What Is Travel Insurance and Why Do You Need It?
Not everything always goes as planned when you travel. No matter how carefully you plan your trip, something unexpected might come up. You might have to cancel your trip for a number of reasons or run into some unexpected expenses during your trip.
It is always best to have an emergency fund for unplanned situations. Travel insurance might benefit you as well.
Travel insurance is a type of short-term insurance policy. All you have to do is plan your vacation and purchase a policy that would cover a number of scenarios that could come up during your trip. You can choose between different plans or buy a customized policy in the amount of coverage you want.
Consider these advantages of travel insurance:
- The main advantage of buying travel insurance is that you’ll get your money back if you have to cancel your trip. Travel insurance usually covers the entire cost of your trip if there is a death in your family, if you or a family member becomes ill, or if you lose your job. The scenarios covered depend on the amount of coverage you buy.
- Travel insurance also covers medical expenses. It could be very beneficial if you don’t have a health insurance policy or if your current policy wouldn’t cover you in another state.
- You can buy additional coverage if you plan on practicing dangerous activities. This is important if you plan on going skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, or want to try an extreme sport for the first time.
- Repatriation is included in most travel insurance policies. This is another one of the main reasons why this type of coverage might be needed while you’re traveling. Having to buy a plane ticket home at the last minute if you’re ill or injured could be very expensive and makes buying travel insurance well worth it.
- You can also insure your luggage. It’s not uncommon for luggage to get lost or stolen, and you could actually lose some valuable items such as your laptop or digital camera.
- The exact amount of coverage depends on the policy you purchase. Assess which risks you need coverage for. Where are you going and which activities do you have planned? There is no need to buy travel insurance that includes coverage for medical expenses if your health insurance will cover you while you’re away from home.
- Buying travel insurance is not very expensive and it can really save your vacation. You can rely on your travel insurance policy to cover the unexpected expenses. You’ll find that your trip is a lot more enjoyable with the peace of mind of having travel insurance.
If you plan on travelling soon and have already booked your trip, look for a reliable travel insurance provider. The insurance provider you currently use for your other policies might offer this type of coverage. Otherwise, you can easily buy travel insurance online or simply contact different insurance providers to ask for quotes.
Don’t hesitate to contact a travel insurance agent directly to see if they can write a customized policy for you. This is usually a good way to save money since you might not be able to find a policy that matches your needs. You can also remove or add coverage from an existing policy in view of what you need.