Pick the Best Plan for your Trip Abroad
Planning a trip abroad is exciting and fun! More and more travelers are well situated for travel to North America, to Western Europe and other destinations in the Western Hemisphere. Research shows that most people like to travel abroad, but most don’t go too far.
Top destinations for travelers include: Mexico, Canada, Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Thailand, Italy and the Caribbean.
Wherever you are going, be sure to consider the right insurance coverage for your trip needs. Let’s start by examining different types of insurance for your vacation.
Trip Cancelation Insurance
You may already be familiar with trip cancelation insurance. Essentially, it covers you or a member of your traveling party if they are unable to go on the trip. This type of insurance is especially useful if someone is ill or accidentally injured; if a passport is stolen or if there is a terrorist incident at your destination.
An international trip may be expensive or even be a trip of a lifetime. Often, international trips are booked well in advance of the actual vacation. Trip cancelation can cover the cost of the trip, a travel delay or even lost baggage. It is highly recommended to purchase trip cancelation insurance for international vacations.
Trip cancelation can also be a good choice for those who have booked all-inclusive vacations – for example, those in Mexico and the Caribbean. Sometimes vacation packages, especially good deals, are purchased using smaller airlines. Trip cancelation would apply if the small airline you have booked with happened to go bankrupt.
When booking in advance, purchasing trip cancelation insurance can help you have peace of mind for your trip and leave you to worry about planning and preparing, not wondering if anything might change your booking.
Cancel for Any Reason Insurance
Cancel for Any Reason insurance is just that – it pays if you cancel your trip two or more days before your departure date. This insurance does have eligibility requirements and a time-sensitive purchase window. Typically, cancel for any reason insurance will reimburse up to 75% of your prepaid expenditures.
Travel Medical Insurance
International Travel Medical Insurance plans are often combined with trip cancelation insurance plans or else you can buy coverage excluding trip cancellation to save some money. Typically, it is temporary health coverage for those in your traveling party. These plans provide coverage for accidents or illness, saving you from large medical bills if you require a visit to the doctor or hospital.
Read: Choosing a Travel Medical Plan
Adventure Sports Coverage
Everyone knows that a vacation is a time to relax, have fun and try something new. You may not know that there is special insurance to cover some of those new activities you want to try.
Adventure Sports Insurance isn’t just for those thrill seekers! There are lots of activities that you may not think of that may not be covered through your regular insurance. Here are some examples of activities that may be considered adventure sports and are commonly found at all-inclusive resorts:
Examples are:
- Surfing
- Zip lining
- White water rafting
- Hot air ballooning
- Snorkeling
- Horse back riding
- Scuba diving
- Jet skiing
While you wouldn’t participate in winter activities at most all-inclusive resorts, if you have a cold weather destination in mind, consider the following sports:
- Downhill or cross – country skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snow tubing
- Glacier walking
As you plan your vacation, if there is any possibility you might participate in these, or similar activities, consider extreme sports insurance. That way, if you are injured while participating in these activities, medical coverage will be available. Otherwise, you may be forced to pay out of pocked and even a broken bone could set you back thousands of dollars. Plan to be safe and plan to have the insurance you might need too.
Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance
Emergency medical evacuation insurance plans covers things that regular plans may not. While most travelers don’t ever require this plan, it is what you need in an emergency medical situation that requires you be moved to another country or even home. This type of insurance includes emergency evacuation, travel assistance services and emergency reunion.
A little research can tell you if this is a good option for you to add to your travel medical insurance plan.
Emergency Evacuation Insurance
Emergency evacuation plans are not just for travel to unstable areas. In these uncertain times, even the safest destinations could face situations that would require an emergency evacuation. Emergency evacuation would also be beneficial should you or a member of your party become critically injured or exceptionally ill while traveling. This type of insurance is recommended for travel to countries with poor medical resources and facilities.
Global Medical Cover
International Health Insurance (Comprehensive Annual Plans) is a better option for those of you moving to Thailand for a year or longer. These plans provide comprehensive benefits including medical cover, inpatient and outpatient care, wellness, dental and vision services. Another benefits of a global medical plan is that it will cover you both in Thailand as well as in all other countries in the world – so you are covered abroad and even back in your home country.
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about types of insurance available, let’s go back to those popular destinations mentioned earlier and consider the types of insurance you might need.
Canada
As America’s neighbor to the north, Canada is accessible by car, plane or boat. Canada is considered a very safe country to visit and there are no Warnings or Advisories listed.
As one of the largest countries in the world, there is a huge diversity attractions and destinations. Medical insurance is a wise investment. If you plan on participating in any of the adventure activities, such as those in the Rocky Mountains, you may want to consider extreme sport insurance too.
Mexico
Millions of Americans visit Mexico each year, with the largest percentage going to Cancun and other resort areas. The U.S. Department of State does have a travel warning issued for Mexico because of threats from organized criminal groups. Primarily, those groups are not in the resort areas, but it is still important to be aware.
Again, you will want to have Medical Insurance, possibly Extreme Sport Insurance (for those all-inclusive activities) and, because of the Warning issued, you may wish to also consider Cancel for Any Reason Insurance.
Europe – including the United Kingdom, France, German, Italy and Spain
The European countries listed above have no Travel Advisories or Warnings currently listed.
The incredible history, culture, food and fabulous cities mean there is much to see and do. Be sure to have Medical Insurance and any other insurance related to your trip itinerary.
Read: Schengen Via Insurance for Travel to Europe
The Caribbean – Jamaica, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas
Americans often travel to the Caribbean to enjoy the warm weather and beaches at all-inclusive resorts. There are very few Warnings or Advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State
Medical insurance would be a priority. Depending on the country you plan to visit within the Caribbean, you may wish to consider the emergency medical evacuation insurance too. Also, depending on the activities you are planning to do, extreme sport plans may also be a good fit.
What it all comes down to is matching your insurance plans to your vacation. Happy planning!