Have You Considered Travel Insurance?

Anyone who has missed a connecting flight or had to cancel a trip knows that vacations do not always go as planned. But when do you really need to consider travel insurance?

Your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy probably covers your possessions, so you don't have to worry about lost luggage. The same applies to renting a car—if you are a car owner, your auto insurance most likely covers you when you rent a car. It is worth it to take the time to check these policies before you travel, however.

Arranging trips takes a good deal of time and often we don't think beyond getting flights, checking timeshare availability, and researching activities. One key reason that many people get traveler's insurance is not to protect possessions, but to protect the investment they've made in the booking of the trip itself. Travel insurance can give you peace of mind and save you money if for some reason your vacation plans change. You could need to cancel your trip, your cruise could be delayed until a later date, or the weather at your destination could prevent travel.

Travel insurance is not necessary for every trip you take. If you know that a cancellation or other interruption to a trip, especially a short one, will not set you back too much, then perhaps you don’t need it.

If you travel often or are planning a really big trip, such as your honeymoon you may want to consider getting travel insurance to cover your bases in the event of an unplanned alteration to your travel itinerary.

For people who travel often and visit timeshares around the world, it is possible to get year-round coverage. Like anything you buy in bulk or large quantities, you can save money by getting a travel insurance policy to cover the various trips you take in a year.

If your travel plans include a cruise, the cruise line will likely offer you their own travel insurance. You can take this, but it may be a good idea to shop around and see what else is out there. A company that is not connected to the cruise you are taking may provide better coverage or offer a better rate.

Traveling Outside U.S.? Consider Overseas Medical Policy

If you are planning a timeshare vacation outside the U.S., you should consider purchasing overseas medical insurance. Not all U.S. medical insurance policies include coverage outside the U.S. Those that do often provide more limited coverage than what you're used to at home. You also need to consider the fact that policy holders generally pay for overseas medical expenses out-of-pocket then submit the bills to their insurance carrier for reimbursement which, unfortunately, often doesn't meet expectations.

If you're over 65, you should be aware that Medicare will not cover medical expenses outside the U.S., and Medicare Supplement Plans C-J provide only limited foreign travel benefits. If you don't carry supplemental insurance or have only Medicare Supplement plan A or B, you should definitely purchase overseas medical insurance before you leave the country.

Here are a few pointers on purchasing overseas medical insurance:

• Get a policy that provides primary, not secondary, medical coverage. Primary insurance will pay your bills even if you have other insurance. Usually primary policies will also pay the hospital or doctor upfront so you don't have to use your travelling cash.


• Look for a policy that covers a reasonable number and type of emergencies, including dental coverage, evacuation and repatriation expenses. Most overseas insurance policies offer reasonably-priced bundles that include medical/dental services and emergency transportation.


• Get a policy that covers existing medical conditions. Disputes over existing conditions is a frequent complaint of overseas travelers.


• When submitting a claim outside the U.S., follow the carrier's procedures precisely. Remember that pre-authorization is usually required for all but emergency procedures. Policies may specify which doctors or hospitals are authorized to provide treatment. With emergency procedures, you may have to notify the carrier within a set period of time in order to be covered. Coverage may be denied if claim procedures are not properly followed.


• If you plan to purchase other travel insurance, notably trip-interruption or trip cancellation insurance, look for cost-effective bundled packages. Buy only as much insurance as you need and opt for bare bones policies over those with all the bells and whistles.

Several online companies offer cost-effective insurance bundles for travelers, including:

• 1TravelInsurance.com


• InsureMyTrip.com


• QuoteWright.com


• QuoteTravelInsurance.com


• TotalTravelInsurance.com

Travel Insurance Can Protect You from Disaster

Hurricane season has started in the Atlantic. Weather news has been focused on Hurricane Dean, the massive storm relentlessly chugging toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Views of the Category 4 storm taken from the International Space Station show an alarming whirlpool of angry clouds spinning over a huge section of the ocean. No wonder frightened tourists are mobbing Caribbean airports trying to flee Dean's path.

When you plan a vacation, sometimes renting a timeshare months or even a year in advance, there's no way to plan for the weather or natural disasters. No one plans to vacation in the eye of a hurricane, on a tropical island during a tsunami, in the midst of a crowded city when an earthquake strikes or during any of the other myriad disasters that befall our planet. You can plan your vacation down to the minute, but you can't plan on the weather. Mother Earth has a mind of her own!

What you can do is consider purchasing travel insurance. There are various types of travel insurance to cover the host of unpleasant emergency situations you may find yourself in when you are far from home:

• Travel Medical Insurance and International Medical Insurance pay for major medical expenses including doctor and/or hospital care, emergency surgery and extended hospital stays for sickness or injury, even medical evacuation back home, if necessary. Deductibles and co-pays may apply. Travel assistance may also be included.
• Travel Accident Insurance and Accidental Death Plans pay a lump sum if you are killed or seriously injured (loss of limb or eye) in an accident. Repatriation of remains in case of death if usually included. You can purchase insurance for travel by plane, common carrier or 24-hour coverage which pays a benefit for accidental death or dismemberment no matter how or where they occur during travel. Terrorism is usually included, though some policies require a separate rider. War is generally not covered, but you can purchase War Risk Insurance at very high prices.
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance covers the cost of transporting a seriously ill or injured person to either the nearest medical facility, a hospital near home or a hospital of his choice. Often included in travel medical and trip protection plans, emergency evacuation insurance can also be purchased as a stand-alone policy.
• Travel Protection Plans and Trip Cancellation Insurance cover the cost of unreimbursed travel expenses if you are forced to cancel your vacation due to an unexpected crisis (death, accident, illness, airline strike, travel company bankruptcy, etc.). Some policies also provide travel assistance, lost or damaged luggage, and limited medical coverage (sometimes with a co-pay).
• Post Departure Trip Protection covers you against travel delay, trip interruption, trip cancellation, and baggage loss or delay.

While most insurance covers only a specific vacation period, Multi-Trip Travel Insurance may be a cost-effective investment for frequent travelers. Multi-trip insurance is usually sold as a package that includes medical, emergency assistance, medical evacuation, accidental death, baggage and trip delay protection. Plans are available for both domestic and international travel.