4 Common Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance

A vacation is an experience we all treasure. It’s a chance to relax, spend time with friends and family, and discover new places and cultures.

Sometimes, though, unexpected events happen. To ensure peace of mind and access to the resources you might need to enjoy your vacation thoroughly, travel insurance is an excellent way to help keep your plans on track.

Travel insurance provides coverage for a number of situations that can interfere with your vacation. These might include:

PROPERTY  An airline or tour provider’s liability is limited, by law, for lost or damaged luggage, and it usually doesn’t cover items such as medication or passports.

HEALTH If you get sick or are injured while abroad, many U.S. health insurance policies (including Medicare and Medicaid) won’t cover it, leaving you to pay all costs out of pocket. And hospitals overseas often require up-front cash payment for services.

EMERGENCIES If you have a serious accident or illness, you might not be able to travel home on a commercial flight, and air ambulances can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Similarly, it can be difficult to find safe transport after a natural disaster or civil unrest.

CHANGES If you can’t take a trip for unavoidable reasons such as illness or job loss, or if you miss a leg of your trip after it’s begun— for reasons such as flight delays or missed connections—you might lose prepaid costs. Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive compared to what you might pay to overcome setbacks on your own. Including it as part of your travel plans—a safety net in case things go wrong—can bring comfort during stressful times.