Before you plan your summer trips, give it a lot of thought to see if you need to buy travel insurance. There are things that can happen that could make you have to cancel your trip, go home early, or get medical help while you're on the road.
Getting travel insurance can give you the extra safety you need. Before you buy the cover, check your health insurance or home insurance policy to make sure there are no misunderstandings. For example, expensive items like your camcorder, computer, or jewellery can be covered by your home insurance if they were stolen while you were travelling. If the airline loses your registered luggage, they have to pay you back ( by a certain amount of money). Or, if you get sick or hurt while you're travelling, your personal health insurance can pay for your medical bills.
According to Consumer Reports, a travel insurance policy includes several different types of protection. Make sure to read what is written in small letters: These help you figure out if your travel insurance will cover what you need. Coverage varies by policy and insurance company, so make sure to ask. There are many different kinds of insurance, such as:
Cancellacion/Interrupcion of Travel (TCI): If your plans change at the last minute and you have to cancel your trip or end it early, TCI will pay for all of this. But only that insurance will pay you back if you have a reason that's on the list, like an injury, illness, or the death of a family member, partner, or fellow traveller. Some travel insurance policies will only cover medical reasons, while others will not cover medical conditions that were already there. It's important to pay attention to what's written in small letters.
Transfer because of a medical emergency - It would be a good idea to buy this type of cover if you are going on a trip or moving far away from a hospital centre that has everything you need. If the right treatment isn't available at a local hospital, you'll be moved to a closer hospital that has what you need.
Loss of luggage: This cover pays you back if you lose or damage one of your bags.
Make a list of everything, because if you lose your bags, they will pay you back for some of what was in them. BBB and the Magazine of the Consumer both recommend that you do the following:
Read what is written in the small letter. Know exactly what kind of insurance you have or are getting. Think about getting travel insurance from a separate company instead of your travel agent or cruise line. Paying with a credit card gives you even more safety. The protection against loss of luggage is only needed if you have items worth more than $2,500 in your bags. Check the terms of your home insurance policy.
