Travel Guard is one of the major travel insurance companies
You just booked a wonderful cruise or a land vacation to some exotic destination. Did you buy travel insurance? If not, should you have bought travel insurance? As one who never travels without insurance even though I've fortunately never needed to file a claim, let me give you some reasons why you should buy the insurance.
1) Medical Coverage. This is by far the most important reason. If you are leaving the United States, chances are your medical insurance does not cover your medical expenses while outside the country. Even if it does, you probably will have to pay cash for your expenses and then file a claim to get reimbursed when you get back home. How high is the limit on your credit card? If you are overseas and have a medical emergency, you could be paying out thousands or tens of thousands of dollars out of your own pocket. If you are on a cruise ship and need to be evacuated by helicopter due to a heart attack, expect your costs to be upwards of $25,000.
2) Cancellation Protection. You may say that you are going on your trip, come Hell or high water, even if you have to crawl to get to the ship. What are you going to do when your parent or one of your kids is badly hurt in an auto accident, or worse, is killed? Are you really still going on your trip? If you have a pre-existing medical condition besure to buy your insurance at the same time you make your deposit. Most companies give you between 1 to 14 days to buy the insurance (varies by company) in order to not have a pre-existing conditions clause. In other words, if you don't buy your policy within that time, and buy it later instead, and then your pre-existing condition causes you to cancel, you won't be covered. Check with your agent for policy specifics.
3) Travel Delay. In my last article I talked about the advantage of travel the day before your cruise. But, if you decided to fly the same day and you miss the ship due to mechanical trouble or weather, travel insurance can help you catch up to the ship at its first port.
4) Baggage Loss. Airlines have very limited policies regarding lost baggage. Travel insurance limits are generally much higher. So if your bags are lost and the airline won't pay for everything, you probably can reimbursed by the travel insurance.
There are other coverages included in policies as well. Some even offer protection for job loss, and some have a cancel for any reason clause. Again, check with your agent for specific details. Whatever you do, make sure you are protected. The cost of the insurance is likely not much more than 10% of the cost of the trip. If peace of mind is not worth that to you, or you don't think you can afford it, you should really consider if you can afford to be without it, or whether you should be taking the trip.
Next week, I will be on board the Carnival Splendour, so you will not see any articles from me. However, I look forward to providing you reviews of the Splendour and the Mexican Riviera ports when I get back.
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