What is travel insurance and what does it cover?

Whether it’s a vacation of a lifetime or a cross-country trip for a cousin’s wedding, you may be wondering when or if it’s worthwhile to buy travel insurance. Probably the best answer is that it depends on what you can afford to lose. By understanding what travel insurance is and what it covers, you’ll be able to make the best decision on whether to buy it.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is coverage designed to protect against risks and financial losses that could happen while traveling. The risks range from minor inconveniences such as missed airline connections and delayed luggage all the way to more serious issues including injuries or major illness.

What does travel insurance cover?

Depending on the coverage you choose, travel insurance can cover a broad array of possible damages and losses:

Injury or sickness

Travel insurance can help protect you from medical expenses abroad that your normal health insurance doesn’t cover. Most health insurance plans don’t provide full coverage in foreign countries and some health plans provide no coverage at all, including Medicare. Travel insurance works in addition to your everyday health insurance and can help supplement medical costs if you get sick or injured before or during your vacation.

Lost luggage

Travel insurance can help cover expenses stemming from lost or stolen luggage. This is especially useful if an airline loses your bags, as it can be very difficult to get them to pay for lost luggage. In the United States, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to compensate fliers up to $3,300 for lost baggage. In foreign countries that amount is a maximum of $1,750. But to receive those maximum amounts, passengers must provide receipts proving the value of the lost bags and their contents. And some airlines require that the claim be filed within 21 days.

To make matter worse, DOT doesn’t define when baggage is officially lost (as opposed to just “delayed”). Overseas, a bag is only considered “lost” after 21 days. For delayed bags, DOT only requires airlines to provide victims with enough money to buy necessities like clothing, medicine and toiletries.

Last-minute cancellations

Travel insurance can help cover costs stemming from trip cancellations. Most resorts or cruise lines won’t give you a full refund in the event of a cancellation. If you cancel two weeks or more before your trip, most resorts will at least charge a cancellation fee; many cruise lines might only give you a 25% refund or will give you partial credit on another cruise. If you cancel within two weeks of a trip, with most companies you won’t give any refund whatsoever. Unforeseen circumstances happen, and you want to be covered just in case.

Coverage beyond your credit card

Some credit cards provide limited coverage, with annual limits and restrictions for cancellations and interruptions (if they offer cancellation/interruption coverage at all). However, few credit cards offer coverage for the most expensive travel risks: medical expenses or emergency evacuations, which travel insurance can cover.

What travel insurance might not cover

It’s important to know that while there are many reasons to buy travel insurance, certain things may not be covered under travel insurance. If you have a preexisting condition, look for a plan that provides a preexisting condition waiver. If you’re visiting an area with political unrest, check into what coverage a policy provides if you wish to cancel due to problems in the area. Travel insurance policies cover some incidences of tour operator defaults due to financial issues. Look into how that’s handled before booking your trip.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance cost is primarily based on the price of the trip and the age of the traveler. A 35-year-old might expect a policy to add 3% to 5% to the cost of a trip while a 60-year-old might pay around 10%, says Jonathan Harty, owner of a MA-based travel agency. It can be a small price to pay to safeguard your investment in a honeymoon or the trip of a lifetime.

What travel insurance coverage should you get?

Before looking into travel insurance, think about the reasons you might cancel. Is a trip delay due to weather going to dramatically change your vacation? Is it possible your school year will be extended, or you will need to take a work-related trip instead? Are there acts of war in the country you’re going to visit? Are you nervous about the CDC issuing a travel warning for your vacation destination?

These are all valid reasons for cancelling a trip or wanting insurance coverage. But not all travel insurance covers these concerns.

Cancel for any reason insurance

When you buy this coverage, if you want to cancel because you have a hangnail, go ahead. The insurance company usually doesn’t need a reason. They just need you to cancel within the specified time frame, typically at least 48 to 72 hours before you depart.

You’ll trade convenience for a lower reimbursement level. With cancel for any reason insurance, you’ll get a percentage of your pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs back, around 70%, without having to give a reason. You can sometimes purchase this as a standalone policy or as a rider on a comprehensive policy.

Comprehensive travel insurance

This is the typical policy that people imagine when they think of trip insurance. The comprehensive policy usually covers delays, cancellation due to sickness or death, lost luggage and some emergency medical costs. Just read the fine print so you know exactly what it covers.

Changing your travel insurance coverage

If you decide shortly after you purchase the policy that it doesn’t meet your needs, you can get a full refund (perhaps minus a small administrative fee) within a specified time period. This gives you time to fully read the coverage and make sure it provides what you want. Usually that time frame for 10 to 15 days. When possible, it’s best to understand exactly what the policy covers and how claims work ahead of time, in case you need to file a claim.

When booking a pricey trip, investigate insurance at the same time. Some policies require you buy travel insurance within a certain amount of time after making your initial trip payment, such as within 10 to 30 days. With Travel Insurance from Nationwide you can purchase up to the day before you leave. Ideally, of course, it’s better to buy travel insurance well in advance of your trip so you can plan adequately. Going on a trip should be an exciting experience. While cancellation and other problems cause stress, you can take the financial worry out of it by getting your trip insured.

Top Considerations

Cost of travel insurance: Travel insurance usually costs between 4-10% of a trip’s price. For example, for a trip that costs $5,000, travel insurance could range from $200 to $500 depending on the coverage.

Types of travel insurance: There are several types of categories of travel insurance including:

• Trip cancellation. Reimburses pre-paid travel expenses if you are prevented from taking your trip for a reason covered by your policy. It is typically included in every comprehensive policy. You will usually receive reimbursement if your trip is cancelled for: unexpected illness or injury of you or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel; hospitalization or death of non-traveling family member; weather or common carrier issues; unforeseen natural disaster at home or the destination; a legal obligation such as being called for jury duty or serving as a witness in court.
• Travel medical and major medical. Provides protection if you become ill or injured while traveling. Travel medical insurance provides short-term medical coverage.
• Emergency medical evacuation. Provides coverage for services such as air evacuation and medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility then home if warranted. This type of coverage is useful if you’re traveling to a rural area without easy access to medical facilities. In the event a person passes away during travel, repatriation coverage will cover for the insurer to handle the necessary transportation.
• Accidental death and dismemberment. Provides coverage to beneficiaries if you die in an accident on the trip or pays a sum to you if you lose a hand, foot, limb or eyesight from an accident. Some plans only apply to an accident that occurs on an aircraft.
• Baggage loss. Reimburses for loss of baggage or personal items.
• Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policies. These policies are more expensive and typically only reimburse you a percentage of your travel costs. The reason for cancellation is not relevant. There is usually a time frame for when cancellations are allowed, and you must insure all of your pre-paid and non-refundable expenses. CFAR policies are usually added as an extra option in addition to trip cancellation coverage.

Epidemics and Pandemics
Travel insurance policies typically exclude epidemics and pandemics. According to Allianz Global Assistance, a travel insurance provider, “Trip cancellations and trip interruptions due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, or fear of travel are generally not covered.”

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a known global event, meaning that, depending on your policy terms, the likelihood varies that policies purchased now will cover changes in plans or cancellations for that reason. Review your travel policy to find out which exclusions apply.

There may be coverage if a specific country imposes travel restrictions. Some airlines and tour companies will allow cancellations outside of an insurance policy. Additionally, travel policies with medical coverage may cover any illnesses or hospitalizations that occur during a trip, but you need to review your policy to see if your policy is one of them.

Check the language in your policy to find out what is and is not covered.

How to Protect Yourself

Determine if travel insurance is right for you. Ask yourself:

• What are the chances you’ll be impacted by severe weather or another event?
• How willing are you to take risks?
• How much are you willing to pay for a back-up plan?
• Do you have questionable health or is a loved one ill?

If you cannot afford to cancel and rebook your trip or your health insurance doesn’t cover you abroad, you should consider travel insurance. You typically don’t need travel insurance for short trips close to home.

Know the coverage limitations, exclusions, and fine print: Each type of insurance has its coverage limitations and exclusions.

• Travel cancellation: Exclusions might include canceling your trip due to being detained by customs or having to cancel due to a work obligation. If your flight is delayed, you may or may not be covered. Some policies only cover trip cancellation claim if you lose more than 50% of your scheduled trip length due to a covered delay. You also must make a good faith effort to continue your travels using alternative means. A “Cancel for Any Reason” policy is an option for broader coverage but reimbursement is usually for less than the full cost of the trip.
• Travel medical and major medical insurance. Find out if your policy requires you to obtain prior approval before seeking medical care. Also check if any pre-existing medical conditions will exclude you from coverage.
• Emergency medical evacuation/repatriation: Coverage may not cover you if you’re participating in an activity your insurer considers dangerous such as sky diving. There are specialty insurance products for some activities, such as SCUBA diving.

Be sure to ask about coverage limitations or exclusions before you commit to buying an insurance product.

Don’t wait until the last minute: Travel insurance is intended to protect travelers against sudden and unforeseen events. If, for example, you are heading to Florida in two days amid hurricane predictions, purchasing travel insurance at the last moment isn’t likely to help you. Typically, if you buy travel insurance after a winter or tropical storm is named, your plan won’t provide coverage for claims related to that event.

Homeowners will cover your possessions during a trip: Most homeowners insurance policies cover personal property lost or stolen during a trip. Check with your home insurer to see what they cover while you are traveling. If you have expensive items, you might want to purchase a to add to your current homeowners policy to cover those items.

Top Three Things to Remember

• Read your policy to determine if travel insurance covers the types of events that you want to cover.
• Review the policy thoroughly. Ask about any coverage limitations or exclusions.
• Remember, your homeowners policy should protect your possessions while traveling. But if you have expensive items, consider purchasing additional coverage.