Travel insurance may not be on your radar when planning your vacation, but it should be. Especially if you have special medical needs or are traveling abroad, getting travel insurance can save you time and money and give you peace of mind. Here are reasons why every traveler should consider buying travel insurance before jetting off on their next adventure.
1. Trip cancellation
What if you get sick and have to cancel your vacation? What if a family member passes away unexpectedly and you have to miss your trip? Your plane is delayed due to mechanical problems, causing you to miss important connections and cancel your plans. Whatever happens, there’s probably something—or many things—you don’t want to happen that might lead you to need trip cancellation insurance.
2. Lost baggage
Traveling a bag of bricks is never fun. Lost baggage, on top of everything else, can ruin your trip; if you’re stuck without any clothes or toiletries, your day becomes a whole lot more difficult. Having travel insurance in place will cover you for lost baggage and reimburse you for certain things that aren’t covered by regular insurance. Just remember to keep all your receipts!
3. Medical problems
If you travel outside your country of residence and become sick or injured, a comprehensive travel insurance policy can ensure you’re covered for medical expenses. A good plan will also cover evacuation in case of an emergency, usually with a paramedic who speaks your language. In addition to actual care, it’s important to have coverage that pays for non-medical expenses like lost luggage, cancellations, and trip delays.
4. Natural disasters
While traveling, you’re especially vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. A good travel insurance policy will not only cover you for lost luggage but also medical evacuation in case of an emergency. It’s a good idea to find out whether your credit card provides insurance for these kinds of emergencies—but if not, don’t forget to purchase supplemental travel insurance.
5. Missed flight delays
We’ve all been there-you’re sitting at home, waiting for your flight to board, only to get a text that your plane has been delayed for a few hours. It seems like there’s nothing you can do but wait and hope that the next flight on standby goes smoothly. But with travel insurance from Squaremouth, you can file a claim when your plans are changed due to weather, mechanical or technical problems, or airline delays.
6. Death in the family
Losing a family member or relative unexpectedly is difficult for anyone, but if you’re traveling abroad during an emergency, it can be especially challenging. If someone in your family dies while you’re away from home, travel insurance might help cover expenses like medical repatriation and crisis counseling. And if there’s been a death in your immediate family—say, between close relatives like spouses or parents—travel insurance can also be valuable when coming back to work after bereavement leave ends.
7. Medical Evacuation
Perhaps more than any other travel expense, medical evacuation is likely to be a big one. If you’re traveling outside your home country, you might need medical attention that isn’t readily available. In addition to helping with transportation costs for an ill or injured traveler, many plans also cover a host of non-medical expenses like visas and legal fees. And in a worst-case scenario, they can even help bring a family member from back home to your bedside.
8. Personal Liability
A basic personal liability policy protects you in case you’re sued after a traffic accident or if someone is injured on your property. If you can’t pay out of pocket, most policies will cover up to $1 million. Accidents happen, but they don’t have to bankrupt you—or ruin your credit score—when they do.
9. Delayed Flights and Baggage Loss
If you ever have to deal with a delayed flight, travel insurance can be invaluable. Delayed flights can lead to missed connections and an overall long wait before you make it home fortunately, travel insurance covers these issues and more.
10. Lost Documents
Losing your passport or some other important document while you’re abroad can be a major hassle. Having travel insurance will help you pay for replacement documents and get you home quickly if something goes wrong. In addition, good travel insurance will cover your medical expenses, in case of an emergency. Keep in mind that claims for lost documents typically aren’t paid until after you’ve returned home—if they are at all!
11. Currency Exchange Losses
If you’re traveling overseas, it’s not just important to have travel insurance—it’s vital. Many travelers assume their credit card will cover them if they have an accident or their stuff gets stolen, but that’s not always true. Make sure you check with your credit card company before heading overseas to find out what kind of coverage they offer and read any fine print closely.
12. Rental Car Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
This is a must-have if you are renting a car and want to save money. Rental companies typically charge between $10 and–30 per day for collision damage. If you have travel insurance, your policy will usually cover some or all of it, saving you lots of money. Take advantage of any travel insurance benefits that come with your credit card or bank account.
13. Homeowners/Renters Policy
All US states and territories mandate that you maintain insurance on your home. This covers you for damage due to fire, windstorm, theft, or other events beyond your control. In addition, if a burglar breaks into your home and steals valuables from it. You can file a claim for reimbursement for those losses as well. HO4 policies typically cover property inside of a residence that is not owned by an insured party up to around $1 million worth of coverage.
Summing Up
The best things in life are free, but travel isn’t one of them. While it’s easy to get swept up in excitement about embarking on a new adventure or trying out something you’ve never done before, it’s important to keep safety in mind at all times. Before you take off on your next big trip, make sure you have all of your bases covered with travel insurance