With all that can go wrong on a trip, you wake up too sick to fly or lose your passport, travel insurance can come in handy.
Depending on the policy, travelers can be directed to the nearest hotel when their flight is canceled, get a referral to a local attorney while overseas or be evacuated to a hospital back home if they become ill.
But whether you need insurance depends on a range of factors, from the cost of the vacation to the time of year you're taking off.
It's also worth considering if the traveler is worried about a member of their party getting sick or getting injured on a vacation that involves skiing, biking or some other sport.
WHAT IS COVERED
A basic package generally covers the non-refundable costs of a trip up to the particular policy's limits, has medical coverage and offers assistance for various emergencies.
It most often kicks in for matters beyond the traveler's control: from illness, to the airline canceling a flight because of a storm, to your missing a flight because you got in an accident on the way to the airport.
But beware, travel-insurance policies will not cover reckless behavior. If you have an accident because you're drunk, chances are you won't be covered. So whoever buys the policy has to engage in reasonable behaviors.
Insurance is different from the waiver that may be offered by a cruise line, for instance, which will usually give a traveler a credit to be used for a future trip rather than a refund.
Waivers also may not factor in additional expenses, such as paying an extra day of parking or housing a pet. All those things would be covered under a blanket policy.
Travel insurance tends to average 4% to 8% of the total cost of the trip, with the price varying according to the traveler's age.
THIRD-PARTY COVERAGE
Travelers can buy insurance from an airline or a cruise company. But those policies may not be as comprehensive as packages purchased directly from an insurance carrier.
If the cruise line or carrier went out of business, the coverage they offered would also disappear.
If a traveler wants to be covered no matter the circumstances, there are more expensive policies that would allow them to cancel for any reason.
The cost can be up to 40% higher than a typical policy, but if a traveler became fearful of going to their destination, not usually a valid claim on most policies, they could bow out of the trip and get their money back.
Whatever type of policy you buy, and wherever you buy it from, do your homework. Read the fine print and ask the provider plenty of questions about what reasons are considered acceptable for making a claim. A flight delay might have to last a certain number of hours, for instance, for a policy to kick in.
Travelers also should keep records, from the hotel receipt showing where they stayed when their flight was canceled, to a note from the doctor that confirms they were too sick to travel.
It is recommended to check that the insurance provider is licensed in the state where the buyer lives, in case you have problems and need a place to appeal.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
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