Travel Insurance 101: Why You Need It and What It Covers

Travel insurance is more than just a precaution - it's a necessity, now!

Travel insurance is often overlooked or seen as an unnecessary expense, but it can be a lifesaver in unexpected situations.

Perhaps most importantly, travel insurance can give you peace of mind with benefits like cash reimbursement for covered situations, emergency medical assistance, 24/7 expert support, and more - allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip without worrying about the unexpected.

Here are some compelling reasons why travel insurance should be at the top of your packing list. Understanding what's covered and what's not is crucial to making the most of your travel insurance policy.

Typical plan benefits include:

• Travel cancellation, interruption, or delay

Flight delays, natural disasters, or personal emergencies can derail your trip. Travel insurance can reimburse you for trip cancellations or interruptions, helping you recover some or all of your costs. It will compensate you for additional transportation costs required to continue your trip or return home and any lost prepaid expenses if your trip is delayed for a certain number of hours due to a covered reason.

• Baggage delay or lost luggage: Something I have experienced. There is nothing like arriving to your destination without your luggage!

Travel insurance can help take the sting out of baggage delays or loss. If your bag is delayed or misdirected by a travel supplier beyond the number of hours specified in your plan, you can be reimbursed for reasonable purchases of essential items—like clothing, toiletries, or even a swimsuit—with receipts.

Some plans even offer a fixed, no- receipts-needed payout, as long as you provide proof of the covered baggage delay. Either way, it helps you stay calm (and clothed!) while your bag catches up.

• Baggage loss/damage Provides benefits for the loss, damage, or theft of baggage and personal items throughout your customer’s trip.

• Unforeseen Medical Emergencies:

Medical bills can be staggering, especially in foreign countries. Travel insurance can provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses, including evacuations and repatriations.

• Emergency medical transportation

Provides benefits for the cost of medically necessary transportation to the nearest appropriate facility and costs for your customer’s transportation back home following a covered illness or injury.

• 24-hour assistance by phone 

A multilingual team of problem-solvers is always available to help with your medical and travel-related emergencies. You can easily reach them—plus other helpful safety features—from 24/7 expert assistance can be a lifeline in emergency situations, providing guidance, support, and help when you need it most.

Travel insurance, like any insurance, does have exclusions. So it's important to understand your policy and the exclusions before you purchase. Read over the policy of insurance (which contains the full terms and conditions) and ask any questions you have before purchasing.

Common exclusions:

Every plan purchased includes a list of covered reasons for which benefits can apply. As a general rule, these only include unforeseeable situations. Plan documents also provide a list of exclusions. 

• Pre-existing medical conditions (unless your customer is eligible for a waiver of this exclusion )

• Inclement weather events that were already predicted and named when the plan was purchased

• Participation in high-risk sports or activities listed in plan documents

• War (declared or undeclared) or acts of war

• Alcohol or drug abuse

• Other exclusions, which vary between plans

What if I already have medical insurance, am I covered?

The answer is that you may not be, particularly if you are traveling internationally. You should read your health insurance policy to see if it provides the coverage you need. Travel assistance services are included with most of its travel insurance plans. The service centers are available year-round to assist with traveling logistics, issues, and scheduling. For example, if you have an accident on your trip, a representative can help you book an appointment with the doctor or find new flights home if you need to cut your trip short. You can travel more confidently, with access to travel and emergency assistance, especially if it's overseas, where you may not be as familiar with the medical or transport systems.

By investing in travel insurance, you can protect yourself against a range of unexpected events and focus on making unforgettable memories on your trip. I will typically include insurance in your package unless there are multiple suppliers, and then I will provide separate insurance to cover your entire trip, from start to finish!