• Passport ✅

• Suitcase ✅

• Carry on ✅

• Snorkel mask ✅

• Travel insurance (wait, do we really need that???)

Prepping for domestic or international travel is exciting, and most people are laser-focused on the budget, hoping to avoid unnecessary expenditures. Then comes insurance. That’s extra souvenir money, right? Do we really need it?

The answer is undoubtedly YES!

In short, travel insurance can reimburse you for expenditures if your travel is delayed, changed, interrupted, or canceled for “covered reasons” like severe weather and airline hiccups. Also, travel insurance can provide emergency medical and dental benefits, as well as emergency medical transportation benefits, if you're injured in a covered accident. Peace of mind is priceless, but should you purchase the single-trip policy offered by your provider (cruise ship, tour company, etc.) or should you invest in an annual travel policy? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all, and I advise clients differently based on their needs. Here are some considerations:

Do you literally travel ONCE a year? And please consider camping trips, holiday trips to see family, business travel, and road trips. Many annual travel policies use a 100-mile benchmark, so imagine that all your getaways, large and small, are covered. What’s that worth to you? If you literally just plan one big trip each year and love being cozy on the couch with your dog the rest of the year, no worries. A single-trip policy might be your jam. But if you are prone to air and car trips, you should consider an annual policy…it can pay for itself in as few as two trips!

Are you traveling as a family or as an individual? If you treasure being a family of explorers, you can actually add other family members to your policy at minimal cost. This inclusion will cover them and their travels as well! So that means that your work trip, your husband’s golf tournament, your daughter’s cross-country university tour, AND your son’s band trip to Boston could all be covered if they meet certain criteria. Suddenly “travel” takes on a whole new meaning.

If you are refusing coverage for travel insurance because you “already have health insurance,” think again. Some health insurance policies won’t offer the coverage that you need internationally and/or won’t reach outside your network. A single-trip OR annual insurance policy can provide “restoration,” which is a fancy way of saying it will close the gap between what you paid and what was lost.

You should also evaluate medical concerns. For instance, some policies do not allow pre-existing conditions, so if you OR an immediate family member (ailing parent, etc.) has health concerns that could derail your travel plans, find something with a higher benefit for medical delays/interruptions/cancellations + a pre-existing conditions clause.

Traveling with expensive sporting equipment? Are you a scuba diver or a surfer? If so, make sure your policies (single or annual) cover all your irreplaceable equipment. And while you’re at it, make sure those activities are covered, too! Maybe that spontaneous bungee jumping idea won’t be a good idea if you know it isn’t covered?

No matter your job, financial, family, or medical situation, finding a policy with some “cancel for any reason” and/or trip delay and interruption flexibility might relieve some pressure. After all, life happens!

We have reviewed major medical issues, but what about flight delays and other inconveniences? Carefully scan those areas to make sure they make sense for you. Some policies cover hotel expenditures, meal reimbursements, taxi transfers, etc. This is important…a policy that kicks in 6 hours (versus 12 hours) after your flight delay means you will be sleeping overnight at a hotel, not the airport.

Let’s talk baggage delays. If you realize that your bag didn't make it on your plane, where is it? Is it on the next plane and headed that way? Or is it missing in action? A 2-hour delay might not be mission-critical, but what if it turns into 6 hours? Or 12? Or 24? You’ll want a change of clothes and a toothbrush, right? Pay attention to that waiting period for reimbursement and find one that makes sense to you.

One word: support!! Most companies offer a 24-hour hotline that can offer different benefits. In a pinch, they can help you find a vetted medical facility. If your flight cancels, a hotline agent can help rebook for a different airport or a different airline. Other services can include:

Translation for language barriers

Lost passport or prescription

Embassy help during a state emergency

Medical evacuations – My last cruise, there were 2 different passenger medical evacuations, and all I could think is I hope they were insured! Airlifts and extreme medical transportation are expensive.

Travel insurance is meant to offer protection against sudden and unforeseen circumstances. That means when you book a last-minute “deal” to a destination that is expecting a hurricane…you might skip filing a claim ;) Some policies say that to make a trip cancellation claim, you must have lost more than 50 percent of your scheduled trip length due to a covered travel delay — and you must have made a good-faith effort to continue your travel. So, if a flight delay prohibits you from catching the embark date for your cruise, a decision to hop a flight to the next port is advisable (and asking for travel reimbursements) over heading home and requesting compensation for all flights AND the cruise.

A final note, let’s say you are within your rights to cancel a theme park trip, BUT you still have to pay 50% of your investment. Remember the word “restitution.” Depending on our particulars, travel insurance might be able to reimburse you for the other 50%. So, in this case, you might be entitled to up to 100% of the cancellation cost. That's money well spent!

Let’s face it. No one likes insurance, but I would say that most of my clients understand the necessity. Occasionally, I encounter a "NO" for travel insurance and usually discover that a bad policy soured them to the whole process. Obviously, one size doesn't fit all. We all aim for amazing trips, but a policy that is tailor-made to your unique needs could be your best buddy if you find yourself in a bind.

Knowing what to look for makes all the difference, so let these tips be a guide. And please reach out if you have questions! I'm here to help.

To learn more, download this free guide to travel insurance! CLICK HERE