Although most travel plans are on hold at present, soon enough people will be looking to make up postponed or canceled trips from the last year. When you start planning for a trip of your own, it may be a good idea to look into buying some trip insurance to cover all of your bases financially. Here are a few basics for trip insurance and the benefits of purchasing before you travel!
- Travel insurance packages can cover a variety of unexpected costs, not just canceled flights. According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, “medical emergencies, trip cancellation, trip interruption, delays, medical evacuation, and lost, damaged, or stolen luggage” can all be covered under travel insurance packages. This website is a great resource to see what is covered and what extended plans might be best for you.
- You can customize the plan ahead of time to suit your potentially expected, but hopefully unnecessary, needs. Whether it is refunded on canceled plans or reservations, or paying damages on a rental car – there’s a plan out there that fits with the details of your trip that could potentially have a “worst-case scenario.” Nerd Wallet breaks down some of the more common needs and insurance coverages as well as some more specific cases in this article.
- In the wake of COVID-19, many canceled trips and travel insurance agencies left people unhappy with their coverage, but this can be used as a learning tool to help you get the most out of your plan in the future. The recent pandemic has caused a rise in interest in what is commonly called the “cancel for any reason” plan. Although this plan is usually more expensive than other travel insurance plans, it allows travelers to avoid some of the more tricky “exclusions” in the more basic trip insurance packages. An article in the New York Times explains how travelers can refund their trip for “usually 50 to 75 percent,” but that “the policy only covers cancellations up to two or three days before the trip.” See their article for more information on this type of plan.
Although planning a trip can be exciting, especially after 6 months of restrictions, it is also important to think about taking precautions. With trip insurance, you could save yourself some stress financially if the trip takes an unexpected turn. Always remember to read the fine print and ask about what is covered in your travel insurance plan, especially with anything COVID-related, to be sure that your needs are fully covered. Ask your local insurance agent for potential travel insurance packages and compare them with other companies to see which plan is the best fit for you! Safe and happy travels!
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