Travel Insurance | TOP 10 REASONS in 2020

TOP 10 REASONS People Buy Travel Insurance
1. Life is unpredictable. Some trips need to be called. With travel insurance, you don’t necessarily have to pay for a trip you unable to take.
Northern VA, many of my clients are either government contractors or active duty military and others are retirees who seek existential travel like River Cruises. Unknown and absolutely unforeseen work related or immediate family member issues may arise after their final payments have been made and are considered non-refundable. Travel insurance provides this piece of mind knowing that if a cancellation is needed, your investment is safe and returned back to you to be used for a different time.
2. Airlines mishandled more than 21-million bags ANNUALLY!
Travel Insurance may provide coverage to replace those needed items if your bags are delayed, damaged or stolen. Don’t think lost baggage occurs…well, there’s a store in Alabama that resells “unclaimed” baggage. They got that stuff from somewhere.
3. Credit Card coverage may not provide sufficient coverage for travel.
The free coverage that may or may not be included with your credit card will never be as extensive as a separate travel insurance plan. I’m a big fan of AMEX Platinum; however, I would never call their travel protection an insurance policy and I’m sure that why they don’t call it an insurance policy either.
4. Sick happens.
Nothing can ruin a vacation like getting sick. Travel insurance can provide you with peace of mind – especially when traveling outside the United States, where many hospital request cash payments in the thousands BEFORE treatment can begin. This is discussion for ages you and older. Many people think the idea of sickness of for the elderly; however, my family and I were on a cruise and my son got the sniffles. We went down to the infirmary, had a fantastic doctor see him and was provided the proper medication. WONDERFUL, but next day, a paper was slid under my door and it was the bill for the doctor’s time and medicine prescribed. I’m GLAD I HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE! Made my claim when we got home and a week later, money was deposited in my account. PEACE OF MIND!
5. Health insurance may not go the distance.
Many U.S. healthy insurance policies (including Medicare and Medicaid) don’t cover international travel. And, those that do will not cover the cost of medical evacuation back to the US, which can cost more than $50,000. I had a client who was on a river cruise and came down with some heart discomfort and was taken to a hospital, and a day later was being escorted by a medical team on an emergency flight back to US under stable conditions. Picture the costs for the medical team, last minute flight home, couple days care in a hospital seen by the best heart doctors available. TRAVEL INSURANCE paid those bills!
6. Lost or forgotten medication?
Something news in this industry. Concierge service. Travel Insurance can provide assistance to help you locate a pharmacy to purchase a new prescription. Being on a 14-day cruise and forgetting your insulin, but you pull in St. Lucia tomorrow…this is a needed service, travel insurance may provide!
7. Even those most stable of travel suppliers can default quickly.
IF a cruise line, airline, or tour operator ceases operations due to financial hardship or bankruptcy, travel insurance can save your from paying for a trip you’ll never get to take.
8. In the event of an emergency, airlines are not required to refund a ticket.
It’s ultimately the airline’s decision whether your situation warrants a full refund of the ticket cost. Most times however, airlines will merely offer a credit voucher (the original purchase price minus a penalty fee) towards future travel.
9. Flight delays can add up.
It’s not the airline’s responsibility to cover the expenses you accrue when your flight is delayed or you miss a connection. Travel insurance can reimburse you for costs associated with these, including rebooking fees, meals, and accommodations. Have you been to an airport and you see the stressed out person yelling at everyone and demanding compensation NOW…and then the other person who is calm, bends like a read in all the stress…that person has travel insurance. That person knows, they are getting their money back!
10. We all experience tough economic time.
The loss of a job or other income might mean a trip planned in advance may have to wait. Travel insurance can put cash back into your when you need it most!