Is travel insurance necessary?
There is a saying - "if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel" Your health insurance may not cover you while overseas. DO check that thouroughly. And even if they do - it might not cover you as much as you might need. No one can force you to get travel insurance, but - are you going to take the risk? The worse case I heard of is a guy who got hit by a runaway truck in Mexico - the cost involved was about a million dollars after all the medical bills, hospital care, transport back home and medical equipment. You might be careful while travelling but there are factors outside your control. have a friend who has been to South Africa. And by what he described, I STRONGLY urge yo to get travel insurance. It is your peace of mind. It is not just about illnesses but you might be adversely affected by criminal activity (robbery or even personal injury)
Will travel insurance cover flight date changes? ?
Nope, generally not. Depending on the package purchased (for example with the common Travel Guard brand) you will get coverage only for emergencies. Things like choosing to change or cancel your plans, work needs, etc are not covered. You may be able to upgrade to a very inclusive plan if you need it. Another option is to buy a plane ticket with a more flexible date range. Some allow changes, some allow very cheap changes.
Do I need travel insurance in the USA?
If you are from outside the USA, yes, you absolutely need travel insurance. In fact it would be one of the number 1 countries you need travel insurance because of the cost of medical procedures.If you are a US citizen traveling domestically then it becomes a more nuanced question and one where you would need to question and examine your existing insurance policies. Because travel insurance is not just about medical, it is also about other issues. Lets look at some examples where you should consider some type of travel insurance.Ski-ing and other extreme sports. You need to check if your medical insurance covers you. In this case a type of travel insurance for two weeks might be better value for money than increasing your coverage on your medical policy.The dream holiday. I’m sure there are people who spend years scraping up the money to take their family to Disneyland or some other dream holiday. Having cancellation insurance would be important for big ticket items like that in case Jnr falls and breaks his leg two days before the holiday or if Grandma gets a heart attack. (This would not cover, the asshole boss who demands you not go on vacation.)
Should I buy expedia travel insurance?
I do buy travel insurance each time I fly, not so much for any items that may go astray during the flight but mostly for health coverage. If you get sick, need a surgical procedure or indeed have a serious accident you could finish your trip with a very serious medical bill. I do know of a friend who's boyfriend and his teenage daughter were mugged and both seriously stabbed in Rome, Italy. They were grateful the excellent medical staff in Rome but were faced with a $70,000 bill simply because they didn't think anything would happen to them. Insurance is something you hope you don't need but are very glad to have it when you need it. I usually use Insure My Trip where you can choose from various policies at various costs to suit your budget and coverage you may require, but you do need to check carefully as many have limited coverage and some have you pay up first then claim it back later. As regards Expedia and the airlines own coverage it seems to me that medically you are not really covered for much and the airlines are already cover themselves (at no cost to you) for any claims for most anything that may go astray during your flight, but that's for you to decide upon. My insurance purchases have only been for vacations for one to two weeks so I don't know about a trip for several months but I do know there are many deals on this site. Of course with the better coverage comes a higher price, but again it's up to you to decide if it's worth the extra cost.
What are some tips for saving money on a travel insurance plan?
It’s easy to find a travel insurance plan that protects you during your trip and doesn’t even burn a hole in your pocket. Here are some tips on how to save money while buying a holiday insurance policy –Compare different plans on a portal that has ties with various insurance providers. This will help you see the difference in premium that several insurance companies charge. You can pick a plan that offers the same benefits but costs relatively less money.Ascertain your travel requirements properly. If you are going on a long vacation, you may require a travel medical cover. But in case of a short business trip, such a cover is not necessary.Consider buying a customized travel insurance plan. Insurance companies have special products for various types of travelers. They design their offerings to appeal to travelers like students, business executives and senior citizens. So if you fall in one of these brackets, try looking for a plan that’s been made for you.Discounts and offers for first time/frequent travelers. Very few of us know that insurance companies provide special discounts to loyal customers. If you are a frequent buyer or first time buyer of their travel insurance plan, you may have to pay a very low premium.Read the policy wordings very carefully. You need to know what your policy covers. And if in case your insurance plan is making you pay for a cover that you don’t need, you can have it removed and lower your premium.There are many ways through which you can save money on your travel insurance plan. These are the steps you should start exploring with in order to find more ways. But the most important thing is to ensure you buy a plan that keeps you safe on your trip, irrespective of the cost.
Do I need any travel insurance to go to Spain?
On a personal level yes, but it is not mandatory. It is entirely up to you.
Insurance company refused the extension of travel insurance after I have submitted claims. Can I do anything?
There is not anything you can do. For liability purposes, the underwriters do not allow policies to be changed after the policy is in effect. Effective date of coverage is generally the day you begin your trip. People most often ask this question because they use their trip cancellation benefit before their trip starts. They then want to reschedule the trip and extend/transfer the policy to those dates to save money on booking another policy. Let's think of it this way - insurance is what? Shared risk. Travel insurance is no different. Travelers put into a pool to have access to financial benefits should they fall victim to risk. Now, if everyone was able to recycle their travel insurance policy (specifically those who filed claims and extended/transferred the dates), what would happen to shared risk? The likeliness of risk would go up per policy, making the benefits limits lower and the policies more expensive. No one wants that. What you can do, depending on where you are a citizen, is look into getting another policy from a company like [World Nomads] -> Explore your boundaries with World Nomads If you are already on your trip, you can still purchase a policy with them. They are underwritten by US Fire, which is a reputable underwriter. Their benefits are also decent. If you are looking to transfer your policy because you cancelled your trip, you're out of luck. Nothing in life is free :) You can read my most recent post on the Claims Process if you are looking for additional information. It was directed towards travel agents in helping prepare their clients for the claims process, but it is useful for all travelers - How You Can Prepare Clients for Travel Insurance Claims