Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a policy you buy that helps protect against certain risks associated with travel, especially non-refundable costs if you cancel, medical emergencies while abroad, lost or delayed baggage, travel delays, etc.

Some of the main reasons:

• You’ve paid non-refundable trip costs (flights, hotels, tours) and want protection if you must cancel or interrupt.

• Your regular health insurance doesn’t cover you abroad (or doesn’t cover evacuation back home) so you want medical/evacuation coverage.

• You want assistance if things go wrong while traveling (e.g., lost passport, travel delay) — many policies bundle 24/7 support services.

Coverage varies by plan, but common benefits include:

• Trip cancellation or interruption (if you must cancel or interrupt for a covered reason)

• Emergency medical treatment while traveling, and sometimes medical evacuation (transport back home or to a suitable medical facility)

• Baggage loss or delay, travel delay, missed connections in some cases

• Travel assistance services (help finding a doctor, replacing passport, etc.)

Some travel insurance plans may cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain requirements are met. In many cases, travelers must purchase coverage within a specified time after making their initial trip deposit to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver. Coverage varies by plan.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage is an optional upgrade available with certain travel insurance plans. It allows travelers to cancel a trip for reasons not otherwise covered by the policy and receive partial reimbursement of eligible non-refundable trip costs.

Many health insurance plans provide limited or no coverage outside the United States. Travel medical insurance can help fill this gap by providing coverage for eligible medical expenses incurred while traveling abroad.

Emergency medical evacuation coverage may help pay for transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or, when medically necessary, transportation back home for treatment.

Original Medicare generally provides very limited coverage outside the United States. Many Medicare beneficiaries purchase travel medical insurance to help protect against unexpected medical expenses while traveling abroad.