International Travel Insurance

To help dispel misconceptions about the need for travel insurance, here are some common myths explained.

• Myth 1: I don’t need to buy it because I’m already covered.
  People often think their health or homeowners insurance, credit cards, and other means will fully cover them in case of travel emergencies. However, neither health, homeowners insurance, nor most credit card insurance policies reimburse non-refundable travel payments if you need to cancel a trip because of illness. Likewise, domestic health policies may not cover medical evacuation, especially abroad, nor will other types of insurance help reimburse emergency expenses for accommodations and incidentals if your plans are interrupted or delayed because of a natural catastrophe. According to a survey conducted by the USTIA, no single source provides the full spectrum of coverage and services that comprehensive coverage will provide.
• Myth 2: Nothing will happen to me.
  One in six Americans (17%) say their trip details and schedules have been impacted by medical conditions, natural disasters including severe weather, or mechanical or carrier-caused problems, according to another survey for USTIA. When unforeseen events – from medical emergencies to a lost passport to being caught in a storm – derail a trip, a good plan will provide financial coverage and medical services. Consider that a medical evacuation alone could cost up to $100,000 or more. These plans also provide a support network to assist you, from coordinating emergency medical care to helping locate overnight accommodations, obtaining paperwork for lost or stolen passports, and more.
• Myth 3: My pre-existing condition won’t be covered.
  Many policies cover pre-existing conditions if the policy is purchased within a set amount of time – usually two weeks – following the initial trip payment. Since requirements may vary, UStiA suggests travelers check with their travel insurance company.
• Myth 4: My policy won’t cover me if something happens to my family or traveling companion.
  Most policies cover trip cancellation or interruption due to an unforeseen family illness or injury back home. Likewise, policies usually cover trip cancellation, interruption, or delay due to illness or injury of a traveling companion.
• Myth 5: I can always get a refund from my travel supplier.
  Refund policies vary among travel suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, resorts, cruises, and tours. Many low-cost airfares, for instance, are nonrefundable. Resorts, hotels, cruises, and tours have a non-refundable deposit and payment rules for reservations not canceled within a certain time. Without trip insurance, travelers risk losing all or part of their deposits and payments if they have to cancel for a covered reason. Some travel suppliers provide a waiver allowing travelers to rebook their trip within a given time frame. However, the right policies will refund unused non-refundable payments without requiring the traveler to rebook their vacation arrangements.
• Myth 6: Travel insurance is only cancellation coverage.
  Policies typically cover far more than cancellation. It covers the entire trip from beginning to end, including interruptions or delays due to illness, injury, severe weather, and more. Travel medical insurance covers medical expenses for emergencies during the trip. It provides assistance services, such as locating legal help, help in replacing lost or stolen documents, finding emergency hotel accommodations, and more.