Travel Insurance 101
Sometimes no matter how careful you plan, the many variables associated with traveling can spoil an otherwise perfectly planned trip. Lost baggage, delayed flights, illnesses or theft can all wreak havoc. Travel insurance can put your mind at ease when faced with these risks.
Travel insurance cannot work miracles so your lost baggage will not magically re-appear, nor will the flight become un-delayed by invoking some spiritual policy provision. What it can do is offer financial protection from the ills that may befall the unlucky traveler.
Protection is available for various types of disasters that may occur during a trip. The most common type of travel insurance covers major medical. Illnesses and injuries are common during trips due to unprepared immune systems, and strenuous (or downright hazardous) vacation activities. This section of coverage will pay for doctor’s visits, hospitalization, emergency services, medications, ambulance and even surgery. This type of policy is designed to cover sudden and accidental medical issues so there are commonly provisions that exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, long-term health issues, or any routine medical exams.
Other types of problems may crop up to spoil your trip and travel insurance can cover more than just medical bills. Travel insurance can be purchased to cover things such as missed reservations when your tour company goes out of business, or inclement weather that delays a flight or prevents you from reaching your destination. You may also obtain coverage that will reimburse you if a trip needs to be cancelled due to an illness or injury.
Cancellations are a problem, but so are simple delays. This is especially so if a delay causes you to miss a connecting flight, or some other pre-paid event. Coverage for flight delays can be obtained and is usually available for 2-hour delays or sometimes 5 hours of delay or more.
Lost baggage is a common problem among the traveling public, which can be due to either to theft or simple error on the part of the transporter. Coverage for baggage can be obtained that will reimburse you for your baggage and your lost or stolen personal belongings. You may also be reimbursed for damaged luggage if you find that it has been mangled during the trip.
Clearly, you have many options when considering travel insurance. Be sure that you are getting the most value for your dollar when comparing policies, and be sure to work with an agent that you can trust. J.C. Lewis Insurance Services has been helping people for 30 years and will gladly assist you in finding the right Travel Insurance that suits you!
Travel insurance can cost as much as 5% to 7% of your travel budget for a particular trip, but this percentage can be higher for inexpensive trips. Be sure to carefully consider the cost vs. benefit factor of travel insurance for your next adventure.
My husband and I are going to Europe next summer for approx. a month. Is there travel coverage that will cover 100% of our medical costs for things such as a catastrophic accident?