First of all, what exactly is travel insurance?
It’s a short-term policy that protects the financial investment you’ve made in your vacation from unexpected events, as well as your health and well-being.
As an avid traveler for many years, I used to think travel insurance was an extra expense I didn’t need. Why bother? What could go wrong?
Well, actually…. A lot!
~ Weather Issues
Weather can make a mess of any trip, any time of year. A thunder storm in one area of the country can cause flight delays and cancellations all across the board. It can mean getting stuck in an airport overnight. (It’s happened to me before!) A snow or ice storm here in Buffalo can mean getting to your destination a day or two late, or you may get stuck and not able to get home. Hurricane season can wreak havoc all along the east coast and delay flights for days.
If you’re taking a cruise, a delayed or cancelled flight can mean missing the ship’s departure. Without travel insurance, you can lose all the money you paid.
~ Illness
There’s no way around it; traveling is a germy experience, especially airports. And even with constant hand-washing and sanitizing, sometimes we can’t prevent a stomach bug while on vacation. That means your family loses out on the experiences you’ve planned.
And unfortunately, we never know when an underlying condition will show itself.
When traveling outside the United States, emergency medical expenses can be very expensive and often your health insurance will not cover them. If you get sick on a cruise ship, and they do not have the proper medication or equipment to help you, you may need to be air-lifted off and taken to the nearest island. Which may not be covered unless you have a good travel insurance policy.
~ Injury
No one plans on getting injured while on vacation, but accidents happen. The heat in Florida during summer can cause heat stroke in those not used to it. A fainting spell can mean a head injury, or worse, and a trip to the ER.
~ Lost or Delayed Luggage
Imagine arriving at your destination, but your suitcase didn’t arrive with you. You’re boarding a cruise ship and even if they do find it, you’ll be in the middle of the ocean before the airline can deliver it. Without travel insurance, this can be a costly inconvenience.
~ Elderly Family Members
Travel insurance is often a good choice when you have elderly family members at home. If something happens and you need an emergency flight home, you’re covered.
I find many people think insurance is a waste of money, until something happens to them. It doesn’t click until they have a terrible experience and learn a lesson, first-hand.
How do you get travel insurance?
Many insurance companies offer policies with varying degrees of coverage at varying price points. Your travel agent can supply you with quotes and information. Some vacation suppliers like Disney and Sandals offer a policy that can be added to the vacation package directly.
Be sure to read the fine print to verify that the policy has all the coverage you need and reach out to the company directly with any questions you have.
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