If you never considered or purchased travel insurance before, now is the time to reconsider and do so!
I’ve always been an advocate for purchasing travel insurance, and I practice what I preach! However, I know the majority of travelers never do. – even many of my clients don’t. ;-(
For many, comprehensive travel insurance isn’t at the top of their list. But, since COVID, it is even more important to consider adding it to your travelers’ checklist. Before the pandemic, I would never book a trip without it. Since the pandemic, I absolutely wouldn’t!!!
Here are the main reasons why comprehensive travel insurance is important.
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over
Some destinations are now requiring travel insurance and possibly one that covers COVID-19. This list is growing.
Even if a country doesn’t require it, consider if you contract COVID -19 or produce a positive COVID test, you’ll have to extend your stay for quarantine, and worst yet, you may be hospitalized.
The need for flexibility in your travel plans. Anything can happen
With things so fluid today, consider “Cancel For Any Reason” insurance. It is more expensive, requires you to purchase it within 14 days of booking your trip, and will cover up to 75% of the cost of your trip. Sure, it’s not 100%, but it allows you to cancel for ANY reason and will reimburse you up to 75% of your non-refundable fees. That’s better than zero if your reason for canceling is not a covered reason on a standard policy.
Other medical emergencies
In addition to COVID illness, travel insurance can add another layer of medical coverage for other unforeseeable sicknesses or injuries, including hospitalization, medications, doctor visits, etc.
Something may happen to a loved one who isn’t traveling with you
If you are a caregiver for someone, have children, parents, grandparents, spouses, and other immediate family members that may suffer an illness or injury, you may have to cancel or change your travel plans. Travel insurance will cover this too.
Travel insurance is a great option for covering the costs of unexpected occurrences that could otherwise drain your bank account.
Consider you are in a remote location and become ill or suffer an injury. You may need to be medivac’d to the central city within the country or even back to your home country, which could run into the thousands.
Storytime:
As a travel professional leading and escorting groups worldwide, I have several stories of travelers who did and didn’t have travel insurance and needed it.
One of my clients suffered a heart attack in Thailand while having lunch along a remote river. I’ll keep this story short. We arranged a transfer from the remote location to the international hospital. He stayed behind at the hospital to have surgery (a pacemaker & defibrillator). Fortunately, he had travel insurance. He shared that the surgery cost $25,000 plus the hospital stay (I know, $25k for heart surgery). He then flew back in business class (recommended by the doctor). He received a full reimbursement of his expenses related to the heart attack.
To the contrary:
One of my clients purchased a package, was paid in full and within the 100% non-refundable period. An immediate family member passed away, and he had to cancel his reservation because of the timing. Unfortunately, he did not have travel insurance and could not get reimbursed for his travel packages. You’re probably thinking, don’t airlines and hotels refund for this reason. The answer is no. Travel providers stopped reimbursing for death in the family or even the traveler a long time ago. Of course, you can try, write letters and plead, but that’s not a guarantee.
Think of travel insurance as protecting your travel investment, peace of mind, and providing an extension of your health coverage. It is!
Travel safely and securely,
