Look for these best coverage options in a comprehensive travel insurance plan.
trip cancellation insurance
You don’t book a trip with the intention of canceling it, but unexpected illnesses, injuries, illnesses of family members, jurors and more can derail plans. Trip cancellation insurance refunds 100% of the money you lose on prepaid, non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel for a reason listed on the policy.
If Covid is a concern, you can find travel insurance policies that cover cancellation of Covid-related trips if you contract the virus before your trip.
A good strategy for trip cancellation coverage is to purchase insurance for the full amount you put in non-refundable, prepaid deposits. Do not insure refundable amounts, such as refundable airline tickets, because you cannot make an insurance claim for this.
travel delay insurance
It can be inconvenient, stressful and expensive if your trip is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. This may be why most travelers (73%) are concerned about flight delays and cancellations, according to a Forbes Advisor survey of 1,250 adults planning to take a vacation in the next six months and travel by air.
How concerned or unconcerned are you about flight cancellations and delays during your vacation?
Travel delay insurance reimburses your expenses if you are stranded somewhere due to a burglary covered by your travel insurance plan. For example, if you’re stuck in an airport all day because bad weather delays your flight, travel delay insurance can reimburse you for necessities like food and toiletries.
If you have a long delay, trip delay benefits can pay for an Uber, a night at a hotel, and meals. Travel delay insurance has a specified waiting period before benefits apply – for example, six or 12 hours – as well as a maximum limit per day and a maximum total per person.
“Cancel for any reason” coverage
If you want the freedom to cancel your trip no matter what, look for travel insurance that allows you to upgrade your trip cancellation insurance to “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance. Having CFAR allows you to cancel your trip for any reason not listed on your basic policy. For example, you can cancel the trip because you just don’t want to go anymore, as long as you do so at least 48 hours before your departure time.
Reimbursement under a CFAR claim is 75% or 50% of your trip costs, not the 100% available under basic trip cancellation coverage. CFAR adds an average of around 50% to the cost of an insurance plan. Not all travel insurance companies offer a CFAR upgrade.
travel medical insurance
Travel medical insurance pays for ambulance service, X-rays, lab work, medicines, medical and hospital bills and other medical expenses during your trip. This is important coverage for travelers going abroad where your US health plan may have limited global coverage or no coverage at all. You can find generous coverage limits of up to $500,000 per person with some travel insurance policies, but you may decide that lower levels of coverage are right for your needs.
The best travel insurance for seniors includes travel medical insurance because Medicare does not pay for medical care outside the US except in very limited circumstances.
Many travel insurance policies cover Covid-related medical expenses like any other illness – but not all – so make sure you confirm that Covid is covered by your travel insurance policy if you contract the virus while traveling.
Emergency medical evacuation coverage
This is also important coverage for anyone traveling abroad, especially if you are heading to a remote area where quality medical care can be difficult to find. Emergency medical evacuation insurance pays to get you to the nearest suitable medical facility. You can find ample coverage from $1 million per person in the best travel insurance policies.
trip interruption insurance
If you have to interrupt your trip due to a reason listed on the policy, trip interruption insurance is valuable coverage. He can reimburse you for non-refundable parts of your trip that you miss out on, like a resort stay or prepaid scuba diving lesson. You can also pay for a last-minute one-way ticket home if you have an emergency.
Baggage delay coverage
Your bags might be on their own detour, but what do you do while you wait? This coverage covers your needs while you wait for your luggage. For example, if you are in Canada, you may need a coat, hat and essential hygiene products. Policies usually require a certain delay before baggage delay coverage kicks in, such as six hours.
Coverage for lost luggage and personal effects
If your luggage doesn’t arrive at your destination when you arrive, it can put a damper on your trip and is a concern shared by the majority (66%) of travelers, according to a survey by Forbes Advisor.
How worried or unconcerned are you about your luggage being lost by the airline?
Baggage insurance can at least ease some of the financial pain. He can reimburse you for the bags, clothes and shoes that never arrive, but note that the refund is for the depreciated value of the items, not the cost to buy new ones. It also pays for items lost through theft.
Travel insurance sales reflect this concern. Sales of travel insurance policies, including lost luggage coverage, were up 101% from November to December, says Megan Moncrief, spokeswoman for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.