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Do You Need Travel
Insurance?
Hopefully you won't. But the reason to
have it is the same as why you have auto insurance, homeowners insurance, or any other type of
insurance: To protect yourself in the event of an unforeseen event which could cause you to incur a
loss.
What Does It
Cover?
Most travelers end up with the insurance offered by the
wholesaler their trip is booked through. It is really easy to take the first insurance offered, but
it is not always the best value. Not only can this result in paying too much, it can also leave you
under-insured for the most likely losses for your situation.
Cancel
For Any Reason
"Cancel for any reason" is the latest way to get you to pay for something
you really don't need. Let's be honest. If you are booking a trip you aren't going to cancel
unless something happens - an "unforeseen event". In most cases "cancel for
any reason" not a very good value. To make it affordable, other, more important
coverages are reduced or eliminated. And, with Sandals, it only covers the hotel and is paid
in vouchers you must use within one year. General rule of thumb
- you will get much better coverage for the money from a third party for the common
claim items like trip delay, lost or damaged baggage, and medical expenses.
Trip Interruption and Cancellation
Trip Interruption can be very costly.
Both air and hotel are 100% non-refundable once travel begins. You can also incur additional
expenses to get home earlier than scheduled.
Cancellation expense depends on when you cancel. Cancellation penalties are usually very low
until your travel dates get closer.
Of course, as with all insurance, travel insurance must be purchased before any situation occurs
that could cause a claim. Once you are injured, or your child is sick, or a hurricane forms, it is
too late to purchase insurance. If you know of a preexisting health condition that may prevent you
from traveling or may cause you to cut a trip short you can get a waiver by purchasing
insurance either at the time you make your initial deposit or within a few days, depending on where
you purchase your insurance.
Other Types of Claims
You are more likely to make a claim for things like
damaged or delayed baggage, travel delay, and medical expenses than cancellation and interruption.
This is where comparing policies is extremely important. (Benefits are per person)
Travel Delay
Let's look at travel delay. Unless you happen to live in a city
like Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Dallas, or other city that offers non-top service to Montego Bay,
you have a chance your travel could get delayed. This increases with each connecting flight require
to get you to your final destination.
Typical insurance for travel delay pays around $100 per day. Total limits range from $200 -
$750.
But here is the real difference:Insurance like
Travelguard kicks in after only 5 hours of delay. Tour operator insurance usually requires
a 12 hour delay! That 7 hours can be the difference between you getting your meals and hotel
expense reimbursed or paying for it yourself.
Baggage Delay
If your baggage is delayed, you may be swimming in your
underwear!
Typical tour operator insurance will reimburse up to $10- $250. These kick in after 24 hours of
delay. Travelguard kicks in at only 12 hours delay with a $300 limit! Those 12
hours can be the difference in being reimbursed for the cloths, toothbrushes, and sunscreen you
need to purchase at Sandals gift shop. The $300 limit will come in handy as well. (Once you see
the prices in Sandals gift shop you will understand)
Medical
It isn't much fun to talk about, but the biggest expense that anyone
will ever incur will be for medical related expenses. You are traveling to a third world country.
The best medical treatment available is extremely expensive. And if something would occur to
require you be airlifted back to the U.S for treatment it can cost $100,000 or more.
Looks at these coverages carefully. Many limits are very low. These low limits wont get you off
the ground if you need an airlift.
Travelguard is very good, providing $25,000 medical, $500 dental, and $500,000 for
emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.
Unique Features of Travelguard
Travelguard allows full customization of
coverage.
Click here to go to travelguard.com
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TRUE STORIES!
Some Expenses Insurance Has Paid For Our Clients.
- $52,000 Medical Emergency
Cost of air
ambulance from Ocho Rios JM to Denver, CO for emergency medical treatment due to collapse on
1st day of vacation plus unused hotel nights and airline tickets
- $28,000 Medical Emergency
Cost of air
ambulance to Miami for emergency medical treatment due to boat accident plus unused hotel
nights and airline tickets.
- $7,500 Cancel Honeymoon
Cost of non-refundable
air and hotel due to sudden death of parent on wedding day.
- $6,300 Medical Complications
Expenses incurred
for two years after return due to infection of minor cut on hand.
- $5,700 Trip Interruption
Expenses for four
one-way tickets and unused hotel nights to go home early due to death in family.
WARNING...
You
are traveling to a third world country where medical and emergency facilities are very inferior
compared to what you are accustomed to in the U.S. You will be covered for medical emergency and
emergency evacuation only if you have purchased travel insurance.
If you get hit by a boat or jet-ski while swimming, are involved in an auto accident, slip and fall
by the pool, get a serious cut or broken bone, you will wish you had it!
BE AWARE...
Your flight to the Caribbean can be canceled, rescheduled or delayed for many reasons. If you get
stuck in a strange city overnight, you will be at the mercy of the airlines for accommodations
unless you have travel insurance or pay for yourself . We have experienced several unplanned hotel
stays in our travel to the Caribbean due to weather and airline delays. The small premium you pay
for travel insurance can easily be made up if any number of things go wrong.
If you lose your tickets or passport, drop that new digital camera, have anything stolen, get
called home early due to emergency or are a victim of any number of unforeseen events, you will
wish you had insurance!
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