra protection you need. Better Business Bureau advises travelers to weigh the pros and cons of travel insurance before going on a trip.
“Before you purchase coverage, check your homeowner’s or medical insurance policies to avoid any overlap. For instance, expensive items such as your camcorder, laptop computer or jewelry may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance should they be stolen while you are traveling,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the BBB Serving Metro New York. “If the airline loses your checked luggage, they may be required to reimburse you for your bags (up to a certain dollar amount). Or, if you become sick or injured while traveling, your personal medical insurance may pick up the cost of your medical bills.”
Some of the different types of insurance available include:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption (TCI) – If your plans suddenly change and you have to cancel or end your trip early, TCI can cover you for this. But it will only reimburse you for reasons on the insurer’s acceptable list, such as injury, sickness, or death of yourself, a family member, traveling companion or business partner. Some policies will cover only medical reasons and some will not cover pre-existing medical conditions. It’s important to read the fine print.
- Emergency Medical Treatment or Evacuation – If you are going on an adventure vacation or to an area that is far from modern medical facilities, it may be a good idea to buy emergency medical coverage. If adequate treatment is not available at a local hospital, for example, your insurance might cover a transfer to the nearest acceptable medical faculty. Travel insurance for medical expenses may also be advisable if you are going to a foreign destination where your regular medical insurance might not apply.
- Baggage Loss – This coverage reimburses you for lost, stolen or damaged bags. As you are packing, make a list of everything you are taking with you. If your bag is lost, you may be reimbursed for some contents, but not all. Baggage-loss protection is only necessary if you are carrying more than $2,500 worth of items in your bags. Be sure to check your homeowner’s policy.
BBB recommends travelers take the following into consideration:
- Read the fine print. Know exactly what coverage you are getting and what is covered. Policies and insurance firms differ in what they cover.
- You may not need to buy it right away. Travel insurance can be purchased days before your trip. Check to see if the policy you are considering requires you to purchase within a set time period after you’ve booked your travel. For trip cancellation insurance, you won’t be covered if you buy the policy after you’ve become ill or natural disaster has wiped out your vacation destination.
- Not every trip needs travel insurance. If your total trip will cost only a few hundred dollars in airfare, travel insurance probably isn’t worth it. But if you’re taking the trip of a lifetime and spending thousands, or visiting another country, travel insurance could be a valuable safeguard.
- Don’t fall for high pressure sales tactics. Don’t let someone pressure you into buying travel insurance right away. You are the only one who can decide if you truly need it.
- Pay with a credit card. Protect yourself further by paying for travel related expenditures, including insurance, with a credit card. Ask your credit card issuer if there are additional protections that come with your credit card. Some travel insurance may be built in to your credit purchases.
