Travel insurance can sometimes seem overwhelming, especially when navigating new travel requirements and updates around the country and the world. It doesn’t have to be complicated, though!
TravelInsuranceMaster.com will easily recommend the best plan and value for your next trip in just three steps. Check out these 11 reasons you need travel insurance below.
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1. For Flexibility
When planning your next trip, flexibility is more important than ever! Travel insurance plans with Trip Cancellation will cover you 100% for covered cancellation reasons, most commonly when you, your family member, or a travel companion gets sick.
Simply filter by the Trip Cancellation plan type on the results page after requesting a quote on TravelInsuranceMaster.com.
2. The Ability to Cancel for Any Reason Whatsoever
For the most flexibility, look for travel insurance with the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit, which will allow you to cancel for any reason whatsoever, usually up to 2 days before departure, for reimbursement of up to 75% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses, depending on the specific plan.
To take advantage of CFAR, purchase your insurance early, usually within 1-21 days of the initial deposit. You can also filter by this option too!
3. To Fill the Gap in Your Regular Health Insurance
Your regular health insurance rarely offers coverage while traveling outside your home country, and travel medical options fill that gap in coverage.
Comprehensive plans, those that offer both Trip Cancellation and Travel Medical options, are the most popular travel insurance type.
There are also Limited Travel Medical Plans, with No Trip Cancellation, that will give you medical coverage while traveling primarily but not exclusively outside your home country.
Costly Medical Bills
Without travel insurance coverage, if an emergency occurs, you or your family could incur costly medical bills that you may need to pay out of pocket.
These expenses can add up quickly, and domestic insurance plans usually do not provide coverage for international care. See your specific plan details for a full description of your coverages and benefits.
Emergency Medical & Dental
Emergency Medical and Dental benefits provide coverage if you become sick or injured on your trip. You can even find AD&D, and Medical Evacuation for emergency medical, medical repatriation, return of remains, and trip interruption.
4. For Delay Protection
Whether the delay is weather-related, mechanical, or human, unanticipated travel delays are so common that insuring yourself against them is a smart choice!
Become familiar with your policy so you know the requirements you will need to meet in the event of delay and be sure to save your receipts. With a serious delay, you may be covered for meals, hotels, transportation, and more.
Hotel Expenses & Meals
It’s also important to note Trip Delay provides coverage for additional hotel expenses and meals if you are delayed due to quarantine required by a physician on your trip. Just another reason to filter plans by this benefit on TravelInsuranceMaster.com.
5. For COVID-19 Coverage
At TravelInsuranceMaster.com, all our “Trip Cancellation” plans cover trip cancellation or interruption if you get sick or test positive for COVID-19.
What’s Covered
COVID-19 is treated the same as any other illness. Depending on your trip and needs, many benefits provide coverage if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your travels. See your specific plan details for requirements you will need to meet, like proof of cancellation, coverage limits, and more specific information.
What’s Not Covered
Cancellation due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 is not a covered reason for cancellation, though, so that’s when you will want to be sure to purchase the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) additional benefit.
6. For More Protection Than Your Credit Card Provides
As you learn more about travel insurance, you may be thinking about your credit card and the travel insurance you thought they provided.
Not Enough Protection
Remember, although your credit card may offer travel insurance, it usually does not provide enough protection. Most cards provide minimal travel insurance benefits, if any. These are generally geared towards smaller inconveniences like lost luggage and delays.
Credit cards rarely offer Trip Cancellation and is one of the most popular plan types. Emergency Medical, medical repatriation, and pre-existing conditions are generally not covered by your card.
Broader Coverage
A travel insurance plan from one of Travel Insurance Master’s trusted providers offers much broader coverage. Travel insurance, and the small piece of your travel budget used to purchase a plan, will provide you invaluable peace of mind!
7. For Protection Against Natural Disasters
You can’t control the weather, and in the event of a travel delay, you may be eligible for reimbursement when the delay is due to a number of events like a natural disaster or adverse weather.
The Hurricane and Weather benefit and some plans cover events if your accommodations become uninhabitable due to fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane, or another natural disaster.
For reimbursement of the reasonable additional expenses you incur, your plan will specify how long the delay must have been (ex., 6 hours or more). It’s always a good idea to save your receipts for this reason!
8. For Protection Against Strict Cancellation Policies
Oftentimes short-term rentals and non-traditional accommodations like Airbnb and VRBO have strict cancellation policies set by the host. It can be next to impossible to receive a refund for a cancellation or change of travel plans when you book with one of these sites. It’s important to protect your trip and investment with a travel insurance plan that’s right for you.
9. To Protect Your Belongings
When you’re staying in an unfamiliar place, you will want to protect your trip and your belongings.
The Baggage Loss Benefit, which you can easily filter on TravelInsuranceMaster.com, will reimburse you if your luggage gets stolen, damaged, or lost during the course of your travels. Items valued at $1,000 or more should be listed as possessions on your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.
Keeping receipts of items for your records and taking photos of the items in your luggage is always a good idea too!
10. For Adventure Sports
Any adventure can include riskier than normal activities and adventure sports, and it’s important to purchase travel insurance that covers them.
Although some plans may have exclusions for these activities, you can easily filter by the Hazardous or Amateur Sports benefits on TravelInsuranceMaster.com to find the best fit for you and your itinerary.
11. Because You Just Never Know!
If the last year has proven anything, the unexpected can happen on just about any trip! Travel insurance gives you all-important peace of mind at a time when planning for everything can seem overwhelming. For any trip that takes you 100 miles or more from home, even domestic trips and road trips too, it’s a good idea to protect your investment.
How to Get Started
Simply visit TravelInsuranceMaster.com, input your travel details, and request a quote in just three steps. Travel Insurance Master will recommend the best plan and value for you for the world’s leading providers, as well as provide clear side-by-side comparisons of similar plans and customizable filters.
Remember, you can request a quote and purchase insurance as soon as you put your initial trip deposit down, even if you haven’t paid for your trip in full yet. With Travel Insurance Master, you’ll be able to find comfort in knowing your next trip is well protected!
Photo Credit: [@Rawpixel/DepositPhotos]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m based in New England and have always loved travel. I know the importance of travel insurance firsthand, as I have experienced my fair share of travel mishaps! The team and I at Travel Insurance Master look forward to helping you make travel memories for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones!