Here’s some advice on important considerations for choosing the best travel insurance.
where you are going
If you’re traveling outside of the United States, it’s important to have a plan with travel medical insurance, as your U.S. health insurance may offer little coverage. If you’re traveling domestically, you probably won’t need it, or you might want to buy a lower amount of coverage as a back-up.
If you are traveling abroad, it is important to have emergency medical evacuation coverage, especially if you are visiting a remote area without quality medical facilities.
If you’re traveling to a hurricane-prone destination and you’re worried about bad weather ruining your vacation plans, travel insurance can also be a good idea.
If you’re concerned about bad weather affecting your travel plans, it’s always a good idea to purchase travel insurance that includes trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance against hurricanes and other weather events.
If your trip is interrupted or canceled due to inclement weather, you may make a claim and 100% of your prepaid non-refundable deposit will be refunded.
To file a travel insurance claim for a storm, you must have insurance before the storm is named. Additionally, typically one of the following requirements must be met:
There is a hurricane warning for your destination. Your destination is an uninhabitable place due to bad weather. Your (common carrier) airline will be delayed by a specified amount of time (for example, 6 hours) as stated in your policy.
The path to get there
Travel plans can be derailed by weather, mechanical problems with the plane, and a variety of other unforeseen circumstances. If you’re worried about paying extra costs due to delays, you may want to look for a plan that offers generous travel delay insurance.
what you are doing
It’s especially important to have trip cancellation coverage if you have a large amount of prepaid non-refundable deposits for activities, accommodations, or tours. This also applies to trip interruption insurance.
Travelers planning to participate in extreme sports or adventure travel should consider purchasing a plan that covers these activities, as they are often excluded.
How much flexibility do you need?
If you want the freedom to cancel your trip no matter what, choose the Cancel for Any Reason upgrade. Typically, you must purchase within the first few weeks of your initial deposit. Similarly, you can purchase an “Interrupt for Any Reason” upgrade that allows you to shorten your trip and return home for any reason.
These upgrades are especially advantageous for travelers who have put down a large, pre-paid, non-refundable deposit.
Concerns about the new coronavirus and its variants
If COVID-19 is a concern for your trip, look for a travel insurance plan that covers coronavirus-related cancellations and medical expenses. The best coronavirus travel insurance plans also include “cancellation for any reason” coverage.
If you test positive for the virus while traveling, travel delay insurance can cover the additional cost of accommodation while you quarantine. This coverage can also cover his expenses for up to one week from his original return date if he is forced to stay beyond his return date due to quarantine.
If you are forced to quarantine and miss part of your trip due to a positive coronavirus test, trip interruption insurance can help you recover the non-refundable costs you paid in advance.
To apply, you will need documentation that proves you have tested positive for the coronavirus.
