Should You Buy Travel Insurance for Your Next Trip?
These last several weeks, it has been heartbreaking to witness the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria across the Caribbean, southern Texas, and Florida. This hurricane season more than any other, I’ve been feeling prompted to write a post about whether you should purchase travel insurance for your next trip.
People often ask me, Should I buy travel insurance for my vacation? My answer is almost always yes.
Travel insurance protects the investment you have made for your luxury vacation or honeymoon from the unexpected. And trust me, after more than 30 years in the industry, I’ve been witness to a surprising array of difficult situations that my clients could not have foreseen.
During an international trip, there are plenty of things that can go wrong, from severe weather or lost luggage, to an unexpected illness in the family or a missed airline connection. With so many variables and a handsome investment on the line, it is prudent to arrange for the convenience that travel protection provides.
Fortunately, the majority of the time, you won’t have to use it. But here’s the thing: Emergencies happen when you least expect them. My clients who planned to honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands certainly did not plan for category 5 Hurricane Irma to play a part in their marriage celebrations. Thankfully, however, they were fully covered, so paying for a lavish, bespoke honeymoon in the Virgin Islands that they didn’t get to enjoy was NOT in the cards! In fact, as long as you purchase the insurance before a hurricane or tropical storm is named, your trip will be covered.
So what else is covered under your travel protection plan? These are the types of issues for which my clients are always tremendously grateful to have travel insurance.
What if I have to cancel my trip, or cut it short?
You’ll receive reimbursement up to your full, prepaid, non-refundable trip cost when you have to cancel, or you’ll be reimbursed up to 150% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip cost when you have to cut your trip short.
What if I miss my flight?
You’ll be reimbursed for up to $500 in unplanned expenses to rejoin your trip when a 3-hour flight delay causes you to miss a cruise or tour departure.
What if my flight is delayed, and I miss my cruise?
You’ll be reimbursed for the cost of the cruise.
I have to cancel my vacation because of a work emergency. Can I get any of my investment back?
Yes, your travel insurance provides Trip Cancellation for business-related reasons.
What happens if my luggage is lost or delayed during a flight?
Trip insurance covers up to $1,000 when your bags or personal effects are lost or damaged, and even reimburses up to $300 in necessary personal effects when your bags are delayed by 12 hours or more after your arrival at the destination.
Does travel insurance cover healthcare and medical expenses?
Absolutely. You’ll be covered up to $100,000 for treatment costs when accident or illness strikes during the trip. In the event of a very serious medical emergency, your travel insurance covers up to $1,000,000 to transport you to the nearest facility providing treatment by U.S. standards and return you home when you’re able to fly.
How does travel insurance handle pre-existing medical conditions?
If you purchase the trip insurance within a specific timeframe after your initial deposit has been applied (i.e., your credit card has been charged), then the pre-existing medical conditions can be waived not only for you and your fellow travelers, but also for your immediate family members, such as a parents, children, or siblings.
When you’re considering your next luxury getaway, I highly recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance to protect your vacation investment. If you have any questions about trip insurance coverage or costs, or if you’d like to purchase it for your next holiday, please give me a call or send me an email, and I’ll be happy to speak with you.
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