Suffice to say that the travel industry has been facing steep obstacles trying to adapt to the current state of the world making traveling during this year quite a challenge for all of us. With that in mind, it is important now more than ever to have the necessary coverage for your trip in the event that any delays or cancellations occur.
The best travel insurance policy for you is going to be the one that offers the specific coverage you need at a price you can readily afford. Here’s a rundown of the most common types of travel insurance, as well as some of the optional benefits you may want to look into.
- Cancellation coverage: as its name implies, covers you for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses under a fixed set of circumstances outlined in your policy. You can make a claim when you have to cancel a trip due to a health emergency or illness, for example. Depending on the policy you choose, you may also be able to make a claim if you’re laid off from work or you’re called for jury duty.
Some credit cards will even cover your expenses sometimes if you were to cancel last minute.
- Interruption coverage: This protects you in the event you have to return home due to an emergency once you’ve already started your trip. It will pay for the cost of getting you home and getting you back to your destination once you’re able to travel again.
If the list of covered cancellation reasons under basic cancellation coverage seems too limited to you, you might want to opt for CFAR or “Cancel For Any Reason”. It offers the fullest coverage but may only make sense for you if your calendar is subject to change at a moment’s notice.
- Lost, stolen, damaged, and delayed luggage: This is one of the most common, and annoying, travel-related mishaps. Pay attention to coverage limits and increase yours as necessary. Even mundane items like laptops and cell phones have replacement costs beyond the limits set by basic policies, so be careful to read your policy closely to be sure your most expensive possessions are fully protected.
Whether you chose travel insurance for your international or domestic trip, make sure you understand exactly what’s covered. There are different categories for basic and special coverage. Be sure to check out this guide from ConsumersAdvocate.org who provided the information for this article and make sure you understand the fine print before booking your next trip.
If you would like details of our recommended insurance provider you can find more information here on why we’ve partnered with World Nomads as well as get details of coverage costs.
