Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

To buy or not to buy that is the question when it comes to travel insurance. One consideration is the cost of the policy which is generally based on the cost of the vacation. For example, in my research for this blog, I checked 24 travel insurance companies for a trip that cost $2,000 to the Caribbean. Cost of the travel insurance was $28 to $498! Quite price gap.

For many people they make the assumption that their health insurance will cover them where ever they are. This is not always the case. Your US policy is at times limited to the US. There is also medical evacuation to consider. What if you get sick and can not go on the trip? What about a sudden need for surgery, such as appendicitis?

I have been on several cruises and witnessed folks being medically evacuated. On one cruise it was a member from our group that had a heart attack and was evacuated to Texas where he had open heart by-pass surgery. He was in Texas several weeks. He lives in Maine. Not something he planned on, thankfully he did recover completely.

As for me, I booked a trip to sail on Carnival Cruise Lines over a year in advance of the trip. Thankfully, I decided to purchase the $75 insurance policy. One of the reasons I did was I had seen the member of my group medically evacuated. Little did I know that when time came for the cruise I would be unable to sail. I had bronchitis, double ear infection and a horrible sinus infection. I had been to my primary doctor and several specialists all who instructed me not to travel and agreed to complete the medical paperwork for the insurance company. I called the cruise company, Carnival, and cancelled my trip with in the specified time. I called the insurance company, Berkley Care, and notified them of my need to cancel the cruise in the specified time. The insurance company sent me the forms I completed them in the specified time. I called and followed up and I received three payments that covered my cruise and airfare.

Be sure you know what benefits are and are not included. For example, trip cancellation, medical evacuation, lost baggage, rental car coverage, accidental death benefit, cancellation for family member funeral, pregnancy or trip interruptions are some considerations. Baggage lost, delayed, or stolen. Know the time limits for notifying the insurance company which can be 24 to 72 hours generally. Read the policy before you go on your trip, and take the policy with you as it includes the phone numbers you may need. If you cancel because of illness you must be examined by a physician and he must sign the necessary paperwork

As with any type of insurance you do have to meet deadlines for timely filing and notification. However, I found the process rather easy and definitely worth having. For me travel insurance is always something I never leave home without!