What to Look For in the Best Travel Insurance
No matter if it’s an international journey or just an unexpected road trip, travel insurance provides peace of mind. Frequent travelers should consider an annual plan which covers domestic or international trips as well as leisure or business purposes.
Prices of policies will depend on the type of protection you need, such as flight or medical, as well as any extras like coronavirus coverage.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)
CFAR travel insurance policies (often added as upgrades or add-ons) offer you the ability to cancel for nearly any reason and still receive a refund, unlike standard trip cancellation coverage that covers only part of your nonrefundable costs. CFAR policies often reimburse up to 75% of prepaid costs as refunds.
Though CFAR policies might seem unnecessary for short weekend getaways, they should definitely be considered when travelling internationally or long-distance. When considering your destination’s potential risks such as political unrest or natural disasters.
Roam Right is an emerging provider offering travel coverage with excellent reviews. They offer generous upgrade windows of up to 21 days after initial trip payment and plans that reimburse up to 75% of prepaid expenses.
Trip Delay
Coverage like this typically reimburses out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to an extended delay, such as buying toiletries and food at the airport. It’s usually offered as an add-on or included as standard with comprehensive policies.
So if your child gets sick several days before traveling and a quick visit to the doctor shows that he won’t be well enough, CFAR allows you to cancel and receive refunds for most or all of your itinerary; although, it will cost 50% more than regular policies.
Avoid cancellations related to stay-at-home orders and new COVID-19 outbreaks when selecting this coverage option, and familiarise yourself with your insurance provider’s claims process and website before making your decision.
Trip Interruption
Travel insurance plans should typically provide trip interruption coverage, which protects against expenses related to being forced home early due to unavoidable events like medical emergencies, natural disasters and political unrest.
There are various types of trip cancellation/interruption coverage, each offering different advantages and restrictions. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policies reimburse a portion of your prepaid and non-refundable travel costs regardless of why your trip was canceled.
CFAR policies tend to be more expensive than other forms of travel insurance, yet offer greater flexibility and freedom. You can buy them either through World Nomads or credit cards that include travel protection; with latter typically having higher coverage limits.
Baggage Loss
Comprehensive policies typically offer this coverage, which reimburses you for essential items lost or stolen from your luggage. The actual cash value (taking wear and tear into consideration) of each item covered varies based on policy and insurer; reimbursement limits also vary accordingly.
Prior to filing a claim for theft or loss, typically local authorities must be informed, and many insurers require receipts for high-value items in order to receive full reimbursements. Furthermore, some providers have specific item limits or exclude certain forms of expensive technology altogether.
Search for 24/7 customer service available in most or all countries where you will travel and see if multilingual services are provided. Some plans even provide medical hotlines as well as travel assistance services like local transportation assistance.
Medical Coverage
Travel insurance providers typically provide additional medical coverage as an add-on policy, usually covering expenses not covered by regular health plans, including deductibles and co-pays. Some also include evacuation and repatriation options if sickness or injury arise during your travels.
Most standard travel insurance policies don’t cover pre-existing medical conditions, though our top picks do so as either part of an exclusive plan or as an optional rider. Other factors affecting medical travel insurance costs include length and destination of trip, age, any high-risk activities you plan on participating in while abroad as well as whether or not a policy expires after so many trips have passed.
